Exemplar Extended Essay
SUBJECT: 	… ………Theatre Arts……………………………………………….	   SESSION : May 2006

General assessment criteria
Refer to the general criteria	ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL	Comments	
A research question	                2	The research question falls on the margin of the accepted scope. It reads as slightly too technical but still allows for a coherent in-depth analysis if an appropriate approach is adopted.	
B approach	                2	The approach used is generally appropriate, but it can be too technical rather than analytical at times.	
C analysis/interpretation	                3	The student launches unnecessarily into an historical depiction of the Middle Ages, and s/he does not apply his/her research to a play as an example (though Everyman is briefly mentioned). The extended essay would benefit greatly if a play was chosen as an example, and analysed in the light of the research question, as it would bring forward not only problems that contemporary costume designers face, but also certain issues that would bring the discussion back to a text (e.g. characterisation in medieval drama).	
D argument/evaluation	                3	After a good introduction in which the student clearly identifies the topic, the scope of the investigation and time frame, the essay digresses into often irrelevant approaches that are either too historical (regurgitation of sources) or too technical. Still, the student manages to develop a coherent argument and s/he endeavours to substantiate this argument in an appropriate manner.	
E conclusion	                2	Very good, relevant and consistent with the argument/explanation presented in the essay.	
F abstract	                2	The essay contains a good abstract that states the research question, the scope of investigation and the expected research outcomes. It becomes slightly vague towards the end, but it still falls within the level 2.	
G formal presentation	                2	Formal presentation is good with a nice contents page. However, no proper bibliography is included with this essay. The student does not always cite sources used. The essay meets the required length.	
H holistic judgement	                2	There is a sense that if the student chose a more analytical approach s/he would have had more scope to demonstrate his/her in-depth understanding and insight into the topic. As it is, one cannot but commend the student's personal engagement, though one might wish that the student chose a different approach to exploring the topic.	
TOTAL OUT OF 24	                18		

Subject assessment criteria
Refer to the subject guidelines	ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL	Comments	
Criterion J
	                3	It is when it comes to subject assessment criteria that the student's satisfactory knowledge of the theatrical aspects of the topic must be acknowledged, even though a different approach based on an in-depth analysis of a playtext and its potential for production is suggested for any future work of this kind	
Criterion K
	                2	The student has given adequate consideration to the effect of the research findings on the practice of the theatre form investigated. This area would have been much better served if a particular example of a play were discussed in more detail.	
Criterion L
	                3	The argument is generally placed in its historical/social/cultural context, and some of the relevant links have evidently been explored (though no adequate bibliography is cited, it is evident from the student's approach that s/he has conducted extensive research into the chosen subject area).	
Criterion M
			
TOTAL OUT OF 12	                8