INDIVIDUALS & SOCIETIES
Note: Before reading the following guidance, read the “General guidance for the extended essay” section in this guide.
Note: Before reading the following guidance, read the “General guidance for the extended essay” section in this guide.
An extended essay in the individuals and societies area explores a question that connects to human experience and behaviour across time and space. If you are interested in developing a critical understanding of the complexities of our social world and who we are as humans, an extended essay in individuals and societies will be a very rewarding choice.
The subjects in this group that we teach at BPHS are History and Psychology. These disciplines approach questions about the individual and collective dimensions of existence from multiple perspectives, providing different concepts, contexts, theories and methods for the study and understanding of a complex world filled with difference and variation.
Writing an extended essay in individuals and societies will give you the opportunity to:
The subjects in this group that we teach at BPHS are History and Psychology. These disciplines approach questions about the individual and collective dimensions of existence from multiple perspectives, providing different concepts, contexts, theories and methods for the study and understanding of a complex world filled with difference and variation.
Writing an extended essay in individuals and societies will give you the opportunity to:
- challenge cultural assumptions or contest definitions and descriptions of the social world or assumptions about human nature
- develop, through an in-depth study, a critical inquiry into the human condition and its possibilities
- increase your knowledge of a subject within individuals and societies by exploring relevant subject literature
- select different theories and/or concepts in individuals and societies subjects, then apply suitable methodologies to formulate an argument
- develop a more informed and less naive understanding of the dynamics of the social world.
Individuals and societies are subjects that naturally lend themselves to a wide variety of potential topics for the extended essay. The subjects in this group can tackle many big questions about our shared present, past, and future. Topics could revolve around real-world issues such as the environmental and climatic crisis, the future of global capitalism, migration, governance in a digital age, and so many others. The big issues related to human experience and social life can be posed as well-focused questions that explore these issues within these disciplines’ perspectives.
The choice of a topic in individuals and societies could result from your own personal life experience or from issues of contemporary debate. Or it could be an extension of a topic covered in one of your favorite subjects, or even a topic related to but not covered by your favorite subject.
Your topic needs to be considered in terms of one of the subjects in individuals and societies. Although often, a topic could be approached from more than one individuals and societies subject and from many different perspectives. For example, if your interest is in sports, your topic could be researched and written as an essay in different, distinct subjects.
The choice of a topic in individuals and societies could result from your own personal life experience or from issues of contemporary debate. Or it could be an extension of a topic covered in one of your favorite subjects, or even a topic related to but not covered by your favorite subject.
Your topic needs to be considered in terms of one of the subjects in individuals and societies. Although often, a topic could be approached from more than one individuals and societies subject and from many different perspectives. For example, if your interest is in sports, your topic could be researched and written as an essay in different, distinct subjects.
In general, most DP extended essay subjects require the use of primary research sources, in addition to mandatory secondary sources. However, this is not always the case.
The subjects in the individuals and societies group are varied and diverse. As a consequence, your knowledge of the discipline’s approaches and perspectives is very important when researching and writing your extended essay.
Although all extended essays must include secondary research (literature review), different subjects will require different types of sources from which to gather information and construct your line of argument. It is important that you understand what constitutes an appropriate primary or secondary source in your subject of choice, as well as which methods are suitable. For example, in history, primary sources convey first-hand experience of the event or time period you are studying, while secondary sources interpret and analyse primary sources.
You must consider what an extended essay in your subject requires in terms of sources and methods because this is not the same in all subjects. For example, in world religions, the Bhagavad Gita sacred text is a primary source that can be analysed in depth in view of a chosen theoretical framework as a strategy to follow. In psychology, on the other hand, the extended essay is a review of literature; that is, an analysis of peer-reviewed research. The approach here is based on secondary sources only. In other subjects, such as global politics or social and cultural anthropology, relevant academic secondary sources will substantiate your line of argument, which may or may not be supplemented with primary data collected through appropriate methods.
Comparisons, case studies, discourse analysis, critical analysis of a theory or concept, and in-depth analysis of a primary source are all possible research strategies through which you may construct a line of argument within individuals and societies. In a successful essay, this line of argument sticks to the logic of the discipline, uses specific terminology, and follows disciplinary style and structural conventions. It is important that you seek advice from your supervisor and refer to the subject guide for the subject you have chosen to make sure you are making appropriate use of sources, methods, approaches, and research strategies.
EE Guide pg 55-63
The subjects in the individuals and societies group are varied and diverse. As a consequence, your knowledge of the discipline’s approaches and perspectives is very important when researching and writing your extended essay.
Although all extended essays must include secondary research (literature review), different subjects will require different types of sources from which to gather information and construct your line of argument. It is important that you understand what constitutes an appropriate primary or secondary source in your subject of choice, as well as which methods are suitable. For example, in history, primary sources convey first-hand experience of the event or time period you are studying, while secondary sources interpret and analyse primary sources.
You must consider what an extended essay in your subject requires in terms of sources and methods because this is not the same in all subjects. For example, in world religions, the Bhagavad Gita sacred text is a primary source that can be analysed in depth in view of a chosen theoretical framework as a strategy to follow. In psychology, on the other hand, the extended essay is a review of literature; that is, an analysis of peer-reviewed research. The approach here is based on secondary sources only. In other subjects, such as global politics or social and cultural anthropology, relevant academic secondary sources will substantiate your line of argument, which may or may not be supplemented with primary data collected through appropriate methods.
Comparisons, case studies, discourse analysis, critical analysis of a theory or concept, and in-depth analysis of a primary source are all possible research strategies through which you may construct a line of argument within individuals and societies. In a successful essay, this line of argument sticks to the logic of the discipline, uses specific terminology, and follows disciplinary style and structural conventions. It is important that you seek advice from your supervisor and refer to the subject guide for the subject you have chosen to make sure you are making appropriate use of sources, methods, approaches, and research strategies.
EE Guide pg 55-63