Construct a Research Question
Once you have researched other people’s research questions and understand the research already conducted in the area, it is time to start constructing your own research question. A research question acts as your paper’s foundation and allows you to delve into the subject more deeply.
A good research question should be:
- Focused – Ask an answerable question.
- Explorable – Make sure there is enough information available for you to explore.
- Relevant – Ensure your topic fits within the scope of your extended essay.
Now that you know what makes a good research question, how do you use the knowledge from step 6 to construct your own? Here are some tips:
- Combine your interests with the topics and questions of the existing research.
- Keep your research question broad enough to provide a comprehensive overview but still focused enough to explore the topic in-depth.
- Use words like “analyse”, “investigate” and “compare” to open it up to more possibility.
- Be sure to check if your university or supervisor has specific guidelines on constructing your research question.
It can take some time to construct the perfect research question, however with the help of this guide, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Doing research prior to crafting your question will ultimately save you time and effort, so don’t be afraid to really dive into the literature and explore different possibilities.
Choosing a Research Question
Choosing the right research question is an important part of writing an IB extended essay. To determine whether the question you have selected is adequate for the essay, there are several criteria to consider.
Is the Topic Relevant?
First, make sure your chosen topic is relevant to the subject of the essay. This means it should be something that directly contributes to your understanding of the field and allows for in-depth exploration.
Is the Research Question Clear?
The next criterion to consider is clarity. Your research question should be specific and focused on the key points of your essay. It should also answer a problem or debate in the field of study.
Will You Be Able to Defend Your Argument?
Your research question should also enable you to create an argument and defend it. You should be able to provide evidence to prove or disprove your argument.
Does it Follow the Guidelines?
Finally, make sure your research question follows the guidelines set out by the IB organization. This includes topics that are too restricted, too general, too long, and ones that don’t focus on identifying and evaluating evidence.
By using these criteria to assess your chosen research question, you can ensure that it is suitable for your IB extended essay.
References
When researching and generating ideas for an IB extended essay, it is important to keep track of information you find during your research. One way to do so, is to document the sources of information you are using in your work. This is known as referencing, and it helps to show the reader where the information you use came from.
When researching topics for your essay, make sure to take note of the different sources of information. This will help you to create a list of references that you can use when writing your essay. The reference list should include details such as the authors’ names, dates of publication, and the titles of the works you have read.
When creating your list of references, make sure to use the same format for all of them. This will make your essay look professional and make it easier for readers to access the sources you used. Common formats for referencing sources include:
- Chicago Style
- Harvard Referencing
- MLA (Modern Language Association)
- APA (American Psychological Association)
You may also want to consider providing a link to your sources either in the reference list or within the essay itself. This will allow readers to quickly access the information you cited and view the original source material.
By keeping track of your sources using an organized reference list, your essay will look professional and will demonstrate to the reader that you have done thorough research on the topic. Your references will also give other researchers looking at your work a place to begin their research if they would like to explore the topic further.
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Research Planning to Start Your Extended Essay
Now that you have chosen a great research question for your IB Extended Essay, it’s time to start planning the essay. Planning is an essential part of any successful extended essay, so it’s important to begin this process early.
The first step in the research planning process is to create an outline. Outlines help you plan each section of your essay, from introductions to conclusions. They are like a map of the essay, and will give you a stronger understanding of how the essay should be structured. An outline should include an introduction, a thesis statement, an argument, and a conclusion.
Once you have an outline, it’s time to begin your research. Research is a necessary part of any extended essay, as it allows you to support your arguments with evidence from the field. Conduct research via books, journals, websites, and interviews to gather the necessary evidence. As you research, make sure to keep track of the sources you use so you can cite them in your essay.
Finally, as you continue with your research and writing, remember to take detailed notes. Notes will help you to stay organized and will ensure that you don’t forget any important details. And lastly, writing down your thoughts and ideas can help you to narrow your focus and build on your argument.
With careful research planning, you are well on your way to creating a successful extended essay. Good luck!
Conclusion
Congratulations! You are now closer to starting your IB extended essay. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you have a solid foundation to begin your research on an engaging and interesting research question.
To summarise, the key points discussed throughout this article are:
- Exploring interests and understanding of the subject are important for guiding an appropriate research question.
- Researching previous literature generates ideas and helps focus the topic.
- It is important to understand the existing research questions of other academics in the field.
- Constructing a good research question involves considering relevant criteria.
- Research planning should be done before commencing the extended essay.
We wish you the best of luck with your research journey; we hope that by reading this guide you have gained the confidence to make well-informed decisions when choosing a suitable research question for your IB extended essay.
Review
Now that you have decided on a research question for your IB extended essay, we invite you to take some time and review this article. We hope that it has been a helpful guide for you in understanding the importance of choosing an appropriate research question and how to go about it.
We value your feedback and welcome any constructive criticism, comments or suggestions that you may have. Your feedback helps us create more informative content that is tailored to your needs. So please let us know what you think by commenting below or getting in touch via our contact page.
Thanks for reading! We wish you all the best with your extended essay.