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The bibliography is a vital part of your Extended Essay – it demonstrates academic honesty, helps examiners assess the depth of your research, and supports your overall argument by showing where your information came from. This post outlines some key points to keep in mind when formatting your EE bibliography.
Extended Essay Bibliography Guide
Use a Consistent Style
Choose a recognized citation style such as MLA, APA, Chicago, etc. and stick to it throughout your entire essay.
The IB does not require any specific citation style, but keep in mind that whatever style you choose must be applied consistently in both in-text citations and the bibliography.
If you're unsure which style to use, make sure to ask your EE supervisor as they will be able to suggest an appropriate format.
Use citation tools such as Zotero, EasyBib, etc., or built-in citation features in Word or Google Docs to create correct citations.
Although you could also do citations manually, it is best to do it using a tool to ensure accuracy and save time.
Double-check that all your citations are correct. Sometimes citation tools can make mistakes in volume numbers, issue numbers, date of publication, etc., so you must check each citation yourself to make sure it is accurate.
Include All References
Your bibliography should list all sources used to support your research, including books, journal articles, websites, interviews, videos, documentaries, and databases.
If you used a source in a foreign language, include both the original and translated versions in your citation where applicable. This is especially important for EEs in Group 1 and Group 2 subjects.
All sources used in in-text citations must also appear in the bibliography.
Avoid adding sources to the bibliography that you never consulted just to make it seem like you did a lot of research. Stick to including only the most relevant sources that you actually referenced in the main EE.
Consider the Credibility
Aim to include academic or peer-reviewed sources where possible, especially for essays in sciences, history, or literature.
If you are using websites, use reputable domains (.edu, .org, .gov) and include the authors' names and publication date if available.
Avoid overreliance on Wikipedia or other user-edited sources. Although you may use these to initially get a brief overview of your topic before beginning the EE, they must not be cited as academic sources in the final draft.
Organize Sources Appropriately
Arrange your bibliography in alphabetical order by author’s last name or by title if no author is available.
Do not group sources by type (e.g., websites vs books). All sources should be integrated into one list.
Use hanging indentation to make the sources more readable.
If you have multiple sources by the same author, order them chronologically in the order of publication.
We hope this post helped you learn more about how to create an effective EE bibliography. 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.
The bibliography is a vital part of your Extended Essay – it demonstrates academic honesty, helps examiners assess the depth of your research, and supports your overall argument by showing where your information came from. This post outlines some key points to keep in mind when formatting your EE bibliography.
Extended Essay Bibliography Guide
Use a Consistent Style
Choose a recognized citation style such as MLA, APA, Chicago, etc. and stick to it throughout your entire essay.
The IB does not require any specific citation style, but keep in mind that whatever style you choose must be applied consistently in both in-text citations and the bibliography.
If you're unsure which style to use, make sure to ask your EE supervisor as they will be able to suggest an appropriate format.
Use citation tools such as Zotero, EasyBib, etc., or built-in citation features in Word or Google Docs to create correct citations.
Although you could also do citations manually, it is best to do it using a tool to ensure accuracy and save time.
Double-check that all your citations are correct. Sometimes citation tools can make mistakes in volume numbers, issue numbers, date of publication, etc., so you must check each citation yourself to make sure it is accurate.
Include All References
Your bibliography should list all sources used to support your research, including books, journal articles, websites, interviews, videos, documentaries, and databases.
If you used a source in a foreign language, include both the original and translated versions in your citation where applicable. This is especially important for EEs in Group 1 and Group 2 subjects.
All sources used in in-text citations must also appear in the bibliography.
Avoid adding sources to the bibliography that you never consulted just to make it seem like you did a lot of research. Stick to including only the most relevant sources that you actually referenced in the main EE.
Consider the Credibility
Aim to include academic or peer-reviewed sources where possible, especially for essays in sciences, history, or literature.
If you are using websites, use reputable domains (.edu, .org, .gov) and include the authors' names and publication date if available.
Avoid overreliance on Wikipedia or other user-edited sources. Although you may use these to initially get a brief overview of your topic before beginning the EE, they must not be cited as academic sources in the final draft.
Organize Sources Appropriately
Arrange your bibliography in alphabetical order by author’s last name or by title if no author is available.
Do not group sources by type (e.g., websites vs books). All sources should be integrated into one list.
Use hanging indentation to make the sources more readable.
If you have multiple sources by the same author, order them chronologically in the order of publication.
We hope this post helped you learn more about how to create an effective EE bibliography. 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.
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