IB History Extended Essay Criteria: A Comprehensive Guide to Grading

Understanding the IB History Extended Essay criteria is crucial for both students aiming for top marks and teachers guiding them through the process. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of each criterion, offering practical tips and actionable advice to help you navigate the assessment requirements successfully. We'll cover everything from topic selection to presentation, ensuring you're well-equipped to excel in this challenging, yet rewarding, component of the IB Diploma Programme.

What is the History Extended Essay?

The History Extended Essay (EE) is a 4,000-word independent research paper that forms a significant part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. It allows students to delve deeply into a historical topic of their choice, fostering critical thinking, research skills, and effective communication. The EE is externally assessed and contributes to the overall IB Diploma score.

Understanding the Grading Criteria

The History Extended Essay is assessed against five criteria, each focusing on different aspects of the essay. These criteria are: Focus and Method, Knowledge and Understanding, Critical Thinking, Presentation, and Engagement. Each criterion is further divided into mark bands, providing a clear framework for assessment. Understanding these criteria is the first step towards writing a successful History EE.

Detailed Breakdown of History Extended Essay Criteria

Let's examine each criterion in detail, exploring what it assesses, the mark bands, and practical tips for success.

Criterion A: Focus and Method (0-6 marks)

What it assesses: This criterion evaluates the clarity and suitability of the chosen topic, the relevance of the research question, and the appropriateness of the methodology employed.

Mark bands:

• 0 Marks: The essay lacks a clear topic introduction, the topic is not related to the human past, violates the 10-year rule, the research question is missing or unsuitable, and the sources are irrelevant.
• 1-2 Marks: The essay introduces a topic, but the focus is unclear, the topic's significance is questionable, the 10-year rule may be violated, the research question is poorly formulated, and the sources are of limited relevance.
• 3-4 Marks: The essay introduces a relevant topic, the research question is formulated as a question, and the sources are generally appropriate. However, the focus could be sharper, and the source selection could be more refined.
• 5-6 Marks: The essay clearly introduces the chosen topic, establishing the focus. The topic pertains to the human past and holds meaningful significance. The topic adheres to the 10-year rule. The research question is formulated as a question, ensuring focus and suitability for discussion. The range of sources is relevant and appropriate.

Tips for success:

• Choose a topic that genuinely interests you. This will make the research process more engaging and lead to a more insightful essay.
• Formulate a clear and focused research question. The question should be specific enough to allow for in-depth analysis within the word limit.
• Ensure your topic adheres to the 10-year rule. The topic should relate to events that occurred at least 10 years before the submission date.
• Select relevant and appropriate sources. Consider the reliability and bias of your sources.

Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (0-6 marks)

What it assesses: This criterion assesses the student's understanding of the historical context surrounding the chosen topic and their ability to use historical terminology and concepts accurately.

Mark bands:

• 0 Marks: The essay lacks historical background, demonstrates little to no understanding of the topic, and fails to use historical terminology or concepts.
• 1-2 Marks: The essay provides a limited historical background, demonstrates a superficial understanding of the topic, and uses historical terminology inaccurately or sparingly.
• 3-4 Marks: The essay provides a satisfactory historical background, demonstrates a reasonable understanding of the topic, and uses historical terminology and concepts appropriately but with limited explanation.
• 5-6 Marks: The essay effectively illustrates the student's comprehension of the research question within a broader historical framework. The student showcases their understanding through precise utilization of historical terminology and relevant concepts related to the topic. When necessary, the student offers additional explanations of selected terms or concepts.

Tips for success:

• Provide sufficient historical background. Set the stage for your research question by explaining the relevant historical context.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic. Go beyond superficial knowledge and explore the complexities of the historical events or issues.
• Use historical terminology accurately and appropriately. Define key terms and concepts to show your understanding.
• Connect your research question to broader historical themes. Show how your topic fits into the larger narrative of history.

Criterion C: Critical Thinking (0-12 marks)

What it assesses: This criterion is the most heavily weighted and assesses the student's ability to research, analyze, discuss, and evaluate sources and arguments related to the research question.

Mark bands:

• 0 Marks: The essay lacks a clear argument, analysis of sources, or discussion related to the research question. It is primarily narrative or descriptive.
• 1-4 Marks: The essay presents a weak argument with limited analysis of sources. The discussion is superficial and may stray from the research question. The approach is largely narrative or descriptive.
• 5-8 Marks: The essay constructs an argument supported by some analysis of sources. The discussion generally revolves around ideas related to the research question. There is some attempt at critical analysis, but it may lack depth.
• 9-12 Marks: The student appropriately constructs and presents a specific argument in response to the research question. Arguments are backed by an insightful analysis or consideration of the research material's merits and limitations. The student showcases the ability to extract knowledge from selected sources, analyze it, and employ it to formulate arguments and draw conclusions relevant to the research question. Throughout the essay, discussions consistently revolve around ideas or concepts in line with the research question. The EE reflects a critical and analytical approach rather than a narrative or descriptive one.

Tips for success:

• Develop a clear and focused argument. Your essay should have a central thesis that you support with evidence and analysis.
• Analyze your sources critically. Evaluate the reliability, bias, and perspective of each source.
• Engage in a thorough discussion of the research question. Explore different perspectives and consider the complexities of the issue.
• Avoid simply narrating or describing events. Focus on analyzing and interpreting the historical evidence.
• Support your arguments with specific examples and evidence from your sources.

Criterion D: Presentation (0-4 marks)

What it assesses: This criterion assesses the overall structure, organization, and presentation of the essay, including formatting, referencing, and the use of visual aids.

Mark bands:

• 0 Marks: The essay lacks a title page, table of contents, or proper referencing. The structure is unclear and disorganized.
• 1 Mark: The essay includes some elements of proper presentation, but significant improvements are needed in structure, referencing, and formatting.
• 2-3 Marks: The essay generally adheres to standard formatting conventions, includes a title page and table of contents, and attempts to structure the essay logically. Referencing is present but may contain errors.
• 4 Marks: The essay begins with a title page and a table of contents, adhering to standard formatting conventions. The structure of the essay follows the expected conventions for the topic, ensuring clarity and coherence in the presentation of arguments. Sections and subsections, if included, have informative headings that contribute to the overall organization of the essay without distracting from the main argument. Graphs, figures, or tables are appropriately labeled with numbers and brief descriptions and maintain good graphical quality.

Tips for success:

• Follow standard formatting conventions. Use a consistent font, size, and spacing throughout the essay.
• Include a title page and table of contents. This helps the reader navigate the essay.
• Structure the essay logically. Use clear headings and subheadings to organize your ideas.
• Reference your sources accurately and consistently. Use a recognized citation style, such as MLA or Chicago.
• Use visual aids effectively. Graphs, figures, and tables can enhance your analysis, but they should be relevant and properly labeled.

Criterion E: Engagement (0-6 marks)

What it assesses: This criterion assesses the student's engagement with the research process, as evidenced by their reflections in the Research Process Planning Form (RPPF).

Mark bands:

• 0 Marks: The RPPF is missing or provides minimal information about the research process.
• 1-2 Marks: The RPPF provides a limited account of the research process, with superficial reflections on the topic selection, investigative approach, and challenges faced.
• 3-4 Marks: The RPPF showcases some engagement with the research process, outlining the topic selection rationale, investigative approach, and challenges faced. However, the reflections lack depth and critical self-evaluation.
• 5-6 Marks: The RPPF form showcases the individual's progress and active involvement in the writing process. The student outlines the skills acquired during the extended essay writing journey. Challenges faced during the process are described in detail, along with the strategies employed to address them. The document reflects the personal significance and relevance of the work undertaken.

Tips for success:

• Complete the RPPF thoughtfully and honestly. Reflect on your research process, including your successes and challenges.
• Explain your rationale for choosing the topic and research question. Show that you have a genuine interest in the topic.
• Describe your investigative approach and the methods you used to gather and analyze information.
• Discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This demonstrates your resilience and problem-solving skills.
• Reflect on the personal significance of the research process. How has this experience impacted your understanding of history and research?

How to Excel in Your History Extended Essay

• Start early: Don't wait until the last minute to begin your research and writing.
• Seek guidance from your supervisor: Your supervisor can provide valuable feedback and support throughout the process.
• Read widely: The more you read about your topic, the better you will understand it.
• Take detailed notes: Keep track of your sources and the information you gather.
• Revise and edit your essay carefully: Proofread your essay for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Get feedback from others: Ask a friend, family member, or teacher to read your essay and provide feedback.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing a topic that is too broad or too narrow.
• Failing to formulate a clear research question.
• Relying on unreliable sources.
• Plagiarizing material from other sources.
• Failing to analyze sources critically.
• Writing a narrative or descriptive essay instead of an analytical one.
• Ignoring the formatting and referencing requirements.
• Not engaging with the research process in the RPPF.

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Conclusion

Mastering the IB History Extended Essay requires a thorough understanding of the grading criteria and a commitment to rigorous research and analysis. By following the tips and advice outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of achieving a high score and demonstrating your historical knowledge and skills. Remember to start early, seek guidance, and engage with the research process thoughtfully.

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