Rubric

When writing your Extended Essay, I suggest that you keep the rubric close at hand.  For each section, be sure you know exactly what the examiner will be looking for.  This will help you focus your essay and improve your chances of getting a good grade.

Historical sources J
Achievement level
0        The candidate demonstrates no awareness of the value and limitations of the sources
          used.
1        The candidate demonstrates some awareness of the value and limitations of the sources
          used but without explicit references to examples.
2        The candidate demonstrates some awareness of the value and limitations of the sources used but with only limited reference to particular            sources, their usefulness and reliability.
3        The candidate demonstrates a good awareness of the value and limitations of the sources used, with detailed reference to particular sources,     their usefulness and reliability.
 

Historical knowledge and understanding K
Achievement level
0        The candidate demonstrates no satisfactory knowledge or understanding relevant to the
           research question.
1        The candidate demonstrates some relevant historical knowledge and understanding.
2        The candidate demonstrates a sound level of historical knowledge and understanding.
3        The candidate demonstrates a very good level of historical knowledge and understanding.

Selection and application of historical information/evidence L
Achievement level
0        The supporting information/evidence is completely irrelevant to the research question.
1        The argument is supported by information/evidence which is only partially relevant to the research question.
2        The argument is generally supported by relevant information/evidence.
3        The argument is fully substantiated by relevant information/evidence.

Critical analysis and historical judgement M

Achievement level
0        The essay lacks critical analysis and historical judgement.
1        The essay demonstrates some, but limited, critical analysis and historical judgement.
2        The essay demonstrates a competent level of critical analysis and historical judgement.
3        The essay demonstrates very good critical analysis and balanced historical judgement.
 

Let's take a look at why the TOK paper and Extended Essay are important.  If you do well on these papers, you can get extra points that will improve your chances of getting the IB diploma.  The graph below shows how many points you would get for any combination of grades on the essays.  If you do not turn in either essay, you will not get your IB diploma. 

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