Extended essay Checklist

(from 2009)

Subject: Business & Management Studies

Name of student:

Name of Supervisor:

Max Marks:
Student
Criterio
n

Description

Checklist

Supervisor
( put ticks
and marks
that you
think you
deserve)

Research question-The
extent to which the focus of
the essay is expressed and
specified. This need not be
in the form of a question. An
example of an alternative
form is a hypothesis.

1) Is the research question

clear and precisely stated?

Introduction-makes clear
how the RQ clearly relates
to existing knowledge on
topic and how topic is
significant and worthy of
investigation

1) Did you discuss the

importance of the RQ for the
business / mgrs?

Marks and
Remarks
(for Supervisors use
only)

/2

2) Is the research question

stated in the introduction?
3) Is the research question
sharply focused, such that it
can be effectively treated
within 4000 words?
/2

2) Is your RQ clearly set in a

Business and Mgmt context?
3) Did you share your
personal experience or
particular opinion here?

Investigation-The extent
to which investigation is
planned and an appropriate
range of sources have been

Has an imaginative range of

sources been consulted/or
data gathered?

/4

consulted, or data has been

gathered, that is relevant to
the RQ.
Where the research
question does not lend itself
to systematic investigation
in the context of an
extended essay, the
maximum level that can be
awarded is 2

Has relevant material been

carefully selected?
Has the investigation been
well planned?
Secondary Research
1) Has a range of secondary
resources been used?

including internet, textbooks,

research literature/journals
materials sourced from the
business itself
statistical data (internet,
government depts., biz research
orgns or industry analysts)

2)Have you
explained/analysed evidence
which is conflicting?
3)Has the reliability of the
secondary sources been
evaluated?

Has attention been paid to

the author of the site and to
the organizations sponsoring
it (if there were any), and has
the credibility been
considered?

4) Has the information been

clearly and systematically
presented?
Primary Research
1) Is the primary research

used carefully planned?

2) Does it ensure that it will
enhance the value of the
research undertaken?
3)Does it provide specific
quantitative and qualitative
analysis directly related to the
RQ?
D

Knowledge and
Understanding of the
topic studiedshow detailed knowledge
and understanding of topic
being researched, and its
academic context.
Where the research
question does not lend itself
to systematic investigation
in the context of an
extended essay, the
maximum level that can be
awarded is 2.

Reasoned argument
E
The extent to which the
essay

1)

Has detailed knowledge

and understanding of the
topic being researched
shown, and its academic
context?

/4

2) Has relevant links between

the topic and relevant
business theories and
techniques been
demonstrated?
3) Has the above interrelationships been
explicitly explained to
reveal a clear knowledge
and understanding?
4) Has a range of sources
been used? (to
demonstrate an
appropriate level of
knowledge and
understanding)
1) Has the RQ been clearly
linked to the conclusion
in a clear, structured

/4

and logical way?

uses materials
collected to present
ideas in a logical and
coherent manner
develops a reasoned
argument in relation
to the RQ

Where the research

question does not lend itself
to systematic investigation
in the context of an
extended essay, the
maximum level that can be
awarded is 2.

2) Has valid and persuasive

argument developed in
terms of Business and
mgmt context in the
context of business
theory used?
3) Has the links between
the RQ and the
conclusion been
developed in a coherent,
flowing and structured
way that is valid and
persuasively presented?
4) Is there evidence of
clear links between the
data and evidence
presented and the
arguments developed
from the data?

Application of analytical
and evaluative skills
appropriate to the
subject

5) Has straightforward
descriptive or
narrative accounts
been used?
1) Have you demonstrated
a sophisticated
application of analytical
and evaluative skills?
2) Have you used the data
and business theory to
assess arguments
relating to the various
aspects of the topic

/4

under consideration?
3) Have you considered the
relative value and
importance of particular
arguments in answering
the RQ?

Use of Language
appropriate to the
subject

4) Has reasoned and

supported judgments
been made using
evaluative skills?
1) Has business language
and terminology been
used clearly and
precisely?

/4

2) Has this terminology

been used

consistently
throughout the
essay

considering the
context of the
arguments being
used?
/2

Conclusion-The extent to
which the essay
incorporates a conclusion
that is relevant to the
research question and is
consistent with the
evidence presented in the
essay

1) Have you included a

conclusion to your research
question?
2) Is your conclusion
consistent with the argument
or explanation presented in
the essay?

3)**Does the conclusion

include unresolved questions
and recommendations for
future investigation?
4) Has new or extraneous
matter been introduced
5) Has material from the
introduction been repeated
6) Has a new synthesis been
presented in the light of the
discussion?
I

Formal presentationextent to which essay

consistently conforms to
academic
standards( standard format)
Required elements: title page,
table of contents, page numbers,
illustrative materials, quotations,
documentation (including
references, citations and biblio)
and appendices (if used)
It biblio is omitted or no
references for quotations (level 0)
If one of the required elements is
omitted (Max level 2)
If two of the required elements is
omitted (Max level 1)
Sources of all data should be fully
acknowledged and exact web site
address and dates of access
given

1) Have you included a title

page?
2) Have you included a
contents page?
3) Are your pages numbered?
4) Are the references set out
consistently, according to a
standard format?
Indicate the format you have used?

5) Are illustrative material well

set out and used effectively?
6a) Does the bibliography
include only references
consulted by you?
6b) Does the bibliography
specify author/s, title, date of
publication and publisher
following consistently one

/ 4

standard method of listing

sources?
Indicate which method you have followed.

6c) Is the bibliography written

in alphabetical order?
7) Does the appendix include
only information / data that is
required in support of the
text?
J

Abstract-The adequacy of
the formal abstract as a
overview of the essay
(not judged on quality of RQ
itself nor on the quality of
conclusions)
To include clearly the RQ,
how the investigation was
undertaken and the
conclusion of the essay

1) Was the abstract written

after the essay has been
completed?
2) Is the abstract within 300
words?
3) Has the research question
been included?
4) Have the key areas and
sections (ie. Scope ) been
included

Did you include the

issues raised?
Have you identified
any specific sources and/or
historians and schools of
thought that were
instrumental to your
research?
Have you included the
themes or topics
researched and discussed

/ 2

in order to answer the

question?
5) Has the conclusion been
included in the abstract?

Has the conclusion been

stated in a simple and
straightforward manner?

Has it been stated in

the final paragraph of the
abstract

Does the conclusion in

the abstract start with: 'In
conclusion . . . ' or 'After
researching the issues, my
conclusion(s) . .
6) Has the abstract been
typed on one side of a sheet of
paper and placed immediately
after the title page?
K

Holistic judgement
Intellectual initiative:

Choice of research qn
Nature and breadth of
theory chosen to
answer RQ
Breadth of research
sources
Imagination used in
sourcing relevant data

1) Explain in what ways you

have displayed personally
engagement in this project?

2) Explain the initiative you

have taken to complete the
project.
3) Explain how you have
displayed depth of
understanding, insight,
inventiveness and flair in your

/4

Insight and depth of

understanding:

project.

Analytical depth used

to answer the RQ

2. Has the criteria, with which

the decision will be taken,
been analysed?

Appropriateness of
the business theories
and tools used

3. Is the decision model

analytical, argumentative, and
forward looking?
4. Has the direct relevance of
the problem to the
organizations need for
decision-making been clearly
stated?