Expert Advice for the IB English Extended Essay

Why Write Your Extended Essay in English Literature?

The purpose of the IB extended essay is to provide students with the opportunity to independently research a topic of their choosing. The project allows students to develop research, communication, creative, and critical thinking skills. A Group 1 subject, extended essays in Language and Literature (English literature) are divided into three categories: 

  • Category 1 - The study of one or more literary works written in the language in which the essay is presented. These essays are primarily focused on literary analysis and criticism. 

  • Category 2 - The study of two literary works, one of which is written in the language in which the essay is presented and another work which is originally written in another language (a work of translation). 

  • Category 3 - The study of language, yet not restricted to literary texts. Category 3 could analyse oral texts such as speeches or broadcasts, or media texts such as advertising campaigns or television programs. Category 3 emphasises the production and reception of different texts in their unique social, historical and cultural contexts.

English Literature essays are well-suited to the extended essay’s aims and assessment criteria. Through textual analysis and critical thinking, IB English literature essays in all three categories facilitate an in-depth understanding of language and literature. The straightforward formatting of English literature essays allows students to more easily craft a well-structured essay that addresses each assessment criteria and showcases the development of their argumentation and evaluation skills.

Selecting a Topic for the English Extended Essay

IB English students are always encouraged to select both a literary work (or works) and a topic that interests them. In an extended essay, the topic is the student’s broad area of interest. This is typically a philosophical, political, or social question addressed by their chosen literary work. Students must be sufficiently motivated to spend months researching this topic and writing a 4000 word essay on it. A student’s topic must also lead into their research question—the line of inquiry that runs through the essay. A student’s chosen topic must allow for a focused, specific question that covers a broad scope of their literary work. Their extended essay aims to interrogate and answer this question. 

Researching for the English Extended Essay

Independent research is a core component of the extended essay. When investigating their topic of choice, IB English students are expected to utilise both primary and secondary sources. Reading and locating these sources is a key part of the research process. For English Literature essays, a student’s primary sources will be the literary works that are the focus of their research. Secondary sources such as books, edited essays, or academic journal articles will provide insightful analysis and unique interpretations of the primary source. Secondary sources for an English extended essay can be found in academic databases, libraries, and IB-specific guides. Online resources such as JSTOR and Google Scholar are popular sites for students seeking scholarly articles and research papers. 

Meeting Deadlines in the English Extended Essay

Schools will typically set internal deadlines to ensure continuous progress is made on all IB extended essays. To meet these deadlines, IB English students are advised to begin preparations for their extended essay as soon as possible. This involves thinking carefully about their research question and seeking advice from their supervisor. In the early stages of the extended essay, supervisors will often suggest that students revise their topic, or even change their literary text. Moving forward, IB students should develop a schedule for both researching and writing their essay. This will ensure they do not spend too much time planning and delay the writing process. Having a clear structure for their essay before beginning to write will also save them valuable time, as will recording their research progress and citing their sources as they write. By being proactive and crafting an effective study schedule, IB English students will be able to handle both the internal and external deadlines for their extended essay. 

Example of Weak English Extended Essay Analysis

Below is an example of weak analysis in an English extended essay on Fahrenheit 451. It explores how the character of Beatty has internalised and assimilated to the oppression of his state. 

In conversation with Montag, Beatty states, ‘we’re the Happiness Boys, the Dixie Duo, you and I and the others. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought . . . Don’t let the torrent of melancholy and dreary philosophy drown our world . . . I don’t think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now’ (Bradbury 81). Through his use of language, Bradbury reveals Beatty’s submission to both authority and propaganda. Beatty is convinced that books are a dangerous source of unhappiness and should therefore be destroyed. He believes that conflicting ideas and critical thinking are an attack on the superficial happiness and order maintained by the government. Overall, Beatty's is presented as ruthless, ignorant, and brainwashed. 

There are several weaknesses within this student’s analysis. Initially, the student has included a quotation that is far too long, and appears unable to paraphrase the precise argument they are hoping to make. The student’s preceding analysis also does not relate back to their specific quote, making only broad assertions on Bradbury’s characterisation of Beatty, rather than how their chosen quote showcases his relationship to the state. 

Example of Strong English Extended Essay Analysis

Below is a stronger response relating to the same topic and research question. 

In conversation with Montag, Beatty describes the pair as ‘the Happiness Boys’ who ‘stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought’ (Bradbury 81). Bradbury’s metaphor reveals Beatty’s authoritarian nature. As leader of the fire company, Beatty embodies the government and enforces the laws it has set, ‘stand[ing] against’ and protecting society from ‘the small tide’ of dissenters who aim to bring pain and suffering. As Atasoy implies, happiness for Beatty ‘means burning books… abiding by the stifling rules of the dominant power, and maintaining the status quo’. Beatty’s utilitarian principles subsequently reveal his unnerving loyalty to the totalitarian suppression of the state (Atasoy 54).

Here, the student has effectively paraphrased the quotation to which their analysis has made specific reference. The student has also used a relevant secondary source to effectively support their argument. Finally, the analysis has been concluded by linking back to Beatty’s relationship with the state, explaining how their included quote reveals his submission and assimilation. 

How BartyED English Tutor Support Students

A BartyED English tutor can support IB students in a number of ways when working on their extended essay. A tutor can initially assist with selecting the literary work, topic, and research question, ensuring all choices are focused, feasible, and align with the IB requirements. An English tutor can also work with students to devise a clear and logical structure for their extended essay. IB students often have insightful ideas and can extract sufficient content from their literary work, but fail to achieve top marks due to a confused structure that results in their line of argument becoming gradually lost. An experienced IB English tutor can also help students to achieve the necessary depth of analysis within their essay. A tutor will also make sure that students do not forget to discuss stylistic elements such as tone and setting, the significance of key literary devices, and the historical and authorial context of the text. Overall, a BartyED English tutor will ensure students remain focused, from the initial planning stage of their essay to its eventual completion, maintaining detailed analysis and a clear structure throughout. 

If you think that you or your child could benefit from the expertise of a BartyED IB tutor, reach out today via our contact page. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, an essay in English literature is well suited to the requirements of the IB extended essay.

  • This is the most crucial part of the extended essay for students. A poor research topic will mean greater difficulties down the road.

  • Yes, always make use of secondary reading. Sites like JSTOR and Google Scholar are great resources for secondary texts.

  • It’s recommended to work on and complete a draft during the summer between the first and second year of the IB.

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Extended Essay, IB DiplomaMark Malone