Process of the EE
The first step in the EE process is to decide in which Diploma Programme subject you want to complete an in-depth study of a focused topic. This is normally one of your six chosen subjects and your supervisor will be allocated on the basis of this decision.
The EE is a long process and is likely to take several months or even a year to complete.
There are many other things you will need to to figure out early in the process including:
What kind of essay you are going to write?
How formal should your writing be?
What tense and voice (third person or first person) should you use?
Are you collecting primary data yourself or are you analysing primary and secondary sources?
The sources you use will depend on the subject you choose for your essay. For example, a topic in history or politics will likely require you to research and analyse a collection of primary & secondary sources, mostly in print. With a topic in any of the experimental sciences, you may design an experiment based on a hypothesis or question. You will then execute that experiment and analyse the results of the data you collect.
Throughout the research and writing process, you will be encouraged to reflect on your experiences, both formally and informally.
Use your personal Researcher’s Reflection Space (RRS) to re-examine your ideas and decide whether changes are needed at different points during the process. More information can be found in The Importance of Reflection.
You will also need to complete three formal reflection sessions with your supervisor which need to be written up on the on the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF). More information can be found in The Importance of Reflection.
The instructions on the RPPF are shown below. Your completed RPPF is solely used to assess criterion E. See Assessment for more details.
