Lecture 1 Introduction to Extended Essay

E X T E N D E D

E S S A Y

D R . I N C I T O R A L

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L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E S

• Understand the process of writing an extended essay and the resources available to

you;

• Be aware of the overall timeline to complete your work;

• Manage your time and your supervisor;

• Consider the necessary steps to narrow and scope your research topic;

• Understand how to write your introduction and the key elements it needs to contain.

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The Quest for the Golden Essay

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W E E K LY F L O W

Lecture

Topic

1

Introduction

2

Finding a research question

3

Conducting a literature review

4

Secondary data and Systematic literature review

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K E Y D A T E S T O R E M E M B E R

Date

Your supervisor should hold an initial meeting with you in Week 1 or 2.

09.02.2024

Email your completed Proposal Form to your supervisor by 5pm at the latest.

29.02.2024

Submit Data Ethics Form through Canvas. 2% late penalty will apply.

We advise to submit your First Draft in Week 8 or Week 9.

25.04.2024

Submission by 12:00 noon.

Assessment: 100% Extended Essay 5,000 words

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I N E E D H E L P – W H O C A N I A S K ?

• Module leader

– Dr. Inci Toral [e-mail]

• Administrative Enquiries

– [e-mail]

• Academic Skills Centre

https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/libraryser
vices/library/asc/index.aspx

– One-to-one appointments:

https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/librarys
ervices/library/asc/appointments-and-
contact.aspx

– Academic Skills Gateway:

https://libguides.bham.ac.uk/asg/

• Inci’s office hours

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F E E D B A C K –
W H A T
F E E D B A C K ?

• Formative vs summative feedback

– What is it and how can I use it?

• Formative feedback

– During meetings with your supervisor

on your progress

– Via email from your supervisor or

module lead

– In response to your Proposal Form and

First Draft documents

– During and after workshops

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Dropdown

What is the word limit for the extended essay?

Select answer

Dropdown

When is the submission deadline for the extended essay?

Select answer

Multiple Choice

What is the main goal of the extended essay module?

• To engage in classroom debates

• To enhance writing abilities in debating an argument

• To only participate in workshops

• To complete a practical task

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the Data Ethics Form?

• To collect primary data

• To ensure ethical handling of data

• To request an extension

• To submit the final essay

Multiple Choice

How is the extended essay module assessed?

• Through practical exams

• Through a written individual essay based on the assessment criteria

• Through group presentations

• Through multiple choice tests

Multiple Choice

Who assesses your extended Essays?

• Inci

• Supervisor

• UG Office

Multiple Choice

What is the maximum word count for the abstract of the extended essay?

• 350 words

• 250 words

• 500 words

• 150 words

Multiple Choice

What should be included in the title page of the extended essay?

• Student name, Id, and supervisor's name

• University name and student's name

• Only the title of the essay

• Supervisor's name and contact details

Multiple Choice

What is the University's view on plagiarism?

• It is not considered a serious offence

• It is a form of cheating and a serious academic offence

• It is acceptable if properly referenced

• It is allowed in dissertations and theses

Multiple Choice

How many times should students meet with their supervisor during the semester?

• At least three times

• At least twice

• At least four times

• At least once

Multiple Choice

What should students do if they need an extension for the extended essay?

• Inform the supervisor and module leader in advance

• Submit the essay without an extension

• Wait for the supervisor to request an extension

• Contact the Wellbeing Team for an extension

Multiple Choice

What is the penalty for late submission of the extended essay?

• 5% deduction per day

• No penalty

• 10% deduction per day

• Immediate fail

Drag and Drop

Who applies late submission penalties?

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Inci

UG Office

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the supervisor in the extended essay module?

• To provide guidance and feedback

• To write the essay for the student

• To grade the essay

• To provide the essay topic

Multiple Choice

Can you use AI to assist me in writing your Extended Essay?

• Yes, but it may not be very helpful
• Yes
• Maybe, but it's not recommended
• No, AI cannot assist in writing an Extended Essay

Multiple Choice

What is the format for citation in the extended essay?

• MLA

• APA

• Chicago

• Harvard

W H A T I S A N E X T E N D E D
E S S A Y ?

An extended essay is a piece of original work, up to 5,000 words

long, which successfully communicates a relevant research question

and whatever progress you have made towards its solution.

There are different types of extended essays. You may wish to adapt

or combine the below to produce your own type:

• Extended (critical) literature reviews

• Data-oriented essays

• Applied studies

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W H Y W R I T E
A N
E X T E N D E D
E S S A Y ?

• Showcase your knowledge and ability

to use and communicate it

• It develops your autonomy – the

ability to make decisions and reach

conclusions without undue external

assistance

• Transferable skills regardless of your

future job

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H O W S H O U L D I
P L A N M Y W O R K ?

Planning is an iterative process:

– Think of a working title.

– Accumulate relevant articles and other materials.

– Think about possible structures, and lines of

argument, for your essay

– Refine

(i)

Logical

(ii)

forward-moving

(iii)

easy for the reader to understand and follow

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C H O O S I N G A T I T L E

• Try to think of the title as a question you intend to answer

• Later you may want to change the question into the more usual

form

• A critical literature review may just nominate a subject area

– design your own logical and coherent arrangement,

preferably on the ‘top-down’ principle

• Always think about your essay from the reader’s point of view

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W H A T I S T O P - D O W N
P L A N N I N G ?

•Macro-structure: title, sections (or chapters), sub-sections, paragraphs.

– write out this structure explicitly, using for instance Word’s numbered list

facility

– The ‘atoms’ of the macro structure are the paragraphs

•Micro-structure: deals with the composition of your paragraphs into sentences;
then these into words and punctuation marks.

Consider how your macro- and micro-structure help solve the question posed by
your title

– Major steps are indicated by sections and subsections

– Paragraphs indicate moderately large steps in your reasoning

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S T R U C T U R E O F Y O U R E X T E N D E D
E S S A Y

•Title page.

•Abstract. (Summary, 100-200 words.)

•Contents Page

•Section 1 – Introduction

•Section 2 – Background

•Section 3 – Literature Review

–Section 3.1

–Section 3.2 …

•Section 4 - Method (if required)

•Section 5 – Empirical Results (if required)

•Section 6 – Recommendations and Conclusions

•References

•Appendix

• NB: This is a very basic structure. This is

just an example and will depend on the

specifics of your extended essay. I

therefore strongly recommend

discussing your structure with your

supervisor. Expand the titles, to make

them more interesting and explicit

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W H A T C A N G O W R O N G W I T H T H E
S T R U C T U R E ?

1. The essay takes too long to get going.

2. The headings are dull and uninformative.

Introduction vs

Introduction: Is Capitalism Doomed?

Literature Review vs

Literature Review: Two Centuries of Academic Incomprehension

Conclusions vs.

Conclusions – Retreat to the Nuclear Bunker.

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W H A T C A N G O
W R O N G W I T H
T H E
S T R U C T U R E ?

3. There aren’t enough subsections.

• In most cases, no subsection in your

essay should last more than two or
three pages

4. There is no rationale for each section.

5. Your essay is too descriptive.

• In general, ‘Descriptive’ = bad,

‘analytical’ = good

• Some preparatory description is

usually needed, but keep it to a
minimum

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W H A T C A N G O W R O N G W I T H T H E
S T R U C T U R E ?

6. It contains a long and unmotivated ‘Historical Introduction’, which is devoid of
analysis.

• In 1950 Labour nationalized widgets. But in 1958 the Conservatives privatized

them. Then in 1966 Labour renationalized them, under the Widgets (Ownership)
Act, 1966. The Act had 413 clauses. Clause 1 said ...

→ How can we analyse rather than describe?

7. Your essay is difficult to read: boring, in fact.

• GRAB THE READER BY THE THROAT!!! (not by crude typographical means)

• Readers must be able to follow the essay’s structure

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W O R D C O U N T

• 5,000 words

• This word count excludes

– the title page

– Acknowledgments

– Abstract

– Reference list

– Appendices

– Charts, figures, and tables

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S H O R T E N I N G Y O U R E S S A Y

• Consider which material you can reasonably put into the appendix

• Do not simply reproduce material you were taught

–You can of course apply models and reasoning you have learned – this is adding value

• Explain (and comment on) the work of the authors you cite, rather than copying out

sections of it. Besides saving space, you will show how much of the analysis you
understand.

• Use summaries rather than detailed description - particularly if this detail has little

direct relevance to your research question

→ a good way to add value.

• If you have a flowery style, simplify it.

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W R I T I N G T H E I N T R O D U C T I O N

• Provide some background information and context

• Limit the scope of your essay

• State your position on the topic

• Outline the structure of the essay

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Writing Your Dissertation

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M A N A G I N G
Y O U R
S U P E R V I S O R

Initial Meeting (Semester 2, Weeks 1-2)

•Supervisors should provide some guidance in terms of
suitable references and data sources, discuss how you
should work in the coming weeks, and answer any
questions.

Proposal Form.

•Submit the Proposal Form by 9thFebruary 2024 for
feedback

Weeks 4-8.

•Supervisors should try to make themselves available for
consultation.

•29.02.2024 submit your Data Ethics Form through Canvas.

Week 8 or 9

•Send your First Draft to your supervisor to receive
feedback. Supervisors should offer you the opportunity to
talk through their comments, if you wish.

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I N S U M M A R Y

• An extended essay is a piece of original work, up to 5,000

words long

• Normally a critical extended literature review

• Key dates: Proposal form (9th February), Data Ethics Form (29th February), Submission

(25th April)

• Title and introduction help verbalise essay question; essay structure follows

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Mastering the Extended Essay

Plan your work by thinking of a working title, accumulating relevant materials, and refining your structure. Choose a title that can be answered as a question and consider the reader's perspective. Use top-down planning to create a logical and coherent arrangement. Structure your essay with a macro-structure (title, sections, sub-sections) and a micro-structure (paragraphs, sentences, words).

Planning Your Extended Essay

Trivia: The first step in planning your extended essay is accumulating relevant materials. This involves gathering resources such as books, articles, and online sources to support your research. It is crucial to have a solid foundation of information before diving into the writing process. Remember, quality sources lead to a quality essay!

Essay Structure

Trivia: Did you know that including long and unmotivated historical introductions is not an important aspect of structuring an essay effectively? Instead, focus on using descriptive headings and subsections, consulting with your supervisor for guidance, and providing analytical content. Avoid descriptive content without analysis.

Mastering the Extended Essay

Choose a captivating title and structure your essay effectively. Use descriptive headings, include subsections, provide rationale for each section, and focus on analytical rather than descriptive content. Avoid long and unmotivated historical introductions. Make your essay engaging and easy to read. Follow the recommended structure and consult with your supervisor for guidance.

Mastering the Extended Essay

5,000 words | Exclude: title page, acknowledgments, abstract, reference list, appendices, charts, figures, and tables.

Shortening Your Essay: Use appendix for relevant material. Avoid copying, explain and comment on cited work. Use summaries instead of detailed descriptions. Simplify flowery style.

Writing the Introduction: Provide background information, limit scope, state position, outline structure.

Managing Your Supervisor: Initial meeting for guidance. Submit Proposal Form by 9th Feb. Consultation in Weeks 4-8. Submit Data Ethics Form by 29th Feb. Send First Draft for feedback.

In Summary: Extended essay up to 5,000 words. Critical literature review. Key dates: Proposal form (9th Feb), Data Ethics Form (29th Feb), Submission (25th April). Title and introduction verbalize essay question; essay structure follows.

Attendance

Code: 74743218

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Multiple Choice

What is the first step in planning your extended essay?

• Choosing a working title

• Accumulating relevant materials

• Refining your structure

• None of the above

Multiple Choice

What is an important aspect of structuring an essay effectively?

• Using descriptive headings and subsections

• Including long and unmotivated historical introductions

• Focusing on descriptive content instead of analytical

• Consulting with your supervisor for guidance

Open Ended

What is an extended essay and what are its different types?

Open Ended

Why should I write an extended essay?

Open Ended

How should I plan my work?

Open Ended

What can go wrong with the structure of an extended essay?

Open Ended

What is the word count and how can I shorten my essay?

S O M E O T H E R U S E F U L R E S O U R C E S

• Managing your Research Project

• Writing your Dissertation

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