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Extended Essay: Reflections

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On Reflection

On this page ...

  • Ideas on how to reflect meaningfully and effectively

  • The importance of 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). Here are some examples.

  • 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) section in ManageBac. Remember that ManageBac will lock at each deadline. 

  • exactly how you reflect is your choice- You can use this document to help you write your reflections.

  • Please see this slideshow for examples of good and bad reflections.

Supervisors will

  • Undertake three mandatory reflection sessions with each student they are supervising

  • initial and date each reflection summarized on the Managebac RPPF and provide comments at the end of the process

  • encourage and support students throughout the research and writing of the extended essay

  • discuss the choice of topic with each student and, in particular, help to formulate a well-focused research question which is suitable to the subject of registration and ensure that the chosen research question satisfies appropriate legal and ethical standards with regard to health and safety, confidentiality, human rights, animal welfare and environmental issues

  • is familiar with the regulations governing the extended essay and the assessment criteria, and gives copies of these to students

  • monitor the progress of the extended essay to offer guidance and to ensure that the essay is the student’s own work (this may include presenting a section of the essay for supervisor comment)

  • read and comment on one draft only of the extended essay (but do not edit the draft); this should take place before the interim reflection session.

  • ensure that the final version of the essay is handed in before the final reflection session (viva voce) takes place, and that no changes are made to it subsequently

  • read the final version and, in conjunction with the viva voce, confirm its authenticity.

Tips From the EE Guide

Students are expected to provide reflections on the decision-making and planning process undertaken in completing the essay. Students must demonstrate how they arrived at a topic as well as the methods and approach used. This criterion assesses the extent to which a student has evidenced the rationale for decisions made throughout the planning process and the skills and understandings developed.

For example, students may reflect on:

  • the approach and strategies they chose, and their relative success

  • the Approaches to Learning skills (ATLs) they have developed and their effect on the student as a learner

  • how their conceptual understandings have developed or changed as a result of their research

  • challenges they faced in their research and how they overcame these

  • questions that emerged as a result of their research

  • what they would do differently if they were to undertake the research again.

Effective reflection highlights the journey the student has engaged in through the EE process. Students must show evidence of critical and reflective thinking that goes beyond simply describing the procedures that have been followed.

The reflections must provide the examiner with an insight into student thinking, creativity and originality within the research process. The student voice must be clearly present and demonstrate the learning that has taken place.

Do's & Dont's

DO

  • Show your learning and changes in your ideas

  • Refer to some of the interactions with your supervisor (what she said or asked, what you responsed)

  • Explain what was difficult and how you overcame the difficulties

  • Use your personal voice

DON'T

  • Don't just write about the meetings with the supervisor

  • Don't refer too much to "the end product"

  • Don't state "generic points" your text must be specific to your experience

  • Don't write it too fast, in one go: draft and prepare your text

  • Don't use resource whose quality is not certain