IB Extended Essay

I'm going to add my own advice including feedback from the examiner but please find below further advice from another IB school.

The research question should lead students along a path that utilizes appropriate geographical sources, and encourages the application of relevant geographical concepts, theories or ideas. The best research questions are well focused, thus encouraging analysis in depth rather than breadth. It is also important that the geographical context of the essay is well established early in the essay.The scope of the essay should not be too broad; such essays are rarely successful.

Investigations carried out at a local scale usually score the highest marks. This discourages an over-reliance on published materials and encourages original research. Essays conducted in an area that is familiar and accessible to the student have a much greater chance of achieving success through a more personal involvement, which, in turn, encourages a greater in-depth study.

A sound methodology including the collection of high quality data is the foundation of a good geography essay. Good data gives the student the scope for the type of in-depth analysis that characterizes the very best pieces of work. It is rare for an essay that is based entirely on published texts to score highly.It is important that the extended essay in geography is not seen as just an extended piece of fieldwork. Although there may be some similarities in approach, the extended essay need not place so strong an emphasis on primary field data. In fact, many successful research topics are based on published data.The emphasis, therefore, should be more on written analysis, interpretation, evaluation and the development of an argument than on the techniques of data collection and processing.

The following gives some indication of a possible research question, approach and methodology.Title: Development disparities in VietnamResearch Question: To what extent does regional development in Vietnam reflect the core-periphery concept?Approach: Data collection of a range of development statistics for each Vietnamese province allowed the construction of the student’s own index of development levels pertinent to Vietnam. Provincial levels of development were mapped and the resulting pattern was compared with the core-periphery model.In terms of those recently circulated as Grade As here are a selection with the research questions added to them.

Geography Extended Essays – Grade A·

An investigation into urban land use changes within a city, with regards to Alonso’s Bid-Rent Theory.Whether or not the land use changes as the distance from Cardiff’s CBD increase, and whether or not these land use changes are applicable to the patterns of the Bid-Rent Model.·

The spatial relationship of tourism and crime of the Golden Mile, South Africa.Investigate how the economic, social and environmental changes brought aboutby the gentrification of the area have impacted on the crime rates.·

A geographical analysis of the spatial distribution of social, economic and environmental inequalities within the city of Hamburg.Do the areas of social, economic, and environmental inequalities within the city of Hamburg match those described in Burgess’ concentric zone model of urban morphology.·

Investigating the long-term nutritional status of child refugees living in Kibondo Camps, Tanzania.To what extent are Burundian child refugees’ long-term nutrition level affected by extended residence in refugee camps in Kibondo District, Tanzania?·

Settlement hierarchies in the Northern Fang Valley, Thailand.Determine the relationship between the population and the functions of a settlement.·

Water pollution management techniques and their impact on Okuma and Egawa Rivers of Yokohama.Have water pollution management techniques in Okuma River and Egawa River been effective?·

The development of the road network in Lesotho.How Lesotho’s road network has developed over the past 40 years.·

Gentrification in inner Vesterbro, Copenhagen.Are there any signs of urban renewal that has lead to gentrification in inner Vesterbro, and if any then why and at which consequences are they taking place?·

Factors Constraining Development of Tourism Around Wtoctawski Reservoir.Why hasn’t tourism developed in Murzynowo?·

Investigating the nature and spatial distribution of services, shops and pedestrians in the Sub-Saharan Central Business District of Moshi, Tanzania.
What are the morphological characteristics of the Central Business District of Moshi, Tanzania, and how can they be both defined and described?