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OGC Extended Essay: ESS

Environmental Systems & Societies: Overview

Environmental issues occupy a position of increasing significance on the world agenda. An EE in environmental systems and societies gives students an opportunity to explore an environmental topic of particular interest to them.

Since the subject is interdisciplinary, the student will need to select and integrate theoretical contexts and methodologies with those academic disciplines appropriate to the chosen topic. In this respect, a systems approach is particularly effective, and students will be expected to use this approach in the analysis and interpretation of their data.

Requirements for an ESS EE

SUBJECT-Specific Guidance pages explain the requirements. Print, highlight, annotated this document and pin it above your desk!

Use Command Terms in your essay to indicate a strong background in your subject

Read the Subject Reports to see what examiners said about makes a successful paper to know what they are looking for.

*Courtesy of Liz Keating (American School of Madrid)

Sample Research Questions

Review the questions below

  • Which ones will be most successful?
  • What ideas do the questions spark for you?

Sample Questions

 

 

Past Papers: Why Read Them?

  • See common structures, methodologies, use of command terms and other subject-specific vocabulary
  • Notice the difference between successful papers AND papers that were less successful
  • Read the examiner comments on scored papers and their reflections to note what worked and what didn't

ESS