world studies extended essay criteria

World Studies Extended Essay

World studies was first proposed by the United World College of Mahindra in 2001 and was eventually set up as an extended essay pilot option in 2005. The development of the world studies extended essay pilot has been underpinned by extensive academic research and development. IB staff have worked closely with both teachers in the pilot schools and Harvard Graduate School of Education, Project Zero Interdisciplinary Studies Project, to develop this exciting extended essay option.

A world studies extended essay must focus on a topic of global significance. This encourages the student to reflect on the world today in relation to issues such as the global food crisis, climate change, terrorism, energy security, migration, global health, technology and cultural exchange.

The student should then explore how their chosen issue may be illustrated in a local context or contexts using specific examples of a small scale, local phenomenon; in this way the student is linking the local to the global.

As the approach is interdisciplinary explaining the topic through the lens of more than one discipline, students should develop a clear rationale for taking an interdisciplinary approach, selecting the IB disciplines through which they plan to explore the topic. The process of researching and writing the world studies extended essay develops international-mindedness and specifically the concept of global consciousness. This concept encompasses three distinct strands:

• global sensitivity - a sensitivity to local phenomena and experiences as expressions of developments on the planet
• global understanding - the capacity to think in flexible and informed ways about issues of global significance
• global self - a developing perception of self as a global actor and member of humanity, capable of making a positive contribution to the world.

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IB Extended Essay: Assessment Criteria

• Research Questions
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• Works Cited Page
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Score Descriptors for each Criterion:

• A - Focus and Method
• B - Knowledge and Understanding
• C - Critical Thinking
• D - Presentation
• E - Engagement

Printable: Full Rubric  for all subjects

To view details for your SUBJECT, open the correct page below.

• Choose "Interpreting the EE Assessment Criteria" on the sidebar to see how to score well in YOUR subject area

Language & literature (language A)

Language acquisition (language B)

Mathematics

Visual Arts

World Studies

Business Management

Grade Boundaries

What's Expected?

• A: Focus/Method
• B: Knowledge
• C: Critical Thinking
• D: Presentation
• E: Engagement
• A: Focus and Method (6 marks)
• B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 marks)
• C: Critical Thinking (12 marks)
• D: Presentation (4 marks)
• E: Engagement (6 marks)
• Total marks possible: 34 (see grade boundaries below)
• Printable:  Full Rubric
• Printable: A3 size with details
• Printable:  Details for each criterion , via the Oxford guide

Criterion A:  Focus and Method (6 points)

What It Means:   This criterion focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. It assesses the explanation of the focus of the research (this includes the topic and the research question), how the research will be undertaken, and how the focus is maintained throughout the essay.

Questions to ask:  

• Does this essay meet the requirements for the subject for which you are registering it?
• Is your research question stated as a question?
• Have you explained how your research question relates to the subject that you selected for the extended essay?
• Have you given an insight into why your area of study is important?
• Is your research question feasible within the scope of the task? Could your research question be “answered” or it is too vague?
• Did you refer to your research question throughout the essay (not only in the introduction and conclusion)?
• Did you explain why you selected your methodology?
• Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?
• If you stated a particular methodology in the introduction of your essay, or specific sources, have you used them?
• Are there any references listed in the bibliography that were not directly cited in the text?

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)

Criterion B:  Knowledge and Understanding (6 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the extent to which the research relates to the subject area/discipline used to explore the research question; or in the case of the world studies extended essay, the issue addressed and the two disciplinary perspectives applied; and additionally, the way in which this knowledge and understanding is demonstrated through the use of appropriate terminology and concepts.

• Have you explained how your research question relates to a specific subject you selected for the extended essay?
• Have you used relevant terminology and concepts throughout your essay as they relate to your particular area of research?
• Is it clear that the sources you are using are relevant and appropriate to your research question?
• Do you have a range of sources, or have you only relied on one particular type, for example internet sources?
• Is there a reason why you might not have a range? Is this justified?

(Source: Oxford EE manual, p. 110)

Criterion C:  Critical Thinking (12 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the extent to which critical thinking skills have been used to analyze and evaluate the research undertaken.

• Have you made links between your results and data collected and your research question?
• If you included data or information that is not directly related to your research question have you explained its importance?
• Are your conclusions supported by your data?
• If you found unexpected information or data have you discussed its importance?
• Have you provided a critical evaluation of the methods you selected?
• Have you considered the reliability of your sources (peer-reviewed journals, internet, and so on)?
• Have you mentioned and evaluated the significance of possible errors that may have occurred in your research?
• Are all your suggestions of errors or improvements relevant?
• Have you evaluated your research question?
• Have you compared your results or findings with any other sources?
• Is there an argument that is clear and easy to follow and directly linked to answering your research question, and which is supported by evidence? Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p. 111)

Handy Links:

• Presentation One Pager  via Catalina Bordoy
• Presentation Checklist
• Sample Title page   (see below - top half of the page)

Criterion D:  Presentation ( 4 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the extent to which the presentation follows the standard format expected for academic writing and the extent to which this aids effective communication.

• Have you read and understood the presentation requirements of the extended essay?
• Have you chosen a font that will be easy for examiners to read on-screen?
• Is your essay double-spaced and size 12 font?
• Are the title and research question mentioned on the cover page?
• Are all pages numbered?
• Have you prepared a correct table of contents?
• Do the page numbers in the table of contents match the page numbers in the text?
• Is your essay subdivided into correct sub-sections, if this is applicable to the subject?
• Are all figures and tables properly numbered and labelled?
• Does your bibliography contain only the sources cited in the text?
• Did you use the same reference system throughout the essay?
• Does the essay have less than 4,000 words?
• Is all the material presented in the appendices relevant and necessary?
• Have you proofread the text for spelling or grammar errors?

Criterion E: Engagement

• Three reflections (best after meeting with your supervisor)
• 500 words TOTAL (100 + 150 + 250?)
• Reflections are done in Managebac on your Reflection space
• See the "Reflections" tab above for prompts to write about

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p.135)

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p.133)

• Sample Reflections
• Full chapter on Reflections from the Oxford Guide

Criterion E:  Engagement (6 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process. It will be applied by the examiner at the end of the assessment of the essay, after considering the student’s RPPF (Reflections on planning and progress form).

• Have you demonstrated your engagement with your research topic and the research process?
• Have you highlighted challenges you faced and how you overcame them?
• Will the examiner get a sense of your intellectual and skills development?
• Will the examiner get a sense of your creativity and intellectual initiative?
• For prompts to deepen your reflections, go  here  and then to the bottom of the page
• Presentation Quick Guide
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• Next: Reflections >>
• Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 3:00 PM
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• Assessment of the Extended Essay
• IB Core and Philosophy
• Extended Essay

How is the Extended Essay Assessed?

From May 2018 new assessment criteria and a new emphasis was implemented for the Extended Essay. On this page we will look at the criteria, how they relate to ESS and World Studies essays and what this means for the Extended Essay process.

This information is adapted from the IB's own TSM for Extended Essays which you can find on the Programme Resource Centre of MyIB. It is very comprehensive and worth a look.

There are five criteria with a total of 34 marks

A: Focus and Method (total 6 marks)

B: Knowledge and Understanding (total 6 marks)

C: Critical Thinking (total 12 marks)

D: Presentation (total 4 marks)

E: Engagement (total 6 marks)

The grade boundaries in 2018 were as follows:

To guarantee a pass you need 7 points.

Overall, the IB does not expect perfection or originality in the EE but credit should be given to the following/compliance of the subject criteria. 

Best fit approach

The aim is to find the mark band descriptor that conveys most accurately the level attained by the candidate's work, using the  best fit  approach.

A best fit approach means that compensation should be made when a piece of work matches aspects of different mark bands.

The mark awarded should be one that most fairly reflects the balance of achievement against the mark band.

It is not necessary for every indicator within a mark band to be met for a mark to be awarded in a mark band.

 Criterion A: Focus and Method

In this criteria, the examiner looks at the development of the research question and how the methodology will address the question. The examiner wants to see a focus on the research question throughout the essay and not just at the start and end.

Criterion B: knowledge and understanding

Criterion c: critical evaluation , criterion d: presentation, criterion e: reflection .

Extended Essay: World Studies EE's

• General Timeline
• Group 1: English Language and Literature
• Group 2: Language Acquisition
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts
• Interdisciplinary essays
• Brainstorming
• Pre-Writing
• Research Techniques
• The Research Question
• Paraphrasing, Summarising and Quotations
• Writing an EE Introduction
• Writing the main body of your EE
• Writing your EE Conclusion
• Six sub-categories for WSEE
• IB Interdisciplinary EE Assessment Guide
• Sources: Finding, Organising and Evaluating Them
• Conducting Interviews and Surveys
• Citing and Referencing
• Check-in Sessions
• First Formal Reflection
• Second Formal Reflection
• Final Reflection (Viva Voce)
• Researcher's Reflection Space (RRS) Examples
• Information for Supervisors
• How is the EE Graded?
• EE Online Resources
• Stavanger Public Library
• Exemplar Essays
• Extended Essay Presentations
• ISS High School Academic Honesty Policy

Everything you need to know about the WSEE

The chosen topic for the World Studies Extended Essay (WSEE) must address both a local and a global issue of significance, and invite an interdisciplinary approach, meaning that two approved IB subjects should be used as an interdisciplinary critical lens to answer the research question. The most successful topics reveal connections between specific and/or local places, people, phenomena or experiences, and the larger global framework in which they take place (IBO 2010). 

Interdisciplinary research

• Global issues often invite an interdisciplinary approach.
• Different individuals and groups bring different perspectives, areas of expertise, and interests to the same topic. 
• Spending time thinking about an issue and exploring a wide variety of sources will provide a deeper and richer research experience. 
• In a WSEE, crafting a research question does not begin with the subject, but with the issue. 

World Studies Extended Essays MUST fall within one of the following six categories:

• Science, technology and society
• Culture, language and identity
• Conflict, peace and security
• Equality and inequality
• Health and development
• Environmental and/or economic sustainability

Click here to learn more about the WSEE sub-categories. 

From the ib:, introduction to the world studies extended essay (wsee).

The WSEE invites students to conduct an in-depth,  interdisciplinary  investigation into an issue of contemporary global importance (maximum 4,000 words). 

Here are some examples of potential topics include:

Interdisciplinary approach

The perspective of just one subject may not be adequate to address complex issues like those in the list above. The WSEE therefore requires students to bring together aspects of different disciplines to illuminate their chosen topic. 

Students should use two Diploma Programme subjects. It is strongly recommended that students are undertaking a course of study in at least one of the subjects chosen for their essay.

Students are not expected to address the topic in its full complexity, but should aim to generate understandings that are new to them. 

The aims of the WSEE are to enable students to:

• frame and understand complex contemporary world problems for in-depth study
• gather and synthesize insights from two different disciplines to better understand the issue 
• develop global consciousness—a disposition to recognize and understand local and global relationships in dynamic interaction 
• view themselves as interpreters of and actors in an increasingly interconnected world.

Students are encouraged to focus on just  one or two contexts  in some depth, for example: 

• The student examines two geographical case studies to explore whether religious beliefs affect attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Oslo and Mombasa. 
• The student examines one or two events to evaluate relief efforts after natural disasters, and suggests ways to make these more responsive. 
• The student examines one or two interventions to investigate what determines the success or failure of sanctions imposed by the United Nations. 

Students can refer to other places and events beyond the primary context(s) when relevant to the argument. In fact, the IB encourages this as it displays global consciousness. However, a detailed contextualized study of these additional cases is impossible within the 4,000-word limit.

WSEE Examiners follow special guidelines that are specific to interdisciplinary essays.  Click  here  to view a pdf of the published IB page that outlines these specific guidelines.  

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IB World Study Extended Essay: Global Themes And Topics

by  Antony W

January 14, 2023

This is a complete guide to the IB World Extended Essay.

In this post, you’ll learn what World Study Extended Essay is, the right disciplinary approach to take, example topics, as well as how to write the essay. Our goal in this guide is to equip you with the knowledge necessary to get full marks in your World Study Extended Essay.

What is IB World Study Extended Essay?

The IB World History Extended Essay requires you to conduct a detailed investigation into an issue of global significance. The essay must be 4,000 words long and meet all the IB Extended Essay requirements .

World Study Extended Essay requires you to focus on one or two contexts, and you have to examine with great depth.

Since the interdisciplinary investigation addresses complex issues such as migration, global health crisis, global financial crisis, and infringement on human rights, you need to bring together aspects of a number of disciplines to address your topic.

Instructions given by the IB Program requires that you use two subjects in your WSEE investigation. Given the flexibility of the subject, you don’t have to address the topic in full complexity . Instead, aim to demonstrate knowledge that’s new to you.

A comprehensive World Study Extended Essay should be:

• Integrative: It should bring together forms of communication, concepts, and methods from two or more subjects.
• Purposeful: Your World Study Essay should either connect different disciplines to solve real world problems or help to address more complex issues in a new way.
• Grounded: The Extended Essay should demonstrate a clear rooting in disciplinary knowledge and understanding.

The Right Approach to World Study Extended Essay

Pick a theme from the six global themes in World Study Extended Essay and then find a topic that fits a general research area.

Select two of the most suitable disciplines, such as Biology and Economics. You will need these to explore your research topic.

Develop possible research questions and identify possible sources of relevant data. Your goal here is to determine if there are enough sources that allow you to explore the research your research question.

IB Extended Essay Example Topics

The following are some examples of potential topics that you can cover in your World Study Extended Essay:

• Worldwide financial crisis
• Global health concerns
• Disaster rehabilitation and relief
• Energy migration
• Infringement on human right
• Disadvantaged groups
• Civil unrest and protest

Global Themes in Word Study Extended Essay

There are six global themes in World Study Extended Essay.

• Conflict, peace, and security
• Culture, language, and identity
• Environmental and/or economic sustainability
• Equality and inequality
• Health and development
• Science, technology and society

How to Write a World Study Extended Essay

Before you start writing a World Study Extended Essay, make sure the topic you intend to investigate and the arguments you’ll present are of global significance. Issues such as energy security, cultural exchange, racism, malnutrition, and globalization are some of the most interesting topics linked to the six global themes in WSEE.

Step 1:  Choose a Topic and Develop Your Research Question  

The topic you choose to explore should be an issue you are passionate about in the context of World Study Extended Essay.

It can also be about an interesting subject you’ve read lately or a topic you’re willing to investigate extensively.

Research the topic. Look through a variety of sources to find as many ideas and scope for your research as possible. Share your ideas with your EE supervisor, and don’t hesitate to ask them for advice.

Using the topic you’ve selected, develop a relevant research question for your investigation. Don’t worry if you don’t get the best research question right away. Look at your topic, write as many draft research questions as possible, and then pick one that makes the most sense.

Regardless of how many times you tweak your research question, it must reflect the contexts of what you’ll be investigating. So it helps to make sure your RQ is not only specific but also straight to the point.

Step 2: Choose 2 IB Subjects

Depending on the topic you choose to explore in your interdisciplinary investigation, your supervisor expects you to choose two IB subjects with a close correlation.

Say you choose to explore an issue on maternal malnutrition . In such a case, Biology and Economics would be the most suitable subjects to choose. Biology is a good fit because it’s a subject that allows you to explore nutrition and its impact on the development of the fetus. Economics, on the other hand, allows you to examine whether the lack of enough funding contributes to maternal malnutrition.

Look at the topic and the research question you selected in the first step and use them to select the most appropriate IB subjects. The subject you choose must be in the IB curriculum. Again, you can pick a topic from SL (Standard Level) or HL (Higher Level) in IB.

If you feel confused about what subjects would be suitable for your topic, don’t hesitate to consult your supervisor.

Step 3: Research the Topic

This is an important step in your World Study Extended Essay investigation. Because you’ll use the internet for your research, get information from reliable and trustworthy sources such as government websites, university repositories, research articles, and academic journals.

Look for relevant books from the local libraries for additional information. Many of these books have references in the bibliographies of many college and university papers, so they can be useful for your Extended Essay.

If your school allows, you can ask your supervisor to look into the sources you have selected and advice you whether they would be suitable for your interdisciplinary investigation.

Step 4: Write Your World Study Extended Essay

Writing your World Study Extended Essay shouldn’t be hard if you have done your research well.

Just like other types of Extended Essays , your WSEE should have an introduction, a body section, and a conclusion.

In the introduction, explain you chose to investigate the topic and state why you have a strong conviction that it’s the best topic to explore. State your research question, mention the scope of the essay in relation to the two subjects (picked in step 2), and explain how the subjects will help you answer the research question.

Follow this with an abstract. The word limit is 300, so you don’t have the space to include irrelevant information in the document. The information you include should be clear, concise, and direct to the point.

Write the body section of the essay well. Here, provide as much relevant information as possible to answer your research question. Write a strong conclusion, which should tie everything you have written in the body section.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Extended Essay

• Mathematics
• Studies in language and literature
• World studies extended essay
• Visual arts
• Language Acquisition

World studies: Sample A

World studies: sample b, world studies: sample c.

• Last Updated: Oct 14, 2021 3:31 PM
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Extended Essay Guide: Criteria, Format, Sample EEs

• Criteria, Format, Sample EEs
• Annotated Bibliographies
• DP Research Process
• Databases & Academic Journals
• Evaluate Sources
• Academic Integrity
• MLA Citation Format
• CSE Citation Format (Science & Math)
• Video Tutorials 2024

The Assessment Crtiteria in Detail!

• Criterion A: Focus and method
• Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking
• Criterion D: Presentation
• Criterion E: Engagement
• EE_How to maximize marks for different subjects?

• Criterion C: Critical thinking

Notes from the IB

RE: Research Question and Title of Extended Essay

Please note the statement below from the EE curriculum manager regarding the need to have both a title and a RQ for all subjects. Previous versions of the EE Guide indicated that the title and the RQ should be the same for History, Business Management and Mathematics. This is no longer the case.  All essays, regardless of the subject, need to have both a RQ and a title.

Hi Kathy, 

To answer your question, I am going to quote directly from a response John Royce provided, on this forum, in October in response to a very similar question: (it was a question about using Spanish sources - hence the mention of Spanish)

It is certainly  permissible to use sources which are not in the language of the essay, but translation into the target language is required , one cannot assume that the reader understands the original language.

It is usual to quote the original as well as presenting the translation.  [Do not put quotation marks around your translation, just around the original]

Umberto Eco argues ("in Mouse or rat?") that direct translation may lose meaning, paraphrase or use of different idioms may be required to get the ideas across. Paul Bellos ("Is that a fish in your ear?") makes a similar argument - direct translation may confound meaning... Direct translation may not be ideal - meaning and understanding are preferred - so, not to worry that your student with her good Spanish cannot present a direct translation.

What  must be made clear is that the translations are those of the student;  these are her understandings. Readers can make of that what they will - and if unsure, are presented with the original - they can seek another translation.  A note in the acknowledgements and/or in the introduction to the effect that all translations are those of the writer is ... essential.

In response to the question about the  Bibliography/Works cited, my preference would be to list the source in its original Thai version, but perhaps with the English in brackets, to help the examiner.

Your bibliography will have the entries in Thai characters first in the document. Any in-text citation to Thai sources will be in (Thai characters [English translation]).

Citation in Thai [English translation]

Works Cited Example:

วงษ์ปัญญา, ธนกร [Wongpunya, Thanakorn]. “โรงงานยาสูบรวยแค่ไหน และเอาเงินไปทำอะไรบ้าง.”  [How rich is the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly and where does the money go?] (candidate translation). The Standard, The Standard, 30 Aug. 2018, thestandard.co/thailand-tobacco-monopoly/.

Format of the Extended Essay

Required Formatting

The extended essay should be written in a clear, correct and formal academic style, appropriate to the subject from which the topic is drawn. Given that the extended essay is a formally written research paper, it should strive to maintain a professional, academic look. 

To help achieve this, the following formatting is  required:

• 12-point, readable font (Calibri or Times New Roman);
• double spacing throughout entire Essay;
• page numbering - top right corner;
• no candidate or school name or supervisor name on the title page or page headers.

Submitting the extended essay in the required format will help set the tone of the essay and will aid readability for on-screen assessment by examiners.

Required S tructure

The structure of the essay is very important. It helps students to organize the argument, making the best use of the evidence collected. 

There are six required elements of the final work to be submitted. More details about each element are given in the  “Presentation”  section. Please note that the order in which these elements are presented here is not necessarily the order in which they should be written. 

Six required elements of the extended essay:

• Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• References and bibliography -- if MLA "Works Cited" if CSE "References"

1. Required Title Page  

The title page should include  only  the following information: 

• the title of the essay
• the research question
• the subject the essay is registered in (if it is a language essay also state which category it falls into; if a world studies essay also state the theme and the two subjects utilized) 

The upper limit is 4,000 words for all extended essays. 

2. Required Contents Page

A contents page must be provided at the beginning of the extended essay and all pages should be numbered. Please note that an index page is not required and if included will be treated as if it is not present.

3. Required Introduction

The introduction should tell the reader what to expect in the essay. The introduction should make clear to the reader the focus of the essay, the scope of the research, in particular an indication of the sources to be used, and an insight into the line of argument to be taken. 

While students should have a sense of the direction and key focus of their essay, it is sometimes advisable to finalize the introduction once the body of the essay is complete.

4. Required Body of the Essay  (research, analysis, discussion, and evaluation)

The main task is writing the body of the essay, which should be presented in the form of a reasoned argument. The form of this varies with the subject of the essay but as the argument develops it should be clear to the reader what relevant evidence has been discovered, where/how it has been discovered and how it supports the argument. In some subjects, for example, the sciences, sub-headings within the main body of the essay will help the reader to understand the argument (and will also help the student to keep on track). In structuring their extended essay, students must take into consideration the expected conventions of the subject in which their extended essay is registered. 

Once the main body of the essay is complete, it is possible to finalize the introduction (which tells the reader what to expect) and the conclusion (which says what has been achieved, including notes of any limitations and any questions that have not been resolved). 

Any information that is important to the argument  must not  be included in appendices or footnotes/endnotes. The examiner  will not  read notes or appendices, so an essay that is not complete in itself will be compromised across the assessment criteria.

5. Required Conclusion

The conclusion says what has been achieved, including notes of any limitations and any questions that have not been resolved. While students might draw conclusions throughout the essay based on their findings, it is important that there is a final, summative conclusion at the end. This conclusion(s) must relate to the research question posed.

6.  Required References & Bibliography

Students should use their chosen style of academic referencing as soon as they start writing. That way they are less likely to forget to include a citation. It is also easier than trying to add references at a later stage. For more information on this, refer to the guidelines in the IB document  Effective citing and referencing.

Writing the essay takes time but if students have used their Researcher's reflection space and reflection sessions in a meaningful way they should be well prepared to develop their arguments.

Extended Essay - Examples & Exemplars

• Essays from May 2018 with IB marks and commentaries
• Assessed Student Work & Commentary IB-provided. "Student sample extended essays, corresponding marks and comments from senior examiners are available for the following Diploma Programme disciplines. Please note that in light of not having authentic RPPFs to accompany these essays, they are marked against criteria A – D only, for a total of 28 possible marks. Following the first assessment session in 2018, exemplars will be refreshed with authentic sample material." more... less... Biology English Economics History Studies in language and literature Language acquisition Mathematics Psychology Visual arts World studies extended essay (WSEE)
• Excellenet Extended Essays Concordian GoogleDoc
• EngA1_Othello EE Othello 2018 From inThinking.net Click the link to see the score and evaluation.
• Fifty (50) More Excellent Extended Essays DVD by International Baccalaureate Call Number: HS DVD 808.4 ISBN: 9781906345600 Publication Date: 2011 1 DVD-ROM (1:33 min.)

Past CIS Extended Essays

Available in the library behind the desk are file folders of past Extended Essays by Concordian students and IB EE Exemplars. Feel free to browse the papers which must be kept in the library.

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DP World Studies Extended Essay: Introduction

• Introduction
• Getting Started
• Global Themes
• Interdisciplinary Research
• What Makes Up a "Discipline"?
• Evaluating the Insights of Academic Disciplines
• Multiple Forms of Integration
• Evaluating Your Essay
• Common Stumbling Blocks
• Examples of Globally Conscious Students
• World Studies Exemplars
• List of IB Subjects
• Examiner Reports

World Studies EE Overview

The world studies extended essay (wsee).

The World Studies Extended Essay (WSEE) has to meet all the presentation requirements of the IB Extended Essay , including having a maximum length of 4,000 words.  

See the Extended Essay guide for more details.  WSEE documents are in the box to the right.

Examples of potential topics include:

Interdisciplinary Approach

The IB recommends that you use two IB Diploma Programme subjects, one of which you must be studying. 

You're not expected to address the topic in its full complexity, but you should aim to generate understandings that are new to you.

It would be very easy for you to rely on common-sense understanding of a global issue or more informal insights. However, the academic nature of the EE requires you to understand a global issue through disciplinary lenses.

• An examination of two geographical case studies exploring whether religious beliefs affect attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Oslo and Mombasa. 
• An examination of one or two events evaluating relief efforts after natural disasters, with suggestions of ways to make these more responsive. 
• An examination of one or two interventions investigating what determines the success or failure of sanctions imposed by the United Nations. 

You can refer to other places and events beyond the primary context(s) when relevant to the argument.  This can demonstrate global consciousness in your writing. However, a really detailed study of these additional cases would not be possible given the 4,000-word limit.

WSEE Documents

• IB EE Subject Guide - World Studies, 2018
• Making Meaningful Connections Use this worksheet to help you think about your research plans: the concepts or methods your will be using, the global topic you're focusing on, and the academic disciplines you will be using.
• Sample Prompts for the WSEE RRS What should you write in your RRS? Use these questions and prompts to help you think through the various stages of the research for your WSEE: your initial ideas, your thoughts and reflections during the process, and your conclusions.
• RRS Example B - World Studies

RPPF (Researcher's Planning and Progress Form) examples:

• RPPF Example 5 - World Studies
• RPPF Example 7 - World Studies

IB Extended Essay Guide

Check the Extended Essay guide for specific guidance on completing the various steps in the research and writing process of the EE, and  these documents:

• Next: Getting Started >>
• Last Updated: Nov 22, 2023 11:14 AM
• URL: https://aism-mz.libguides.com/worldstudies

Extended Essay: World Studies

• Introduction to the EE
• Step 1 - Choose a subject

World Studies

• Step 3 - The Researchers Reflection Space
• Identify Sources
• Tools for Note Taking
• Video Guides
• Step 5 - Creating Research Questions
• Step 6 - Outlines and Plans
• Step 7 - Citing
• Criteria E - 3 Reflections
• Know Your Criteria
• Criteria D - Check your Formatting
• 4000 words final hand in

This is not for the faint hearted. To embark on a World Studies extended essay means you have to really focus across two or more subject areas. It is very easy to do this badly, but if you succeed it is a very worthy assignment. Note also that it is a new area so it is something that you will have to do a lot of reading around yourself to make sure you are on track. if you have any doubts, turn back now.

If you choose to move forward - start by doing the following:

1. Read from the IBO.

Examples -  Go into and reading the exemplars in  this folder.

There have been a large number of examples added to the  ib website  recently., examiners comments are also very very useful: , world studies  subject report 2018, world studies subject report 2021, very useful document:  step by step guide to a world studies ee (source isb), how to fill in a proposal for a world studies essay.

Task 1. Look at the example above - You will practice reverse engineering a World Studies EE first doing  these tasks  and looking at some examples of EEs in World Studies.

Task 2: Look at some more examples of EE's that have been done in the past in World Studies

Task 3: Look again at the themes and examples - write a list of possible themes and wider topics you would want to look at.

Task 4: Do some reading and refine what you might want to do.

Task 5: Now put forward proposals - choose a range if you want

Presentation

New examples 2021.

There have been a large number of examples added to the IB website recently.

Look at them - even if they have a lower grade - look at why they might have got this.. Was it due to the choice of topic/ research question?

video resources

Video Resources

Both provided by ISB - Thanks

• << Previous: Group 6
• Next: Step 3 - The Researchers Reflection Space >>
• Last Updated: Mar 10, 2024 10:40 PM
• URL: https://cis.libguides.com/extendedessay

Gr. 11-12 Extended Essay

• Reflections
• Choose a Subject
• Choose a Topic
• Draft a Research Question
• Develop Your Search Strategy
• Computer Science
• Visual Arts
• World Studies

World Studies EE Overview

Recommended databases, website sources.

• Introduction
• Academic Integrity
• Common Questions
• For Supervisors
• EE Examples
• Introduction to the World Studies EE
• World Studies Extended Essays Guidance
• World Studies EE: Workflow and Expectations
• Intro to World Studies EE

World Studies EE examples

• << Previous: Visual Arts
• Next: Write Your Essay >>
• Last Updated: Apr 5, 2024 8:17 AM
• URL: https://yorkschool.libguides.com/extendedessay

World Studies Extended Essay: Global Themes

• Introduction
• Getting Started
• Global Themes
• Interdisciplinary Research
• What Makes Up a "Discipline"?
• Evaluating the Insights of Academic Disciplines
• Multiple Forms of Integration
• Evaluating Your Essay
• Common Stumbling Blocks
• Examples of Globally Conscious Students

World Studies Global Themes

Conflict, peace, and security Culture, language, and identity Environmental and/or economic sustainability Equality and inequality Health and development Science, technology and society

Conflict, peace, and security

Culture, language, and identity, environmental and/or economic sustainability, equality and inequality, health and development, science, technology and society, wsee documents.

WSEE Subject Guide and worksheets

• IB EE Subject Guide - World Studies, 2018
• Making Meaningful Connections Use this worksheet to help you think about your research plans: the concepts or methods your will be using, the global topic you're focusing on, and the academic disciplines you will be using.

RRS (Researcher's Reflection Space)

• Sample Prompts for the WSEE RRS What should you write in your RRS? Use these questions and prompts to help you think through the various stages of the research for your WSEE: your initial ideas, your thoughts and reflections during the process, and your conclusions.
• RRS Example B - World Studies

RPPF (Researcher's Planning and Progress Form) examples:

• RPPF Example 5 - World Studies
• RPPF Example 7 - World Studies

IB Extended Essay Guide & Timeline

Check the Extended Essay guide for specific guidance on completing the various steps in the research and writing process of the EE, and  these documents:

Quick Links

NoodleTools Links

The librarian is always happy to help you!

• << Previous: Getting Started
• Next: Interdisciplinary Study >>
• Last Updated: Sep 19, 2022 9:16 AM
• URL: https://libguides.westsoundacademy.org/wsee

Extended Essay: World Studies

• Research help
• World Studies

WSEE Themes

The WSEE is organized across six global themes. You choose one of these under which to register your essay.  The themes are:

Conflict, peace, and security Culture, language, and identity Environment and/or economic sustainability Equality and inequality Health and development Science, technology and society

Conflict, peace, and security

Culture, language, and identity, equality and inequality, health and development, science, technology, and society, environment and/or economic development, wsee resources.

• Connections This worksheet guides you to make meaningful connections...applicable for the WESS and from the IB
• WSEE IB Report A description of what to do and not to do
• << Previous: Criteria
• Last Updated: Oct 9, 2023 8:55 AM
• URL: https://aisj-jhb.libguides.com/extendedessay

Extended Essay: Interdisciplinary Papers: World Studies

• Step 1 - Choosing a Subject
• Step 2 - Choosing a Topic
• Step 3 - Draft a Research Question
• Step 4 - Finding Sources
• Step 5 - Evaluating Information
• Step 6 - Bibliography & Citation
• Step 7 - Organizing Information
• The Arts: Visual Arts
• Individuals & Societies: Business Management
• Individuals & Societies: History
• Individuals & Societies: Psychology
• Language Acquisition
• Language and Literature
• Sciences: Biology
• Sciences: Sports, Exercise, and Health Sciences
• Interdisciplinary Papers: World Studies
• Assessment Criteria

Choosing a Topic

Choosing a Topic in World Studies

Topics in World Studies must be interdisciplinary. They must be of "global significance," but also have a localized focus or case study, and they must be approachable through two distinct subject areas. 

Students will need to register their papers in one of the six "areas of study" or themes. (These are not subject areas.) Students' issues of global significance should be related somehow to one of these areas. Whatever issue students choose, they will then have to relate that topic to two different subject areas. Students will use the knowledge and methods from these two different areas to break down the complexity of the issue, and analyze it in the specific context of a location of their choosing.

Approaches to Research

Because World Studies essays are interdisciplinary in nature, students will most likely draw on methods from the different subject areas they are using. Depending on the topic and the location of the focus, students may need to look for primary data in secondary sources. Like in other subjects, this is acceptable as long as students apply the data in an original way.

Students can refer to the research and source guidance in other subjects that may be helpful in their process.

Integrating Subject Areas

A successful World Studies essay must be interdisciplinary. This means that students must integrate two subject areas in the context of one paper topic. There are multiple ways of doing this.

Assessed Student Work

• How effective is beehive fencing in minimizing elephant crop-raiding in the Mwakoma village of Eastern Tsavo?
• How and to what extent did the Iraq invasion and occupation between the years 2003 and 2005 impact the rise of radical Islamic terrorism?
• << Previous: Sciences: Sports, Exercise, and Health Sciences
• Next: Assessment Criteria >>
• Last Updated: Dec 10, 2022 12:51 PM
• URL: https://k497.libguides.com/extendedessay