ideas on how to reflect meaningfully and effectively
a short tutorial about Managebac and the RRS
Summary
you are encouraged to reflect on your EE progress regularly - this is carried out in the Researcher's Reflection Space (RRS)
you will have to complete three mandatory reflections (these add up to a maximum of 500 words) this is done on the Reflections on Planning and Progress (RRPF)
exactly how you reflect is your choice
Want to HACK your EE Reflections? Use this doc to make quality reflections
Or you can use this template if you prefer.
Please go through these documents, pick and choose what works for you.
How did you solve your biggest problem? Writing Stems
What resource(s) changed your thinking? Some Reflection Questions
What was your most useful mistake? Checklist for Student Reflections
Reading & Note Taking
When you are new to the EE, the amount of reading you are expected to do can be daunting. However, you can learn how to prepare yourself in advance and find ways to make it easier. The link above can help by outlining tips for effective reading and note-taking.
Reading Skills & Note taking Skills
Efficient reading: SQ3R method. How to make sense of Key Passages
Writing an Outline
In this section you will find advice on:
Why write an outline?
Why wouldn't you? You're planning a journey and this will be your road map. There will be surprise diversions and occasional roadblocks along the way but the outline will steer you in the correct direction. Be aware however no outline is perfect. Consider it a 'working document' that can change and evolve as you go along.
Importantly, having an outline will help your supervisor understand your thoughts and ideas - which leads to far better advice and feedback for you.
What does an EE outline look like?
Here are some example outlines in different EE subjects:
Annotated Bibliography & Literature Review
In this section:
you can learn to make an annotated bibliography
you can see a number of examples from a range of subjects
you can understand why having an annotated bibliography saves you time later
you will find out that ALL EE's need a literature review
you are given a template to organize your learning
you are given some quotes from the IB EE guide about literature reviews
Many students assume because they have read a source they should use it but in reality your task as an EE student is to be selective. An annotated bibliography will allow students to put their filters on and improve their evaluative decision-making.
helps the researcher remain organized
helps the researcher compare and contrast sources
helps the researcher make the final bibliography with just a few clicks
helps the researcher send positive signals to their supervisor, eg in the interim meeting
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A LITERATURE REVIEW?
The literature review enables you to say “Evans and Adams have found this’ or ‘There’s a gap here’, or “Bloggs is disagreeing with Smith; I wonder why that is’, or ‘Brown and Jones both say this, but it disagrees with the general scientific view’, or public opinion is disputed by Davies, who says … ‘ … or something else like this.
Before writing about any topic it is useful to find out what has already been said about the topic.
This allows you to:
Better understand the topic
Make a link between your ideas (or methods) and those of others
Consider whether your ideas challenge or support an existing consensus
Situate your views within a context of existing viewpoints
Track any major trends or patterns in terms of interpretation
Allow you to identify the value and limitations of source material
As you do your literature review, you will certainly think about changing your initial research question. This is normal; don’t worry about it.
Lekanides (58)
Example of a literature review for an Extended Essay
Opinions on the subject of the chicken-or-egg controversy appear to show very little agreement, and are therefore inconclusive. Some authors (Giles) argue that it is obvious that chickens came first, as egg farming is a multi-million dollar industry, as a result of eggs popping out of chickens. However, others (Hen) totally disagree, and point out that all eggs would turn into chickens were they not kidnapped and murdered at a young age. Academic research, such as that carried out by Charles Darwin, is equally inconclusive, as he points out that the fossil record is unable to provide a definitive answer, and no humans were witness to either the first chicken or first egg. Darwin points out that at the very least greater research needs to be carried out on this subject. While this research project will seek to uncover a definitive answer, it concedes that such an answer may be impossible. (Carver, 2019)
ONLINE HELP
Methodology & Methods
Use this document to help you.
What examiners typically say about the Methodology
Inappropriateness of the methodology to the theoretical framework and perspective of the study;
Insufficient justification for the choice of methodology with respect to research questions;
Placing the methodological approaches within logical of overall design and so demonstrating appropriateness
Failure to link methodology adequately to methodological literature;
Inappropriateness of methodology to generate the data needed to answer the research questions posed;
Failure to recognize limits and parameters of methodology used (generalizability and repeatability, etc.);
Appropriateness of methodology to sample;
Inadequate description of the methodological approach and framework;
Inadequate description of the instruments being used;
Inadequate description of the development and testing of new instruments or techniques;
Inappropriate, poor and inadequate statistical treatments
(King 1996)
Dr. Zina O'Leary provides some expert advice
The following is freely available from https://study.sagepub.com/oleary3e.
*Note: this is aimed mostly at the social sciences. So please as always, speak to your subject specialist supervisor for advice on your EE