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Is it finally time to start working on your Economics extended essay? Clastify is here to support you in the process! Below you'll find linked exemplars and tips for each section of your EE, that are based on our extensive experience with IB coursework. While we recommend this structure based on our successful history of helping students receive top ratings for their essays, feel free to customize the guide below according to your own preferences.
Economics EE format and structure
The extended essay is a 4,000 words investigation that should consist of the following parts:
Title page and table of contents
On the title page, you will include the topic of your investigation, the research question, the subject, and the word count.
The next page should be the table of contents with all subsections of your essay along with the page numbering.
Introduction
Provide a comprehensive introduction to the topic you chose for your extended essay.
State the aim of the investigation.
Identify the problem and state how it relates to the theoretical concepts of Economics (for instance market structure, economic growth, unemployment, etc.)
Provide definitions of the different economic phenomena associated with the topic. You can also support your explanations with the use of diagrams.
Include in-text citations to establish the real-life context of the investigated economic situation.
See this EE to get a glimpse of the matter.
Research question
- State a focused research question, such as: To what extent was the provision of COVID-19 vaccines by the Government of Malaysia through the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP) effective in recovering the GDP and reducing the unemployment rate in Malaysia?
Specify the economic concept that is subject to your study and provide details such as mentioning a specific economic policy, country and time period under investigation (remember about the five-year rule!)
Methodology
You can base your investigation on primary data, secondary data, or a mixture of both.
The primary research, usually in the form of interviews or surveys, must be designed properly to help answer the research question.
Select secondary sources meticulously, ensuring their reliability and relevance to the investigation's context.
Introduce calculations and conduct statistical tests, for instance, determine the price elasticity of demand and the strength of correlation within the collected data.
Prioritize the incorporation of methodologies that effectively support the analysis and interpretation of the data gathered as introducing irrelevant information can lead to a deduction of points.
Demonstrate a clear understanding of how the selected sources and methodologies will enhance the investigation's overall validity. Justify your choices.
Check out this methodology.
Analysis
This is the crucial part of your essay in which you will determine the answer to the research question. Start by including tables of collected data.
Utilize different forms of graphical representation such as graphs, diagrams and pie charts. Remember to label and describe them appropriately - use labeling to explain the changes/movements of the curves etc. and highlight the impact on different stakeholders.
When processing data, include the formulas and sample calculations. Explain the meaning and relevance of the obtained results.
In the analysis look for trends within the data and interpret them relating to the economic theory or other observed factors. Also, you should look for any anomalies and try to explain the reasons for their occurrence.
Form mini-conclusions relating to the research question throughout the entire main body.
If applicable, evaluate different solutions to the investigated issue taking into account several factors such as the overall effectiveness, the influence on stakeholders but also the time and cost of implementation.
Again, if possible, include the in-text citations.
This analysis is worth taking a look at.
Conclusion and evaluation
Re-state the aim of the essay to refresh the reader's memory.
Provide a statement about the extent to which the research topic has been analyzed.
Briefly summarize the findings from each tool used in the analysis.
Clearly state the answer to the research question. Do not introduce any new data to this section.
Suggest the solutions for the economic situation studied.
Discuss the limitations of both data sources and tools used in the investigation.
Show awareness of possible factors that could have influenced the results such as personal bias, formulation of the questions in the survey, etc.
State the strengths and weaknesses of your extended essay and propose how to possibly improve and extend your study.
You can use this exemplar for reference.
Bibliography and appendices
These parts are not included in the word count.
In the bibliography, you should make a detailed list of all sources used in your investigation in alphabetical order. Decide on one style of referencing.
The appendices will serve as a place for additional tables of data etc. however these can't be the crucial information for your EE.
We are hoping that you found this guide useful! For more references head to the Clastify website and check out the remaining Economics exemplars. For further guidance check out our post about the EE assessment criteria here.
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