Last updated

23 February 2026

IB Extended Essay: Developing a Strong Research Question - EE Lesson 3 - First Assessment 2027

Help your IB students move from vague ideas to focused, analytical research questions with this structured and practical Extended Essay Lesson 3 PowerPoint.

This lesson is designed to develop one of the most critical skills in the EE process: writing a clear, focused, arguable research question that meets IB standards for analysis, scope, and feasibility.

Aligned with expectations for first assessment 2027, this resource guides students through identifying weak questions, refining ideas, and ensuring their proposed research is realistic within 4,000 words.

Lesson Focus:

Students will learn to:
Write focused, analytical research questions
Avoid descriptive, vague, or overly broad questions
Understand appropriate scope and feasibility
Apply the “Goldilocks Test” to evaluate their ideas
Refine weak questions into strong, viable EE research questions

What’s Included:

This PowerPoint lesson includes:
Clear learning goals
Starter activity: Which Question Works?
Explicit teaching on what makes a strong EE research question
Guided practice: Converting weak questions into strong ones
Scope and feasibility guidance
“Research Question Clinic” activity
Plenary: The Goldilocks Test
Homework task to consolidate learning
Worksheet Subject proposal

Why This Resource Is Valuable:

Prevents common EE mistakes early
Reduces overly broad or purely descriptive questions
Encourages analytical thinking
Builds confidence before supervisor meetings
Saves teachers time when reviewing initial proposals

This lesson is ideal for delivery before students formally submit their research question to supervisors.

Lesson Length:

Approximately 50–60 minutes

Perfect for:

IB Diploma Programme schools
EE coordinators and supervisors
Whole cohort EE skills lessons
Students preparing to formalise their research question

Tes paid licenceHow can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 18%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Bundle

IB DP Extended Essay Starter Bundle – Complete Foundations Pack (EE Launch Toolkit) (First exams 2027)

Start your IB DP Extended Essay process with clarity, structure, and confidence. This comprehensive starter bundle is designed to guide students through the foundational stages of the Extended Essay while giving supervisors practical tools to monitor progress effectively. Perfect for IB Coordinators, EE Supervisors, and subject teachers supporting students at the beginning of the EE journey. Built in line with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Extended Essay process, this resource focuses on building strong foundations from day one. What’s Included: 1️. What is the Extended Essay? - Student-friendly overview of the EE - Breakdown of assessment criteria - Purpose and expectations explained clearly - Reflection prompts to build understanding 2️. Choosing a Topic & Pathway - Topic narrowing planning sheets - Subject suitability guidance - Pathway decision support - Supervisor discussion prompts 3️. Developing a Strong Research Question - Research question drafting worksheets - Strong vs weak examples - “To what extent” scaffolding supports - Peer review sheets 4️. Research Methods & Academic Integrity - Research planning templates - Primary vs secondary research guides 5️. Structuring the Extended Essay - Blank EE skeleton outline - Introduction/thesis builder sheet - Paragraph purpose planning grids - Argument development templates - Supervisor structure feedback form Bonus Materials Included: - Student planning trackers - Supervisor meeting tracking sheets - Reflection log templates - Outline refinement sheets Who This Is For: ✔ IB Coordinators ✔ EE Supervisors ✔ IB Subject Teachers ✔ Schools launching their EE programme ✔ New IB schools building structure ✔ Students beginning the EE process Why This Bundle Works: - Structured, step-by-step progression - Encourages critical thinking from the start and keeps students away from AI - Builds clarity before research begins - Supports supervisors with monitoring tools - Reduces weak research questions early - Prevents structural issues later This bundle sets students up correctly from the beginning, preventing the most common EE problems: vague research questions, weak argumentation, and poor structure.

£9.00

Reviews

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resourceto let us know if it violates our terms and conditions.
Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

£2.00

(no rating)0 reviews

Share this

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 18%

IB DP Extended Essay Starter Bundle – Complete Foundations Pack (EE Launch Toolkit) (First exams 2027)

Reviews

Not quite what you were looking for?Search by keyword to find the right resource: