IBDP Extended Essays

Preparing for an English Extended Essay (EE) involves several key steps to ensure a thorough and successful research process. Here’s a guide to help you get started and stay on track.

Step 1 – Understand the Procedure.

1. Choose a Subject and Topic

Subject Selection:

• Since your EE will be in English, consider focusing on literature, language, or cultural studies. Your topic should be related to one of these areas.

Topic Selection:

• Identify a specific aspect of English literature or language that interests you. This could be an analysis of a particular author, a comparison of literary works, or an exploration of a theme or technique.

Example Topics:

• Analyzing the use of symbolism in Shakespeare’s plays.
• Comparing the portrayal of social issues in two novels from different cultures.
• Exploring the evolution of a particular literary genre over time.

2. Formulate a Research Question

Crafting the Question:

• Your research question should be clear, focused, and researchable. It should allow for in-depth analysis within the 4,000-word limit.

Example Questions:

• “How does the use of unreliable narration in ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ affect the reader’s perception of Holden Caulfield?”
• “To what extent does Jane Austen’s portrayal of social class in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ reflect the historical context of early 19th-century England?”

3. Conduct Preliminary Research

Literature Review:

• Start by reading primary texts and relevant secondary sources. Take notes on key themes, critical perspectives, and scholarly arguments.

Source Evaluation:

• Ensure that your sources are credible and relevant. Look for academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and reputable literary criticism.

4. Create a Research Plan

Timeline:

• Develop a timeline for your research and writing process. Include milestones for completing research, drafting, revising, and finalizing your essay.

Outline:

• Create a detailed outline to organize your ideas and structure your essay. Include sections for the introduction, body, and conclusion.

5. Write the Essay

Introduction:

• Present your research question, provide background information, and outline the significance of your topic.

Body:

• Develop your arguments with evidence from primary texts and secondary sources. Analyze literary elements, themes, or language use as relevant to your question.

Conclusion:

• Summarize your findings and reflect on the implications of your analysis. Address how your research question has been answered and any broader insights.

6. Revise and Edit

Drafting:

• Write multiple drafts of your essay. Focus on clarity, coherence, and depth of analysis.

Feedback:

• Seek feedback from your supervisor and peers. Incorporate their suggestions to improve your essay.

Editing:

• Check for grammatical errors, proper citation, and adherence to the IB’s formatting guidelines. Ensure your essay follows the assessment criteria.

7. Reflect and Finalize

Reflection:

• Write a reflective statement on your research process, challenges faced, and how you addressed them.

Final Submission:

• Ensure that your final essay is polished, properly formatted, and submitted according to IB guidelines.

8. Prepare for the Viva Voce (Optional)

Oral Defense:

• If required, prepare to discuss your essay and research process with your supervisor. Be ready to answer questions and reflect on your work.

By following these steps and staying organized, you can create a well-researched and well-written Extended Essay that meets IB requirements and showcases your analytical skills.

Now, let’s go to Step 2 and see how to organize the Essay.

Extended Essay: “Broken Identities in Nadine Gordimer’s Works”

Subject: English Literature

Research Question: “How does Nadine Gordimer’s portrayal of broken identities in her works reflect the socio-political landscape of apartheid South Africa?”

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Introduction

Nadine Gordimer, a Nobel laureate in Literature, is renowned for her incisive explorations of the socio-political landscape of apartheid South Africa. Her works often grapple with themes of identity, particularly how these identities are fragmented and reshaped under the oppressive regime. This essay examines Gordimer’s portrayal of broken identities, focusing on how her characters’ struggles with their sense of self mirror the broader socio-political turmoil of their environment. By analyzing key texts such as “Burger’s Daughter,” “The Conservationist,” and “July’s People,” this study aims to uncover how Gordimer uses the theme of broken identity to critique the impacts of apartheid on personal and collective consciousness.

Body

1. Contextual Background

• Nadine Gordimer’s Biography and Historical Context:
  • Briefly outline Gordimer’s background and her role as a writer during the apartheid era.
  • Explain the historical and socio-political context of apartheid South Africa and its influence on Gordimer’s writing.
• Overview of Selected Texts:
  • Provide summaries of “Burger’s Daughter,” “The Conservationist,” and “July’s People,” highlighting their relevance to the theme of broken identities.

2. Analysis of Broken Identities in “Burger’s Daughter”

• Character Analysis:
  • Examine the protagonist, Rosa Burger, and her struggle with her identity in the wake of her father’s political activism and subsequent repression.
  • Analyze how Rosa’s fragmented sense of self reflects the larger societal fragmentation caused by apartheid.
• Themes and Symbols:
  • Explore themes of alienation, loss, and political disillusionment.
  • Discuss the symbolism used to represent broken identities, such as Rosa’s relationships and her involvement in the anti-apartheid movement.
• Narrative Techniques:
  • Analyze Gordimer’s use of narrative voice and structure to convey Rosa’s internal conflict and the impact of political oppression on personal identity.

3. Broken Identities in “The Conservationist”

• Character Analysis:
  • Analyze the protagonist, Mehring, and his disconnection from his own identity as he navigates the socio-political landscape of South Africa.
  • Examine how Mehring’s identity is disrupted by his position as a wealthy landowner and his relationship with the land and its people.
• Themes and Symbols:
  • Explore themes of colonialism, environmental degradation, and class conflict.
  • Discuss symbols such as the farm and its wildlife, which represent the broader disintegration of personal and societal identities.
• Narrative Techniques:
  • Assess Gordimer’s portrayal of Mehring’s psychological state and how it reflects his broken identity through shifts in narrative perspective and language.

4. Examination of “July’s People”

• Character Analysis:
  • Analyze the character of July and his transformation from a servant to a central figure in the post-revolutionary context.
  • Explore the impact of political upheaval on July’s sense of self and his relationships with the Smales family.
• Themes and Symbols:
  • Discuss themes of displacement, power dynamics, and the reversal of social roles.
  • Examine symbols such as the Smales’ house and its gradual disintegration as metaphors for shifting identities.
• Narrative Techniques:
  • Investigate Gordimer’s use of narrative voice and setting to reflect the themes of identity and displacement.

5. Comparative Analysis

• Comparison of Themes:
  • Compare the depiction of broken identities across the three novels. Highlight common themes and variations in how Gordimer addresses identity and socio-political issues.
• Literary Techniques:
  • Discuss how Gordimer’s use of narrative techniques, character development, and symbolism evolves across the texts and contributes to the portrayal of broken identities.

Conclusion

Summarize the key findings of the essay, emphasizing how Nadine Gordimer’s exploration of broken identities reflects the broader socio-political context of apartheid South Africa. Reflect on the implications of these portrayals for understanding both the personal and collective impacts of apartheid on identity. Conclude with thoughts on the enduring relevance of Gordimer’s work in contemporary discussions about identity and social justice.

References

Include a comprehensive list of all sources cited, including primary texts (Gordimer’s novels) and secondary sources such as critical essays, biographies, and historical context materials.

Reflection (Optional)

Provide a reflective statement on your research process, including any challenges faced, insights gained, and how this study has deepened your understanding of Gordimer’s work and the theme of broken identities.

Step 3 – A Real EE.