The IA in IB ESS is a highly current and applicable subject. The course presents knowledge on varying environmental issues, subjects, and solutions linked to environment and societies.
In this guide, we look at the overview of Environmental System and Societies at SL and HL, topic selection, research question, data collection, and structure. Additionally, we look at the ESS rubric and suggest where you can get a writing service if you need professional help.
What is ESS IA?
ESS is an acronym for Environmental Systems and Societies.
ESS is a transdisciplinary course that teaches about ecosystems and biomes (such as tropical rainforests and desserts), biodiversity and endangered species, and human population. It examines major human effects at local and global levels, the causes of global warming, and the remedies for each of these problems.
Additionally, Environmental Systems and Societies provide a diverse array of inquiry opportunities, from laboratory work and lab exercises to field excursions and investigations.
Since ESS is a highly current and applicable course, it presents a wealth of knowledge on varying environmental issues, subjects, and solutions related to the environment and societies.
What’s the Structure for ESS Internal Assessment?
The structure of your Environmental Systems and Societies IA should have nine sections, which are as follows:
Title Page
The title page should feature the following information:
- Header: Internal Assessment of Environmental Systems and Societies
- Your IA’s title
- Research question
- Word count
Introduction
The introduction gives an overview of the environmental issue you intend to address and the question you want to answer. The three elements to include in this section are research question, environmental concern, and location justification.
- Research Question: Your research question should be relevant to your ongoing investigation.
- Environmental Concern: Your ESS IA should tie to an environmental issue that’s of local or global significance.
- Location Justification: There has to be a clear explanation that gives a logical justification of the location in which you conducted your research.
Strategic Planning
The strategic planning section of your ESS internal assessment should:
- Feature a table that listing the experimental variables and the conditions under which they were controlled.
- Have a clear statement that mentions the expectation for the study, with 1 to 2 sentences defending the hypothesis.
- State the materials you used in your research, which can be anything from a pen and a ruler to a digital calculator and laptop.
Additionally, the strategic planning needs to incorporate ethical considerations into both questionnaires and experimental investigations.
Methods
What you write in the methods section will vary depending on whether you conduct an experiment or use questionnaires.
For an experimental-focused internal assessment, record the phases and materials used.
If you use questionnaires in your IA:
- Clarify the purpose of your survey and explain how you intend to tailor all the questions to the research question.
- Organize the questions into parts, each with a distinct objective that provides unique information.
- Mention how each participant responded to your study’s questions and include at least one screenshot example for the reader to get a sense of the participant’s response.
- Include calculations after you’ve examined raw data only if you provide your data in percentages to facilitate interpretation.
Additionally, your methods section needs to have clear justifications for selections, as it helps to articulate the reasons for your action. For this:
- Mention the factors that influenced your decision to choose a particular answer scale for your questionnaire.
- State the reasons why you chose a particular location for your responses.
- Explain why you selected a certain age group to fill out your questionnaire.
Data Collection and Processing
The data collection and processing section should contain raw data, a table that explains the unprocessed data, and a few figures that illustrate your findings.
Statistical Analysis
In statistical analysis, you summarize the findings from your investigation and explain the probable cause fort the findings.
Divide the analysis into sections. The first section should analyzes the data provided in the data collection and processing section. The second section should be the actual conclusion you reach because of your analysis.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Examine your research carefully and be as critical as possible, noting all the things you missed, messed up on, or even performed very well in.
Your conclusion should:
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses based on the decisions you made and the variables within your control throughout the study.
- Note every change you made to improve your research.
- Mention the items under your control that accidentally revealed themselves as flaws or resulted in skewed findings because of your activities.
- Identify any external factors that contribute to the bias or skewed nature of your IA and select three significant elements from this list. These are your constraints.
- Provide a feasible modification or improvement that may be relevant in future study to mitigate the consequences of each constraint.
References
- Write a list of all the references you used in your IB ESS IA.
- The bibliography should feature the same citation style you’ve used throughout your report.
Appendices
Here’s where you include additional materials that supports your IA but aren’t essential for the main text. The materials may include raw data tables, sketches, images, risk assessment details, and so on.
Can You Write My ESS IA for Me?
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