DP Core Support

The library supports EE, TOK, and CAS through research and reflection.

The DP Core asks students to research independently, reflect honestly, connect knowledge across disciplines, and act with purpose.

Extended Essay

The EE is an independent research essay of up to 4,000 words. The library helps students explore topics, test source availability, build search terms, evaluate evidence, organize notes, cite consistently, and record AI use transparently.

Theory of Knowledge

TOK research should focus on knowledge, not only interesting topics. The library helps students find real-world examples, research exhibition-object context, compare perspectives across areas of knowledge, and cite sources used in TOK work.

CAS

CAS is not mainly a library research project, but students may need credible background information for community issues, service-learning planning, ethical media use, and reflection.

Ask the Librarian

Students may ask for help when a topic is too broad, sources are hard to find, citation is unclear, or AI disclosure needs checking.

Contact details

Extended Essay

Extended Essay Research Pathway

Use this pathway to move from curiosity to a focused investigation, then to a final essay and reflection process.

Explore and focus

Topic, pathway, research question

Do background reading, choose a subject-focused or interdisciplinary pathway, draft and refine a research question, and check source availability, method, ethics, and feasibility.

Clear enough for another reader to understand.
Focused enough for 4,000 words.
Analytical rather than descriptive.
Grounded in an appropriate subject.

Literature review and RRS

Show awareness of existing research

Every EE should show awareness of existing research, debate, context, or scholarly interpretation. Use your Researcher's Reflection Space to record search terms, useful and rejected sources, changes to your question, method decisions, supervisor questions, and AI process notes.

What do strong sources already agree on?
Where do sources disagree?
Which sources are essential, and which are only background?
What case, text, data set, method, or theory is being investigated?

Pre-submission check

Before final upload

Clear research question, introduction, body, conclusion, and bibliography.
Word count within the EE limit.
Visuals numbered, labelled, and cited.
One consistent citation style.
Quoted, paraphrased, summarized, data, image, and AI-assisted material acknowledged.
No overlap with IA or another assessment.
RPF/RPPF completed within the required total limit and in the same language as the essay.

TOK Research Prompts

What knowledge claim is being examined?
Which area of knowledge does the example connect to?
What method or evidence is being used?
What assumptions, values, or perspectives are present?
Does the example help think about knowledge, or is it only an interesting topic?

CAS Research Support

Background information about a community issue.
Credible sources for CAS project planning.
Ethical image, media, and data use guidance.
Reflection prompts connected to service, creativity, wellbeing, or global issues.