english b hl extended essay topics

100 IB Extended Essay Topic Ideas!

One of the biggest keys to the Extended Essay is choosing which subject you want to write your work in and developing that crucial research question. Read on to find inspiration for topics across a wide range of subjects.

Extended Essay: The Love/Hate aspect of the IB

One of the biggest keys to the Extended Essay is choosing which subject you want to write your work in and developing that crucial research question. Annoyingly, coming up with that idea and research question can be the toughest part of the entire process. Writing 4,000 words about something you are interested in is a big ask and it often feels impossible to narrow down your thoughts. To make everything super clear, here are 100 Extended Essay Topics for you to draw inspiration from! Use these as a springboard to create your own research question !

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At Lanterna we have over 300 tutors who smashed their Extended Essay. They know exactly how to get an A in your EE and can give you tips and tricks on how you can do the same. What are you waiting for? Get your own tutor today !

How to Begin Your IB Extended Essay

To make everything super clear, here are 100 Extended Essay Topics for you to draw inspiration from! Use these as a springboard to  create your own research question !

Get Support from a Top Tutor Today

At Lanterna, we have over 300 tutors who smashed their Extended Essay. They know exactly how to get an A in your EE and can give you tips and tricks on how you can do the same. What are you waiting for? Get your own tutor today!

10 Steps to Writing an Extended Essay

Before we look at specific topics for your essay, let’s recap the 10-steps you’ll need to follow to complete your extended essay.

1. Define the Topic and Draft the Research Question

2. Create a Timeline

3. Identify and gather Sources

4. Set Deadlines

5. Plan the structure according to the total word count

6. Evaluate

7. independent Research

8. Write the extended essay draft

10. Present

By following the steps above, you should be able to produce a logical and coherent rationale to follow when writing the extended essay for your IB diploma programme.

By starting with a solid research question, you’ll be able to put an extended essay of global significance together, from the research and writing process all the way through to your final submission with a favourable extended essay grade.

Below, we’re sharing 10 topics across 10 subjects to inspire your next IB extended essay.

1. How the change of habitat affects an X organism?

2. How does climate affect the growth of X plant?

3. Can photosynthesis take place without sunlight?

4. What is the effect of age and gender on the photoreceptor cells in the human retina?

5. How is climate change impacting the appearance of coral reefs?

6. An evaluation of how  antioxidants  work in our bodies?

7. Does hand sanitizer, hand soap or antibacterial wipes have the greatest ability to inhibit the growth of E. Coli?

8. To what extent do live cultures in yogurts/milk/other dairy products reduce the concentration of lactose present over the course of a 2 hour incubation period at x°C?

9. What is the relationship between  population density  between X and population size of X?

10. What is the relationship between indoleacetic acid, a growth hormone, and the growth of X (a crop)?

11. How does human influence impact an aquatic ecosystem?

12. How can one organize a pollution check along a X canal in X?

13. What is the effect of the increased ecological footprint in the Amazon?

14. What are the forest and woodland restoration in Siberia, Russia and which one is most effective?

15. How does human interference cause ecological imbalances in an X city/country/continent?

16. What is the impact of urban development on the  bee population  in X city?

17. What are the differences in the conversation efforts in Yosemite National Park (California, USA) and the Lake District National Park (UK)?

18. To what extent have healthcare policies in X country influenced their human population curve?

19. How have changes in environmental systems influenced the value system of X country?

20. How has X landfill site affected the surrounding terrestrial ecosystem?

21. What is the profitability of  airline companies ?

22. How does unemployment affect the market?

23. Why did X recession occur?

24. How did the financial Policy affect the economy in X?

25. How effective are government policies in reducing overconsumption of alcohol (specifically hard liquor)?

26. To what extent are public buses and subways substitute goods in a country?

27. How did the tax reform in country x affect its growth and development? (many countries to choose from)

28. To what extent was weak government policy responsible for the Latin American financial crisis of 1997?

29. How effective is the  Big Mac Index  in measuring purchasing power parity?

30. To what extent would the UK suffer from leaving the European Customs Union if Brexit happens?

31. Is there an association between viewing violence on television and the display of violent acts?

32. What motivational climate should a coach employ in order to achieve optimal performance in athletes?

33. How does  X hormone affect human behavior ?

34. Compare theories explaining altruism in human behaviour

35. Discuss short-term and long-term consequences of exposure to violence

36. Why do relationships change or end?

37. Discuss how  social variables (poverty, parenting, educational environment) may the affect cognitive environment.

38. To what extent do mirror neurons play a role in empathy? (2014)

39. To what extent does Mindfulness help people cope with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

40. To what extent is drug therapy effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder?

41. Does the British Parliamentary reforms act of 1832 deserve its title as the great reform act?

42. To what extent are there similarities in Hitler and Mussolini’s Rise to Power?

43. To what extent did Mao’s tackle the problems which he faced?

44. Was Tsar Alexander II of Russia reforms a success or failure?

45. To what extent was the bombing of Dresden in 1945 justifiable?

46. To what extent can Sweden be considered neutral during WWII?

47. The impact of structural economic weakness on the collapse of the Soviet Union.

48. How were women treated differently in 1920s and 1950s Great Britain?

49. Why did Israel win the  Six Day War  of 1967?

50. What role did economics play in the unification of Germany from 1834 to 1871?

English Literature

51. What are the Compare and Contrast Jane Austen Books?

52. How does Joseph Conrad’s portray Racism in A Heart of Darkness?

53. How does Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman critique today’s capitalist society? The American Dream?

54. To what extent does Chris McCandless in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild escape familial influence?

55. What are the similarities and differences between J.K. Rowling’s characterization of Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?

56. How does Yaa Gyasi use structure in her novel Homegoing to portray the evolution of time?

57. What is the impact of the social context on Holden Caufield and Huckleberry Finn?

58. How does Sylvia Path’s use of Inanimate objects in Bell Jar?

59. How is the empowerment of Feminine portrayed in the Lord of the Rings?

60. Compare the political rhetoric as used in the inaugural addresses of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.

61. The design, construction and calibration of an apparatus for measuring lipid concentration in milk.

62. What is the effect of a change in the optimal lift on the horizontal gliding distance of an aircraft?

63. How does the sugar concentration affect the refractive index of water?

64. How does temperature affect the viscosity of X juice/soda?

65. Is the relationship between temperature and conductivity and insulators and conductors?

66. What is the Oberth Effect?

67. What is the temperature dependence of work performed on an AA battery?

68. How can the rotational frequency of a fan driven by a flame measure distance?

69. Do wine bottles of different shapes behave as Helmholtz resonators?

70. How does the diameter of a wheel affect stability in different weather conditions?

71. What factors influence the location of industries in country/city X?

72. An investigation into the significance of preserving the quality of water in a continent/country/city?

73. An investigation into the degree to which City X can be considered a Sustainable City/Community.

74. To what extent is Biodiversity being managed successfully in city X?

75. To what extent does the education and employment of women affect Country x’s fertility rate?

76. To what extent do gender, educational attainment, and working parameters influence obesity risk?

77. To what extent has urban development affected human thermal comfort levels in Country/city x (a country/city that has developed in a rapid rate over the past decades)?

78. To what extent is the Company x corporate waste management program effective, demonstrating environmental sustainability?

79. To what extent is biodiversity being managed successfully at National Park X?

80. What types of urban design encourage high rates of vandalism in X neighbourhoods?

81. The kinetics of Enzymatic Reactions.

82. How do Iron Intake Diets differ in X country?

83. What are the different factors that affect the iodine values in cooking oils?

84. What is the effect of standing time and temperate on the acid content in X juice or soda?

85. Can caffeine in tea or coffee be reduced?

86. What is the effect of temperature on the souring of milk?

87. What are the sources of error in calorimetry?

88. Does brushing your teeth affect the pH in your mouth after eating?

89. How does changing the concentration of the reagents affect the formation and spacing between Liesehang rings in the reaction between X chloride and X when conducted in a test tube?

90. What effect does the coating of aspirin tablets have on the hydrolysis of aspirin?

Social and Cultural Anthropology

91. How clothing relates to the cultural anthropology of X culture.

92. The extent to which social media networks affect different societies.

93. The relationship between ritual, myths and faith in an X society.

94. The history of rituals in X culture.

95. How different marriage rituals inform the cultural anthropology of X culture.

96. Climate change and its impact on the evolution of different creatures on the planet.

97. Understanding the social and cultural anthropology of the supernatural in X culture.

98. An analysis of body modification in relation to social and cultural anthropology.

100. Chaste systems and social ranks in societies.

There are so many class subjects that can form the basis of your extended essay, including these popular six subjects:

– Information technology

– Computer science

– Health science

– World studies

– Visual arts

– Business management

Extended essays are a great way to improve your writing skills in academic writing. Essays of a high standard that demonstrate critical thinking and in depth analysis can be submitted to academic journals. These have the potential to reach the global society.

Start Writing Your Extended Essay Topic

We hope this gave you some great inspiration for the variation of topics available for your Extended Essay . The research question you select is what will carry you through the entire process, so be sure to choose wisely!

Remember, if you are looking for more help with your Extended Essay, make sure to check out our guide which will tell you exactly how to plan, structure, research and write your Extended Essay!

Grab Free Extended Essay Resources!

No matter the subject groups in your diploma program, we’re here to help all of our IB students. Whether you’re writing about social and cultural anthropology, business management, design technology, or scientific methods for your IB diploma, Lanterna has you covered.

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English B Extended Essay: Definition, Outline, Topics

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by  Antony W

May 19, 2023

The English B Extended Essay focuses on the English language and literature. Here is an opportunity for you to explore a topic of your interest within the scope of language and literature.

In this guide, we look at everything you need to know about IB English B Extended Essay. Specifically, we look at:

• What IB English BB focuses on
• The outline to use and
• Some topic ideas to get you started

In short, if you’re looking for a simplified yet complete guide on the subject, you’ll find this post incredibly helpful.

Key Takeaways

• An Extended Essay in English B requires you to study a focused topic and present your findings in a 4,000-word report.
• The goal of the assignment is to promote high-level learning. In the end, you should have developed your research and writing skills and your intellectual discovery and creativity should clearly reflect in your work.
• Because you’ll engage in a personal research on a topic of your choice, the EE should be easy and interesting to write.

If you already have a topic in English but you need writing assistance, you can hire an Extended Essay writer from Help for Assessment to make your writing process easier. Our team focuses on in-depth research, custom writing, and timely delivery.

What is IB English B Extended Essay?

English B EE is an individual assignment that requires you to conduct independent research on a topic of your interest in the English language.

This is an opportunity for you to develop your awareness and knowledge of the language. Also, it goes a long way to help you have a clear understanding of the culture in question.

It’s important to note that an EE in English B aims to enhance your knowledge of the target culture and language. Therefore, if the topic you propose does not further this aim, your supervisor will not allow you to proceed with it.

10+ English B Extended Essay Topics and Ideas

The success of an Extended Essay in English B depends on the topic that you choose. You must spend enough time on topic selection, and ensure that the topic you choose is not only interesting to you but also relevant to the subject and equally engaging. 

Keep in mind that there are many potential topics to explore in English B. You can base your work on linguistics, literature, or even cultural studies.

Here are some IB Extended Essay topics that may be suitable for your English B assignment:

• Examining the usage of imagery in a specific poem or novel
• Exploring the significance of family in a chosen piece of literature
• Assessing the impact of colonialism on the growth of literature in a distinct culture or region
• Comparing and contrasting two literary works that address similar themes
• Scrutinizing the portrayal of gender in a particular literary genre
• Investigating the influence of a specific historical event on a particular literary piece
• Tracing the development and evolution of a particular literary form over time
• Analyzing the function of language in a chosen literary work
• Exploring the depiction of race in a specific literary piece
• Examining the interplay between form and content in a distinct literary work

Keep in mind that these topics are just for inspiration. We strongly recommend that you discuss your selection with your teacher, so that they can offer their feedback and guidance based on the EE requirements of the assignment.

The bottom line when it comes to topic selection is that you consider your interests, availability of resources, and the practicality of conducting research before you jump onto a topic.

Get EE Writing Assistance

Our goal as an academic assistance platform is to help you understand the IB program better and grow into an individual who can think critically even in difficult situations.

The IB experts in our team of writers are available to help you increase your chances of scoring a 34 in English EE. Simply our team and we’ll do our best to help you get started with your EE project. 

If you already have a topic to work on but you don’t have enough time to spare because of IAs and ToK assignments, place your order here and we’ll assign one of our top IB writers to work with you.

How to Choose IB English B Extended Essay Topics

Merely choosing any topic just because you have the freedom to write what you in an Extended Essay won’t cut it.

So, here’s how to choose the right topic to explore:

1. Determine if the Topic is Relevant

When selecting a topic for the English B Extended Essay, your interests and relevance of the topic are the foremost and critical factors to consider.

The topic must captivate your curiosity and passion to ensure that you remain inspired throughout the research and writing process.

2. Check for the Availability of Resources

Access to resources and support is also an important factor to consider when choosing an EE topic in English B.

Ensure you have access to various scholarly materials, including academic journals, books, and online resources to support your research.

Also, you should have access to a supervisor who can offer guidance and assistance throughout the research and writing process.

3. Consider the Feasibility and Practicality of the Research

You must consider the feasibility and practicality of researching the topic that you’ve selected. So, weigh the time, resources, and scope of the research to decide if the subject matter is feasible and practical.

To prevent burnout, you should select a manageable topic. In other words, pick a topic that you can complete within the time and resource constraints of the Extended Essay.

Closing Thoughts

We hope that this guide has given you a clear ideal on what English B Extended Essay focuses on, as well as the list of topic ideas that you can focus on.

If you have any question regarding this subject, feel free to get in touch with us.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.