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IB History Extended Essay Topics: 20+ Ideas to Get You Started
by Antony W
September 3, 2022
Have you searched the web for the best History Extended Essay topics only to come out empty?
Or maybe you some topic ideas in mind but you’re not sure if you can explore the research issue within the scope of an Extended Essay ?
You’ve come to the right place.
Writing an EE is quite involving. Combine this with class sessions and other assignments that require your attention, and you’re more than likely to find the work overwhelming.
Hire our Extended Essay Writers today, and benefit from the flexibility of professional writing help on the web.
If all you want is to learn how to choose a topic because you have the time to write the essay yourself, continue reading this guide to learn more.
How to Choose A Good IB History Extended Essay Topic
History falls into the third group of the six IB subject groups which covers Individuals and Societies, including humanities and social science courses.
Choosing is a big part of the IBDP coursework, although by now we assume that you have already settled on doing a history essay.
You can have a lot of fun when choosing your subjects. However, unlike other topics, history extended essay topics must follow certain guidelines.
What Makes a Good History Extended Essay Topic?
A good History Extended Essay topic should meet the following requirements:
1. The Topic Should Focus on History Dating Back 10 Years or More
In IB, an issue that’s not older than 10 years is a current event and therefore unsuitable for the History Extended Essay .
The topic you choose must focus on human’s past, going back far enough to be actual history.
To score high grades for topic selection, your idea for the EE should be at least 10 years older.
2. The Topic Should Be Relevant and Acceptable
You don’t have to choose your topic from the IB history subject. You’re free to choose any topic you want.
However, the topic you choose should be relevant and acceptable.
Your supervisor will review your proposed topic and determine whether you can analyze its historical significance to humanity.
According to IB, the topic must be “worth of study”.
3. Pick a Topic You Can Explore in 4,000 Words
The scope of your chose topic shouldn’t be too wide or too specific.
It should be right enough to allow an in-depth analysis without overshooting the maximum word count or being too shallow.
4. Your Topic Should Allow Critical Analysis and Commentary
Develop an open-ended research issue that allows you to develop an analytical approach rather than a descriptive or a narrative one.
Your research question should start with words like “to what extent” or “how significant”, not words such as “what” or “how”.
5. The Topic Should Be Disciplinary and Academic
Hinge the topic on one of the academic disciplines and treat it academically.
For example, if you choose to write about the Great Depression in the United States of America, you can approach it from an economic perspective.
If you write about the launch of steam technology and its impact on population growth, you may approach the topic from a sociological perspective.
To be clear, academic treatment means the topic allows you to explore primary and secondary sources in your research work, with the main focus being on primary sources because they add more credibility.
You cannot choose Sports or Music topics in this subject except in the case where you can approach them from a historical perspective. When in doubt, consult with your supervisor.
How to Choose a Good History IB Extended Essay
With the guidelines set out, it becomes easier to go through the process of selecting suitable topics.
1. Brainstorming
With such a wide range of possible topic ideas, you shouldn't have trouble with this part. You can literally choose any idea and give it a historical twist.
For example, if you are a techno buff, how about the influence of the steam engine in industry in Europe? If you love archaeology, there is no shortage of historical subjects.
All you have to do at this stage is to write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how unlikely it seems. You can get inspiration from your coursework, friends, popular media, or books you have read from the library.
We recommend that you think about topics you are thoroughly interested in - these will give you the motivation to push through the whole assignment.
2. Narrowing Down
Narrow down the preliminary list by first eliminating any unsuitable topics.
This includes any that are too complex, non-academic (fictional works, for example), and those that don’t seem particularly appealing to you.
You can also weed out any that are not ‘worthy of study.’ Basically, any that don't meet the guidelines above should be removed at this point.
3. Selection
Now with a list of 3-5 remaining possibilities, you can afford to give each some serious thought. Ask your librarian about the wealth of literature available for each of the possible topics.
Gauge how common they are from the response. Ideally, you want to approach old topics with fresh ideas, or else choose completely new ones so that your essay will be unique and intriguing.
Remember that you can always have a plan B just in case things don’t work out with the first one.
4. Research
Conduct general research into your chosen topic. Online and library sources are the first stop for research.
The idea here is to know what you are dealing with, formulate your approach, understand the concepts, and perhaps identify any gaps. This stage will allow you to get to the most important one of all.
5. Formulate the Research Question
Formulating your research question is the ultimate in extended essay preparation.
This is what will guide your research, align your thoughts, and drive your inspiration.
Most IB scholars say that a good research question is 25% of the work, and we agree.
Sample History Extended Essay Topics
As promised, here is a list of topic ideas for the IB extended essay in history.
These are meant to be just ideas, a sort of springing board from which you can launch your own investigations into a topic that interests you.
You will also have to formulate your research questions depending on your individual approach.
- The Rwandan genocide.
- The cold war.
- Salem witch trials.
- Pearl Harbour and its significance.
- Explore the first/second Sino-Japanese wars.
- The impact of dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- Conflict Diamonds – you can explore their economic, ethnic, sociological, or even environmental impact.
- The Rosetta stone and its historical impact.
- The invasion of Nazi by Germany and the USSR, 1939.
- The Crusades and their religious significance/political significance in Europe.
- The rule of Mao in China.
- The Six-Day-War of 1967, and why Israel won. (You can also explore its impact.
- The role of women in the 1st/2nd World War.
- The place of women in the Victorian era.
- The slave trade and its economic importance in the USA/Europe.
- The fall of the USSR.
- The Cuban missile crisis.
- In light of the Coronavirus, explore the various epidemics in history.
- The development of medicine in history.
- The role of medicine in history.
- The development of military technology during the American Civil War.
- The development of military technology during the World Wars/Sino-Japanese Wars. For instance, explore the use of human torpedoes.
- Land tenure in (some part of) Europe in (some era.) For example, explore the peasant and their land rights.
- The efforts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa.
- The Ottoman Empire, it’s rise and fall, economic impact, etc.
To be clear, these topics are mainly ideas meant to inspire. You can easily focus them and craft a good research question for your purposes. Here is an example to show you how.
About the author
Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.
110 Original History Essay Questions: Examples and Topics
When looking for history essay topics, people often think about the world-famous military and political events. However, there is so much more to history than battles and international affairs. Plenty of small but engaging incidents are hiding in plain sight, and yet, people usually miss them.
What are those intriguing aspects?
In this article, our team has prepared a list of interesting history essay questions with examples. They are all about unusual events and historical viewpoints. To help with your academic writing, we divided the article into subheadings. Here, you’ll find topics according to your essay type.
- Top History Topics
- 🔍 Extended Essay
- ✒️ Historiographical Essay
- 📌 Persuasive Essay
- ⚙️ Technology Topics
- 🎶 Music Topics
- 🌄 American History
- 🏰 European History
- 🔥 5 In-Class Essay Tips
🤩 Top 15 History Essay Topics
- Julius Caesar.
- Middle Ages.
- World Wars.
- Holy Inquisition.
- US Independence.
- 20 th Century.
- Bronze Age.
- Thomas Edison.
- Slave Trade.
- Russian Revolution.
💁 Topics for Various Essay Types
There are many types of essays for an academic assignment. It may be a simple short essay or a long structured essay. Each one has its format and rules. Here, we are going to talk about essays that you might have questions about.
🔎 History Extended Essay Topics
An extended essay (EE) is an obligatory part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP). For an IB diploma, a student should do extensive research. It should be finished with a 4000-word paper.
The extended essay provides practice for undergraduate research. Besides, it gives a chance to explore a topic of personal interest. You may check out some examples in a free essays database to get a reference of how they actually look like. Here, we dive into history EE topics.
- Oldest human settlements according to archeological sources.
- The suffrage movement in the United States of the early XXth century.
- How Dior’s bar suit revolutionized women’s fashion.
- History of Chemistry in Europe during the Age of Enlightenment.
- Psychology essay: evolution of treatment for various mental disorders. Psychological methods and medicine.
- Development of black rights following the US Civil War.
- History of physics: from Antiquity to modern times.
- Principles of medieval economics: a historical analysis. Analyze the financial structure in medieval Europe and the Middle East.
- How did industrialization affect global climate change?
- Expansion of traffic jams in China. The root of a problem and China’s solution.
- The effects of capitalism on Caribbean republics. Study the history of capitalism in the Caribbean. What were the effects of plantation produce on their economy?
- The use of sun reflection in the military. A historical analysis of the utilization.
- Analysis of Victorian literature and culture by Carolyn Williams.
- Biology in warfare. The use of biological weapons from Antiquity to modern times.
- A study of malnourishment in African societies. Explore the historical roots of malnutrition in Africa. How did it affect their societies?
- Research question: why Western countries have dominated the world in modern history?
- Otto Skorzeny. How did Nazi Germany’s most effective agent become Mossad’s advisor? Dive in the biography of Otto Skorzeny. Analyze his character and post-war activity.
- The history of visual arts in Christianity. How did religion shape the art of Western civilization?
- Six-Day War of 1967. Examine the strategies of Israel and The United Arab States.
- Imperial Japan in the late period of WWII. Its non-standard means of warfare.
📝 Historiographical Essay Topics
Now, let’s look into another type of essay—a historiographical essay. It analyzes and evaluates how scholars interpret a historical topic. Usually, the essay is problem-centered. So, compare the viewpoints of two or more historians on the same event.
Here you will find good topics for historiographical essays:
- The Soviet internment camps of the Stalin Era.
- What is the classification of a “historical fact?”
- The fate of Japanese Americans during WWII.
- Mongolian aid to the Soviet Union during World War II.
- An analysis of the main areas of historical research.
- What defined a nation’s sovereignty in the XIXth century?
- The activity of Pamela Parsons in the 70s.
- “The Life of the Prophet” by Ibn Hisham.
- The history of Earth: from its formation to modern times. Make detailed research on the history of Earth. Talk about major geophysical and chemical processes. What did impact the Earth’s formation and evolution?
- An argumentative essay. How substantial was the Allies’ aid of “Land Lease” to the USSR in WWII?
- Things to know when studying cultural heritage.
- Processes of detecting historical excavation sites.
📌 History Persuasive Essay Topics
A persuasive essay is a piece of academic writing where you list two or more points of view on a subject. In such a paper, you use facts and logic to support your perspective.
- An argumentative essay on American involvement in WWI. How crucial was it in defeating the German Empire and its allies? Analyze the impact of America’s contribution to WWI.
- Slavery played one of the key roles in Ancient Rome’s rise to power. Discuss the structure of slavery in Ancient Rome. Provide evidence for/against this argument.
- Festivals in India are an essential part of the nation’s identity. Analyze the role of local and national Indian festivals. Did they form identities of different cultural groups?
- Why did the Soviet Union lose the Cold War? Could it be because of its involvement in Afghanistan? Explore the impact of the Soviet-Afghan War on countries of the Warsaw Pact.
- Psychedelic substances allow people to think more creatively. Discuss the effects of different drugs on the human mind. Examine notable cases and experiments with drug testing.
- The presentation of the American Revolution in movies. Research a few pieces of cinematography about the American Revolution. Analyze their historical accuracy.
- Bipolar disorder essay and Vincent Van Gogh. Analyze activity and medical records of Vincent Van Gogh. Give arguments for/against the aforementioned idea.
- Florentine art history. How did the noble patronage of artists contribute to Florentine art? To prove your perspective, examine several famous art patrons of Florence.
⚙ History of Technology Essay Topics
Technology has been the cornerstone of powerful civilizations that moved the world forward. Advancement of technology is a curious phenomenon. It moved at a faster pace with every century of the last millennium.
Here, we will take a look at thought-provoking topics on the history of technology. Besides, you’ll see a few history essay questions on technology.
- Advancement of farming technology in the Bronze Age.
- Technological advancements of Ancient Rome. Discuss Roman technological inventions. How did they impact the world for many centuries?
- Structure of a Roman road. Explain the structure of a Roman road. Discuss how the road system connected the Empire. Did it help to spread Christianity?
- The history of genetically modified food: corporation profits and risks.
- The history of sanitation in Paris. A tale of revolutionary engineering solutions.
- Evolution of heart surgeries.
- The scientific contribution of Dr. Ivan Pavlov to physiology.
- Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and the history of medieval medicine. Talk about Avicenna’s contribution to medicine. How accurate were his thoughts on it?
- The trebuchet: the deadliest siege weapon of Medieval Europe.
- The history of limb surgery: from pirates to modern medicine.
- Japanese experiments on humans during WWII. Did they provide humanity with valuable data on the human organism?
- Naval technology throughout human history. Research military and civic solutions of naval engineering during various periods. Consider Antiquity, Middle Ages, Age of Discovery, Age of Enlightenment, etc.
- Rapid European scientific advancement of the Age of Enlightenment. Why did the advancement of science and technology in Europe increase in the 18-19th centuries?
- History of blimps: strengths and weaknesses.
- First computers of WWII. Study the first computer systems of WWII. Explain their technical capabilities and flaws.
- How did the new technology make WWI so high with casualties?
- The science of an atomic bomb: a case study.
- How online social media impacted global society in the 2010s?
- How China introduced new types of censorship with the creation of the Internet.
- Compare college education of the XIXth century and modern times.
- The city of Tenochtitlan. The technological marvel of the Aztecs.
🎶 Music History Essay Topics
Music is one of the most effective examples of human genius. People have made music to express their emotions to each other. Thus, the history of music is extensive and rich in detail. Exploring it can be just as fascinating as listening to music.
Below, you’ll find the best ideas on the history of music to talk about:
- Jazz, New Orleans, and the Roaring Twenties: a musical phenomenon. Discuss the genre’s origins and technical aspects.
- The music of the Antiquity of the Mediterranean region. From Egypt and Greece to Rome.
- The use of music in Ancient Rome.
- Techniques a style of Mozart and Beethoven. A critical analysis.
- Studio 54 – a story of disco, glamour, and exclusivity.
- The history of organum and organ music.
- Advancement of music technology in the early XXth century.
- Baroque music and its famous composers. Analyze the technical details behind baroque music. Give examples of its notable composers.
- Music theater as the main source of musical innovation of the late classical era.
- Detailed analysis of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Examine the composer’s final symphony. Explore Beethoven’s health complications during the last years of his life.
- Religion and music: how Christianity employed the vocal skills of monks. Research the history and characteristics of the Gregorian chant.
- The golden era of classical music of the XVIIth-XIXth centuries in Germany and Austria.
- The musical experiments by Andy Warhol.
- The musical instruments of the Renaissance and modern times. What are the similarities and differences?
- Musical instruments and chants of Bronze Age Mesopotamia.
- Bohemian Rhapsody: a musical analysis. Discuss the story behind the creation of Queen’s famous song.
- Lively music and deadly drugs. How did narcotics become a part of the music industry in the 60s and 70s?
- The history of the club culture of New York. Discuss the history of clubs in New York. How did the advocates for gay rights start the new idea of clubbing?
- The emergence of hip-hop and rap in Uptown Brooklyn and the Bronx. Analyze how the new genre started commenting on the reality of streets and black rights.
- The history of Woodstock – America’s most iconic music festival.
👍 Good History Essay Questions
Writing an essay about countries should be divided into European and American theaters. Each region has a history rich in events and personalities.
Below, there are great European and US history essay questions for your paper:
🌄 American History Essay Questions
- How did medics deal with casualties during the US Civil War? Talk about the organization of medical staff on both sides of the war. Analyze the treatment methods applied to wounded soldiers.
- What factors contributed to the victory in the American Revolution?
- US economy and culture of the 1920s. How did it develop?
- How did civil rights develop during the Reconstruction era?
- Why was slavery so popular in the southern states? Analyze the economy of the southern states in America. Explain why slavery has such deep roots there.
- Why did the United States emerge as a superpower after WWII?
- Who were the main benefactors of the US economy in the early 20th century?
🏘 European History Essay Questions
- The Renaissance essay. Why and how did naturalistic beauty become the main element of art?
- What are the key ideas in Robin Briggs’s historical research on witchcraft?
- The Modern European history question. How did the Mafia operate in Italy? Analyze the roots of Italian Mafia, its organizational structure. What were its spheres of influence?
- Which scientific innovations were discovered in the late XIXth and early XXth century Europe?
- Tudor history: what caused the English Reformation?
- How did colonization transform the economies of European empires?
- Which economic and political benefits were introduced at the creation of the European Union? Elaborate on the history of the EU. Analyze its economic and political aspects.
🔥 5 Tips for Writing an Essay in Class
For whatever reason, you need to write an in-class essay. It could be an exam or an ordinary assignment. It doesn’t matter as the goal remains the same. You have to compose a coherent paper in a short amount of time under supervision.
What is the best way to handle working under such pressure? By following our tips:
1. Practice beforehand
Any sort of training makes a person comfortable with the upcoming task. Practice writing an essay so that you memorize the format. Keep in mind how to outline the paper and some useful words for transitions. Even when you’re unfamiliar with the topic, you’ll still know where to begin without thinking.
2. Forget to panic
Students can lose time by bracing themselves. By staring on the blank page with the essay question can help no one. The sooner you start the task, the better. Don’t let your brain panic!
3. Plan before you write
Starting the essay right away may be tempting and promising, but that’s how you make mistakes. Reread and analyze the given question, notice the keywords. Make sure you’re answering what’s asked, not more or less. Come up with a thesis statement and make an outline.
Properly organizing your paper saves your time and reduces stress. It ensures that you addressed every issue. Plus, it shows whether you connected every argument to the thesis statement. Besides, putting topic sentences and transitions in the outline makes them less repetitive in the essay.
4. Keep in mind your writing speed
Remember the first tip? This one comes naturally from practicing. The more you write, the better you understand your pace. Learn how much time you need to complete each part of the essay writing. Try not to exceed the estimated time for an outline, an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
5. Proofread
Writing in a rush, you may forget about your spelling and punctuation. Save some time for rereading your paper thoroughly. Pay attention to logical reasoning and grammar errors. Add sentences if necessary. Your paper may look messy as long as you do so to improve your writing and ensure the perfect flow.
Thank you for taking some time to read this article. We hope that it will help you in your academic studies. If this article proved to be informative to you, leave a comment below. Share it with others who might need some guidance in their studies.
🔗 References
- How To Write a Good History Essay: Robert Pearce for History Today
- Elements of an Effective History Exam Essay: Mark Brilliant, Department of History, Program in American Studies, University of California, Berkeley
- UChicago Supplemental Essay Questions: College Admissions, University of Chicago
- Tips for Writing Essay Exams: Writing Center, University of Washington
- Popular Application Essay Topics: The Princeton Review
- History Essay Questions: Bartleby
- Historiographical Essays: Center for Writing and Speaking, Campbell Hall
- What Is the Extended Essay: International Baccalaureate Organization
- Persuasion Essays: Sheldon Smith for Eapfoundation.com
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IB Extended Essay: EE Home
- Research Questions
- Past Essays
- Notes & Outlines
- Works Cited Page
- In-Text Citations
- Assessment Criteria
- Reflections
- Supervisor Info
- Net Valley Library
- Printable EE Timeline - 2023
Reading to Generate Questions
- The School of Life The School of Life is a global organization dedicated to developing emotional intelligence.
- PBS: Idea Chanel YouTube A PBS show that examines the connections between pop culture, technology and art.
- Open Culture Free cultural and educational media content on the web.
- TED: Ideas worth spreading TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas. Watch or read TED talks here.
- Science Daily A source of the latest science research news.
- Arts & Letters Daily Read about philosophy, aesthetics, literature, language, ideas, criticism, culture, history, music, art, trends, breakthroughs, disputes, gossip.
- Youtube: Crash Course Author John Green creates "crash course" videos on topics: physics, philosophy, games, economics, U.S. government and politics, astronomy, anatomy & physiology, world history, biology, literature, ecology, chemistry, psychology, and U.S. history.
- Brain Pickings A subjective lens on what matters in the world and why.
- Edge: Annual Questions "To seek out the most complex and sophisticated minds, put them in a room together, and have them ask each other the questions they are asking themselves."
- The Conversation An independent source of news and views from the academic and research community, delivered direct to the public.
- The Big Think "We aim to help you move above and beyond random information, toward real knowledge, offering big ideas from fields outside your own that you can apply toward the questions and challenges in your own life."
- Medium Medium taps into the brains of the world’s most insightful writers, thinkers, and storytellers to bring you the smartest takes on topics that matter. So whatever your interest, you can always find fresh thinking and unique perspectives.
Thank you to UWC Libraries for generating this list.
What IS the Extended Essay?
- IB: Extended Essay Guide
- Independent research on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with SIS supervisor
- Formal piece of academic writing, 4,000 words long, accompanied by a reflection of no more than 500 words
- Approximately 40 hours of work by the student
- 3-5 hours of supervision + 3 mandatory reflection sessions
- Ends with a Viva Voce: final reflection session with supervising teacher
IB EE Guide
- EE Guide 2018 PDF
Subject Specific Standards
- Language & literature (language A)
- Language acquisition (language B)
- Mathematics
- Visual Arts
- World Studies
- Business Management
Additional EE resources
- IB: Subject specific guides Information from the IBO about EE specific subject areas.
- Other EE options: World studies Blog post about the world studies option for the EE. Written for students!
- Next: Lessons >>
- Last Updated: Feb 13, 2023 11:38 AM
- URL: https://sis-cn.libguides.com/ExtendedEssay
- TTS Libguides
- Tanglin LibGuides
- Senior Library
IB Extended Essay (EE)
- Extended Essay Main Page
- Business & Management
- Computer Science
- Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)
- Human Rights
- Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
- Mathematics
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Visual Arts
- World Religions
- World Studies
Find a password
Excellent extended essays - history, find example excellent essays, click on the subjects to browse the list of excellent extended essays..
- << Previous: Geography
- Next: Human Rights >>
- Last Updated: Oct 18, 2022 9:00 AM
- URL: https://libguides.tts.edu.sg/EE
IBDP History
InThinking Subject Sites for teachers & their classes
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Updated 28 February 2023
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If you are a student and wish to access these resources, ask your school to subscribe.
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- 1. Extended Essay: Choosing topics and questions
- The IB Core
- Extended Essay
The EE: Choosing topics and questionsOne of the key roles for you as a supervisor is to guide students in their choice of topic and question. Here are some tips on this process.Points to consider when advising the students:Choosing a research question:Once the student has found a topic, they will need to work out a question which allows them to approach the topic in an analytical way. The research question must be posed...
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Extended Essay: Step 5. Draft a Research Question
- Extended Essay- The Basics
- Step 1. Choose a Subject
- Step 2. Educate yourself!
- Using Brainstorming and Mind Maps
- Identify Keywords
- Do Background Reading
- Define Your Topic
- Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
- Step 5. Draft a Research Question
- Step 6. Create a Timeline
- Find Articles
- Find Primary Sources
- Get Help from Experts
- Search Engines, Repositories, & Directories
- Databases and Websites by Subject Area
- Create an Annotated Bibliography
- Advice (and Warnings) from the IB
- Chicago Citation Syle
- MLA Works Cited & In-Text Citations
- Step 9. Set Deadlines for Yourself
- Step 10. Plan a structure for your essay
- Evaluate & Select: the CRAAP Test
- Conducting Secondary Research
- Conducting Primary Research
- Formal vs. Informal Writing
- Presentation Requirements
- Evaluating Your Work
RQ Resources
On this page you can find help with developing your preliminary research question. See:
Steps to Developing a Research Question
Sample research questions.
Practice Exercise: Formulating Well-Focused Research Questions
IB Command Terms and Glossaries
- Research Question Formats for History Extended Essays
You've chosen a subject and topic that interests you, and carried out some preliminary reading. What are the next steps ?
Evaluate the question. Once you have posed possible research questions you should evaluate them. This evaluation should be based on whether the question is clear , focused , and arguable .
- Clear - Will the reader understand the nature of my research? Will it direct the research being undertaken?
- Focused - Will the research question be specific enough to allow for exploration within the scope of the task (that is, the number of words and time available)?
- Arguable - Does the research question allow for analysis, evaluation and the development of a reasoned argument?
Consider research outcomes. Once you have decided on a provisional research question you should start thinking about the direction your research might take. You could do this by:
- suggesting possible outcomes of your research
- outlining the kind of argument you might make and how your research might support this
- considering options if the research available is not sufficient to support a sustained argument
The table below gives some examples showing the difference between unclear and unfocused research questions and those that are appropriately clear and focused, lending themselves to in-depth research.
Practice exercise: Formulating well-focused research questions
Twelve-step plan for researching the extended essay - step 5.
5. Formulate a preliminary research question. Try to incorporate an IB command term in the research question if possible.
IB Command Terms & Glossaries
Command terms are the key terms and phrases used in examination questions for IB classes. The lists below give the terms, and definitions, for specific IB subjects.
These lists are glossaries of terms used in film and dance.
Students writing History Extended Essays can use these formats to help write research questions on their topics.
- << Previous: Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
- Next: Step 6. Create a Timeline >>
- Last Updated: Feb 7, 2023 7:05 PM
- URL: https://libguides.westsoundacademy.org/ee
Guidance and example studies for the IBDP History Extended Essay.
It gives you a chance to study in real depth a topic that you have an interest in. It can relate to any period and any topic outside of the past ten years. It gives you the chance to work closely with your History teacher to 'fast-track' your historical skills with one-to-one tutoring. As such it is a great opportunity to produce a mature academic study on something that you might never again have the chance to research.
Similarities: Both the IA and the EE in History award students who choose an interesting question which they research thoroughly and answer coherently through critical evaluation of evidence.
Differences: The IA is only 1500 words long; the EE is 4,000 words. The EE requires a much heavier emphasis on the use of primary source material than the IA. The IA is structured into specific sections; the EE is structured more flexibly. The IA markscheme grades each section separately; the EE markscheme grades each criteria across the essay as a whole.
You will select which of your IB subjects will form the basis of your EE in the Spring Term of the first year of IB. This will usually (although not always) be one of your Higher Level subjects. The supervisor will set a series of internal deadlines and meetings for each student to ensure the completion of the study in a timely fashion.
Start by considering if there is a period / place / person / issue in history that would like to investigate further. Maybe this is something you have read a little about, watched a film about or are interested in from your other studies / hobbies. The only strict rule is that anything that happened in the past 10 years is not allowed.
The three main focuses of study tend to be focused on
- EITHER Causes of an event / situation;
- OR Consequences of an event / situation
- OR Relevance of particular evidence about an event / situation (e.g. a painting, novel, film, biography).
The following resources may help you in your quest for a topic:
Online archives:
- History Today Archive (password required - see your teacher)
- ActiveHistory Podcast Archive
- BBC History Magazine Archive
Other resources:
- History Department Magazine collection
- History Department DVD collection
Once you have settled upon a topic, you have to then turn this into a question - a problem that your study will solve, in other words.
The following table could help you get started
The following list of past extended essay questions from the ist will also be helpful:.
- How has politics influenced Berlin's architecture over the 20th century? (Predicted 'A')
- To what extent was World War Two a catalyst for British Decolonisation? (Predicted 'B')
- How decisive was Spanish intervention in World War Two? (Graded 'A')
- How far did Nietzsche's ideas influence the Third Reich? (Graded 'B')
- How reliable is Hogarth's 'The Rake's Progress' as evidence of 18th century London? (Graded 'A')
- How and why do Historical sources disagree about the life and career of Bonnie Parker? (Graded 'B')
You will initially be required to identify at least THREE articles/books and TWO websites that will form the basis of your study. To help you find the books/articles, use these
Google Books Search
Google Scholar Search
Amazon Search
BBC History Magazine Search
History Today Magazine Search (password required to access articles after search - see your teacher)
In addition, for the Extended Essay you will be expected to make especially heavy use of primary sources.
I have also produced useful video: " Google Books for Student Research: 3 minute guide ":
You are now ready to complete the Initial Proposal Sheet and hand it to your teacher.
Make sure that this is a detailed, considered proposal. Your supervisor will schedule a meeting with you to talk about how you plan to structure your essay in particular.
You are now ready to start work on the study itself. To help you structure your study effectively, make use of the following resources:
Six Steps for Writing your Extended Essay in IB History A one-sided sheet provided step-by-step guidance for students on how to go about producing their Extended Essay.
Style Guide: Formatting your Extended Essay A simple summary sheet providing a useful checklist to help students format their final study appropriately.
Completing the "Reflections on Planning and Progress" Form A suggested timetable for students to help them complete this important part of the study in a timely fashion.
Marksheet and Guidance A student-friendly version of the IB mark scheme, combining the generic guidance from the IB as well as its subject-specific criteria for History.
Glossary: Historiographical and Subject-Specific Terminology for History Extended Essays
ClassTools.net Harvard-Author Reference Generator
Here are a selection of studies from the International School of Toulouse that were graded towards the top level by the examiner.
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Sample History Extended Essay Topics · The Rwandan genocide. · The cold war. · Salem witch trials. · Pearl Harbour and its significance. · Explore
History Extended Essay Topics · Oldest human settlements according to archeological sources. · The suffrage movement in the United States of
World Studies (History & Economics): To what extent did the LGBTQ community contribute to making attractive neighborhoods in the US and why are
Oldest human settlements according to archeological sources. · The suffrage movement in the United States of the early XXth century. · How Dior's bar suit
IB Extended Essay (EE) · Find a password · Excellent Extended Essays - History · Find example excellent essays · Click on the subjects to browse the
The outcome of the research should be a coherent and structured essay that effectively addresses a particular issue expressed as a research question. The
The EE: Choosing topics and questionsOne of the key roles for you as a supervisor is to guide students in their choice of topic and question.
Sample Research Questions ; What is the history of Chinese theatre? How does the legacy of Mei Lan Fang contribute to modern Jingju? ; How
To what extent was World War Two a catalyst for British Decolonisation? (Predicted 'B'); How decisive was Spanish intervention in World War Two? (Graded 'A')
Students writing their extended essay in history are strongly advised to use a research question. Choice of topic. The topic chosen must focus on the human past