International Baccalaureate Extended Essay: Identifying a Topic

As you begin the process of selecting a topic, you should...

• Read, view, skim, scan​ widely to find a topic of interest
• View the course syllabus​
• Connect to personal interests​
• Make mind maps​
• Talk to friends and family​
• Talk to your teachers​
• Confirm there are secondary sources with enough research about the topic
• Read academic journals – how is the topic treated by other scholars?

The academic databases listed below are good places to browse when trying to identify possible topics of interest.

A growing digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources. Sign in with Microsoft SSO.

Oxford Very Short Introductions 

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