The IB Extended Essay Showcase took place on Feb. 11 at Cleveland High School from 7 to 9 p.m. This was a big event for all of Cleveland’s IB diploma candidates, where they got to share their hard work with the public.
The extended essay is a component of the IB diploma, consisting of a 4,000 word research paper on a topic of the students’ choosing. This year there are 92 diploma candidates, making it the biggest class yet. During the event, guests attended five sessions on different topics where students gave a 10 minute presentation about their essay and the writing process, said Jamie Incorvia, Cleveland’s IB coordinator.
The topics are all very diverse given that students have varying interests. This year Cleveland had topics spanning from comic books being used as World War II propaganda to the effects of cold water immersion on flexibility.
“I enjoyed presenting my essay. It was good to talk about something I enjoyed and something that I had spent so much time on, and it was fun to talk to juniors that had not yet started theirs,” said Emme Delong, who presented at the showcase.
The extended essay is a long process and this year’s seniors have been working since spring of their junior year. They are given 40 classroom hours to craft their essays. They also work with an advisor who helps to guide them through the research and writing, giving them perspectives, advice, and feedback. Upon completion, their essays are externally graded, meaning someone outside of the school grades the papers. This is why Jennifer Wiandt, the previous IB coordinator, created the Extended Essay Showcase in 2009 to give students the chance to show people from the community all their hard work.
The full IB program is difficult, and most of the work students do isn’t seen. One of the only things students get to show off from all their work is the extended essay at the showcase.
“It’s their moment to shine as the expert that they have become!” Incorvia said.
The showcase also gives a view into what it looks like to do the full IB diploma from the students themselves. IB diploma candidates in their first year of the program and just beginning the process of writing their extended essays attend the event too. This is a great opportunity for those students to see presentations, hear about the process, and get inspiration for their topics.
“It helped me get a lot of ideas for my own extended essay,” said Cece Daily, current junior in the IB program.
Local businesses, some owned by Cleveland parents, provided a raffle at the end of the showcase. Prizes came from collage (an art supply store), bakeries, movie theaters, and a salon.
Incorvia invites district leadership, school board members, and Cleveland’s feeder middle schools to come to the event and see what the Cleveland IB program does.
“I felt I got a good education in a variety of subjects, as well as a chance to see students make the presentations and lead the discussions that followed,” said Patte Sullivan, a school board member. “It was wonderful to see the support of so many adults and fellow students.”
The showcase is a great way for the IB diploma candidates to show their work and for Cleveland to show what the IB program is all about. Incorvia expressed gratitude towards all the IB teachers and students for being supportive of her and the program.
“The showcase is a night of pride for our school, but especially for our incredible diploma candidates and all of the teachers who have been a part of their journey,” she said.
If you missed the event this year, you can come next year to see the current IB juniors and their extended essays.
