Introduction to Extended Essay Criterion E: Engagement
When examining the IB Extended Essay assessment instrument, you hopefully feel familiar with Criteria A through D. This is because they are similar to assessment criteria in many of your IB classes. These criteria focus on the content, critical skills, and presentation. Criterion E, however, may look unfamiliar.
As you rush to complete your IB course work, you might discount the importance of meaningful reflection. The IB, however, believes strongly in the importance of reflective learning. One way they emphasize this is through the EE Criterion E: Engagement.
Worth almost 20% of the overall EE score, Criterion E makes it essential for you to critically reflect on your self-management and intellectual curiosity. It directly evaluates your personal engagement and reflection throughout the EE process.
Criterion E: Engagement contributes six out of the total 34 points available for the essay. Your engagement is documented through a "Reflections on Planning and Progress Form" (RPPF). You are required to submit three reflective statements on the form. Each statement is completed at different stages of your research journey.
As always I advise you to carefully read both the IB Guide’s overview and assessment instrument to best understand how you will be assessed.
Strategic Timing
Each Criterion E reflection is written after a key interview is conducted. In total three interviews will be conducted during the EE process. The interviews are led by your supervisor.
They are done at pivotal moments in the extended essay process. The first interview is conducted early in the process. The interim interview is conducted at the midpoint. The viva voce interview is conducted after you have submitted the final draft. Each school sets the exact dates for the interiews.
The interviews should help you pause and reflect on your progress, challenges, and learning. Immediately after each interview, you should write and submit your Criterion E reflection.
Interview Aims
The interviews should help you delve deeper into your intellectual and emotional EE journey. Think critically about the challenges you've faced, the decisions you've made, and the lessons you've learned. Evaluate your challenges and your choices.
A word of warning. Do not use the interview time to list what you've done. Do not use the time to set intentions. You can do this on your own before the interview. By engaging in evaluative reflection during the interview, your supervisor can help you further your reflections.
Interview Preparation
It is important to start the reflection process before attending the interviews. If you are using my suggested EE Notebook system, you are already regularly documenting your challenges. But it is advisable to spend a little more time thinking about the kinds of guiding question your supervisor might ask during the:
Interim Interview, and
Vive Voce Interview.
Written Reflection
Effective reflections should be concise and demonstrate genuine engagement. In total all three reflections cannot exceed 500 words. This means each reflection is roughly 166 words. This means you must be succinct and insightful.
Choose to highlight significant challenges that required creative-problem-solving or significant intellectual effort. Do not wait wordcount on trivial challenges like formatting or citation issues. They do not provide enough scope for meaningful reflection.
Instead critically evaluate your challenges and decisions. Why did the challenge arise? How did you address it? To what extent was your strategy successful? How does this impact your process? Are there any connections between these strategies and those you use in other classes?
Reflections should showcase a growth mindset. Show how you are evolving in your approach to research and problem-solving over time. The examiner reads the three reflections as a single narrative, so keep in mind that they should:
tell a story of personal and academic development;
highlight how your challenges transformed into learning opportunities;
use personal pronouns; and
be detailed and specific.
Draft each reflection immediately after you attend your interview. This way you are already in a reflective mindset and your discussion is still fresh.
Revising Reflections Before Submission
Because if the limited wordcount, you'll want to revise before submitting. Some schools facilitate peer editing workshops, but if this is not something set up by your school, you may want to work with a trusted friend.
Submission
Criterion E: Engagement is submitted on the "Reflections on Planning and Progress Form" (RPPF), which accompanies your EE submission. Your school will have a set procedure, such as the use of ManageBac, to create and secure the RPPF.
Conclusion
Criterion E is a vital educational experience that prepares you for the rigors of academic research and personal growth. In your university studies and beyond, self-directed learning and critical reflection will be essential. The reflective process helps you transition from high school to the next level.
While learning more about your selected subject and applying the associated analytical skills is important, it is the reflective learning skills that you hone with Criterion E that are the most essential. My advice to you is to take Criterion E seriously and give it the appropriate time and effort. If you do, you will find the EE process to be even more rewarding.
If you would like a further guidance, please watch our Gallant Theory video introducing Criterion E.
