Environmental systems and societies focuses upon the interaction and integration of “natural” environmental systems and human societies. An EE in this subject should give significant (though not necessarily equal) weight to both these dimensions.
The topic should allow the student to demonstrate some grasp of how environmental systems and societies function together. For example:
​
studying pure ecological principles within the context of human interaction with the environmental system
addressing philosophical approaches to the environment in relation to specific natural systems.
​
Students must ensure that their topic would not be better submitted under one of the specialized subject areas of the experimental or the human sciences. For example, topics focusing exclusively on human health, disease or politics are usually more appropriate to a single-discipline essay.
The topic must be open to analytical argument. If it lends itself only to a descriptive or narrative treatment, the student will be unable to achieve marks for critical thinking in the assessment criteria.

For example, it would be of minimal value simply to describe a given nature reserve. Instead, the topic should involve an evaluation of the reserve’s relationship with a local community, or a comparison of its achievement with its original objectives or with those of another conservation initiative.
The topic must enable students to construct and support an argument from their own analysis of the information, rather than simply reporting others’ analyzed data.

A literature and performance extended essay (EE) gives students an opportunity to explore in detail the relationship between a written text and its performance. Students are able to focus on the transformation from one form to another and examine the creative and critical relationship that exists between both.
The adaptation may take many forms: theatre, film, dance, opera and even video games.

A literature and performance essay must include:
  • a balanced consideration of the written text and the performance
  • an exploration of the ways they function in a creative and critical relationship with one another.
Students should provide those materials that give a good account of both the text and its transformation into any of the genres mentioned in “Overview” above. These materials may include, for example, diagrams and photographs, but students should be aware that the heart of the essay is their written discussion of both forms.
Crucially, the topic should be susceptible to critical analysis. The EE’s central purpose is one of research and analysis. Students must present their perceptions in a reasoned argument well supported by evidence.
Students should make clear the temporal and spatial contexts of both elements: text and transformed production. This will involve a consideration as far as is necessary, of the work’s:
  • history—both literary and theatrical
  • geography
  • linguistic circumstances
  • ethnic circumstances
  • socio-economic circumstances
Websites for ESS: