EE Reflection Examples

Feeling uncertain about how to approach your Extended Essay reflections? Worry no more – Clastify is here to help. In this post we will provide you with a few examples of successful EE reflections, complete with insights that highlight what makes them effective. 

EE Reflection Examples

Example 1

First Reflection 

Due to my passion for history and my intention to study law at university, I decided to focus my EE on the Nuremberg Trials, which marked the beginning of international criminal law. Since there is plenty of research on their historical context, I wanted to approach the topic from a different angle. Thus, I chose to explore the extent to which the Nuremberg Trials could be considered "victor's justice," as argued by some historians and lawyers. I began my writing process by gathering sources and creating a rough plan to organize my arguments.

Why is this a good First Reflection?

• The student explains how they arrived at their topic. 
• The student highlights their personal interest in law as motivation for pursuing this particular subject. 
• The student discusses their decision to explore a less – examined aspect of the topic.
• The student describes beginning the writing process by gathering sources and creating a plan.

Interim Reflection 

After conducting thorough research, it occurred to me that assessing whether the trials can be considered victor’s justice is a very broad topic which consists of a huge amount of factors that would have to be taken into consideration and therefore it would not be possible to examine this topic exhaustively within the word limit. Therefore, I have decided to narrow down and alter my topic to only one of the factors that I would have looked into. Hence, I have decided to explore the following RQ: ‘’To what extent were the Nuremberg Trials defendants afforded a fair due process’’. During the second meeting my supervisor pointed out that my essay tends to be descriptive, lacks consideration of different perspectives and does not assess the reliability of sources. This meant that a large portion of my EE had to be rewritten. Fortunately, I was able to find a plethora of sources that offer conflicting viewpoints. I also used the OPCVL skills gained in history class to assess the credibility of these sources, adding a more analytical dimension to my essay.   

Why is this a good Interim Reflection?

• The student describes the process of refining their research question to arrive at a well-focused one.
• The student mentions two challenges they have encountered during the writing process.
• The student explains how they were able to overcome these challenges.

Viva Voce

Overall, my EE journey was an exciting experience that allowed me to deepen my knowledge on a topic of personal relevance. I am pleased with the outcome of my essay. Initially, I struggled to incorporate differing viewpoints, which made my argument one-sided and narrative. However, with my supervisor’s guidance, I was able to include multiple perspectives. This taught me the importance of considering various sources to create a well-rounded, balanced argument. Additionally, being raised in Poland, a country deeply affected by WW2 German atrocities, I found it challenging to set aside personal bias and emotions while writing. Nonetheless, I believe I managed to approach the topic academically. This experience has made me aware of the importance of conducting historical research without preconceived notions. Both lessons – acknowledging multiple perspectives and remaining objective – will be valuable in my future career, as lawyers must consider all angles and not let personal emotions cloud their judgment. Furthermore, this essay has been my first major piece of academic work, and it has equipped me with skills in referencing, quoting, and structuring arguments, which will undoubtedly help me during university. If I were to undertake this task again, I would create a more structured schedule to manage my time better. At times, I found myself stressed by deadlines and had to cram my work, so better planning would have made the process smoother. 

Why is this a good Viva Voce Reflection?

• The student reflects on their entire writing journey.
• The student explains how writing the Extended Essay has impacted them personally.
• The student discusses self-growth, highlighting the skills they have acquired and how these may prove useful in the future.
• The student mentions an improvement they would make if given the chance to undertake this task again. 

Check out our free EE exemplars

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To what extent has Slovak government intervention been successful in reducing the negative externality resulting from cigarette consumption in Slovakia?

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To what extent has Zoom’s freemium business model influenced its market leadership position in the North American video conferencing market from 2020 to 2021?

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How does increasing the angle of a simple pendulum affect its time period?

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To what extent does the tension being applied on a wire affect the resonance frequency?

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To what extent do violent video-games increase aggressive behaviour in adolescents?

Grade received: A

To what extent were the Nuremberg Trials defendants afforded a fair due process?

Grade received: A

To what extent has Satya Nadella's transformational leadership style contributed to creating a "growth mindset" at Microsoft Corporation?

Grade received: A

To what extent has socially responsible actions affected the global brand positioning of L’Oréal for cosmetic products in 2012-2017?

Grade received: A

How does Margaret Atwood strip away the identity and individuality of the Handmaids in The Handmaid’s Tale?

Grade received: A

How does varying the solution pH and sodium ethanoate concentration affect the rate and yield of ethane production from its electrolysis?

View hundreds of other EE exemplars on Clastify

Click to view exemplars

Grade received: A

To what extent has Slovak government intervention been successful in reducing the negative externality resulting from cigarette consumption in Slovakia?

Grade received: A

To what extent has Zoom’s freemium business model influenced its market leadership position in the North American video conferencing market from 2020 to 2021?

Grade received: A

How does increasing the angle of a simple pendulum affect its time period?

Grade received: A

To what extent does the tension being applied on a wire affect the resonance frequency?

View hundreds of other EE exemplars on Clastify

Click to view exemplars

Grade received: A

To what extent do violent video-games increase aggressive behaviour in adolescents?

Grade received: A

To what extent were the Nuremberg Trials defendants afforded a fair due process?

Grade received: A

To what extent has Satya Nadella's transformational leadership style contributed to creating a "growth mindset" at Microsoft Corporation?

Grade received: A

To what extent has socially responsible actions affected the global brand positioning of L’Oréal for cosmetic products in 2012-2017?

Grade received: A

How does Margaret Atwood strip away the identity and individuality of the Handmaids in The Handmaid’s Tale?

Grade received: A

How does varying the solution pH and sodium ethanoate concentration affect the rate and yield of ethane production from its electrolysis?

Example 2

First Reflection

I always wanted my Extended Essay to address an issue with real-world implications. After reading a BBC article about the growing problem of antibiotic pollution in rivers, I became particularly concerned about the environmental impact of this contamination. Hence, I decided to investigate how antibiotics affect the germination rate of plants. I believe this topic is especially significant because understanding how antibiotic residues influence vegetation could shed light on potential risks to plant life, which is already increasingly vulnerable due to human activities. I will begin the writing process by conducting further research to determine which antibiotics to focus on for my investigation. 

Why is this a good First Reflection?

• The student explains how an article they have read sparked their interest in this topic. 
• The student mentions why this topic is worth investigating. 
• The student outlines the next steps they plan to take in their EE writing process. 

Interim Reflection

After conducting research, I decided to focus on sulfadiazine, ofloxacin, and erythromycin, as they are some of the most commonly found antibiotics in rivers. I chose to investigate their effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum), since it’s a major food source worldwide, and this research could provide insights into food security. Initially, I planned to focus only on germination rates, but my supervisor pointed out that this might not fully capture the overall impact on plant growth, making the investigation limited. So, I decided to include post–germination growth as well. Although this meant redoing my experimental work and left me with less time, it was worth it, as it allowed for a much more in–depth analysis of the potential impact on food security. 

Why is this a good Interim Reflection?

• The student mentions how they narrowed down and refined their RQ.
• The student mentions how they applied the advice of their supervisor. 
• The student describes the challenge this presented and explains how they were able to overcome it, ultimately turning it to their advantage.

Viva Voce

Looking back, my Extended Essay journey has been both challenging and rewarding. I am satisfied with how my essay turned out, particularly with how I was able to balance a rigorous scientific approach while exploring an issue that has both environmental and agricultural significance. Although the fact that I had to redo my experiment initially caused me a great deal of stress and anxiety as I wasn't sure I will be able to complete the Extended Essay on time, looking back at it now, I believe this issue has taught me a lot, especially when it comes to working under pressure, which is a key quality that will greatly benefit me in life. Additionally, this project gave me valuable hands-on experience in designing and conducting experiments. I had to troubleshoot many unforeseen issues, such as maintaining the controlled variables. This process helped me develop problem-solving skills and patience, both of which will be crucial in my future studies and scientific research. One of the most significant challenges was remaining objective when interpreting my data. At times, I found myself leaning toward the results I expected, especially when my actual findings didn’t match my predictions, but I reminded myself that reliable data was the ultimate goal. In the end, I believe I succeeded in maintaining a critical, evidence-based approach. If I were to undertake this task again, I would implement some changes into my methodology to allow for more reliable results. I wouldn't use distilled water but instead use water that in its content reflects water that is found in rivers. Furthermore, I would also account for seed viability using a more reliable method such as tetrazolium test. 

Why is this a good Viva Voce Reflection?

• The student adopts a reflective tone throughout their writing 
• The student mentions the implications of their work 
• The student reflects on the challenges they faced and how these became valuable learning opportunities that helped them grow
• The student mentions specific changes they would implement if provided with the chance to undertake the task again

We hope you found this post helpful! For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.