An extended essay (EE) in world religions gives students the opportunity to undertake an in-depth investigation into a topic of their choice within the subject of world religions. The essay should integrate disciplined research informed by scholarly methods with original and imaginative analysis and critical evaluation of the results of that research. About the subject World religions comprises a systematic, critical, yet sensitive study of the variety of beliefs, values and practices encountered in religions around the world. A rigorous attempt is made to maintain objectivity in the analysis and evaluation of religions. This requires, at the very least, an authentic attempt to understand the beliefs, values and practices of the religion being studied by using language and concepts drawn from that religious tradition. The concern is not just with what the followers of a faith believe and do, but also with an understanding of why they do so, through an appreciation of the form of life and world outlook constituted by their actions and beliefs. The result of writing an essay in world religions should be, among other things, improved intercultural understanding. Students who are considering embarking on an EE in world religions are advised to study the subject’s Diploma Programme syllabus. It gives a clear idea of the scope and content of the subject, and will help students to decide whether:
their choice of topic is appropriate
they have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the subject to meet the assessment criteria.
Choice of Topic
Students may choose to answer any well-defined question about any of the world’s religions, present or past, subject to the following guidelines. The topic must be appropriate to the subject. EEs must address the beliefs, values and practices of religious traditions and show a genuine understanding of the religion from the standpoint of its adherents. Topics that are only indirectly related to religion—eg legal issues relating to school prayer, the wearing of religious symbols or the scientific validity of “creation science”—are not acceptable. Students who have not followed a course in world religions should familiarize themselves with the discipline and its methodology before choosing a topic. For example, they could read an introductory text or study with a mentor who has significant background in the discipline. Local university departments of religious studies, or interdisciplinary humanities departments that include scholars of religion, may be able to help. Specifically, students should note the following.
An essay in world religions should avoid topics that involve making judgments about the truth value of religious beliefs. They should not be of a confessional, evangelical or apologetic nature.
Essays should not be purely descriptive but should shed some light on why people believe and/or act as they do, or on the relationship between the religion and the broader social reality of which it is a part.
Few religious traditions are monolithic, and so naive analyses of “Christianity” or “Buddhism” are unlikely to attain the depth necessary for an excellent EE. Students should be as specific as possible about exactly what they are studying.
The research question should be well defined. Topics that are too broad nearly always result in essays that are superficial, purely descriptive and riddled with errors and misconceptions.
The research question should permit investigation using a method or approach that students are capable of completing successfully, given their level of training and the time and resources available. In other words, students should not plan an essay that requires access to unobtainable or unreadable primary sources or a larger number of in-depth interviews than there is time to carry out.
The most successful essays generally:
focus on the analysis or interpretation of a particular religious text, image, artifact, space, ritual or other practice, or
examine the significance of a well-defined concept in a particular religious tradition or comparatively across two different religious traditions.
Examples of Topics
Treatment of the Topic
The first step in preparing an EE is to formulate a well-defined research question. The best questions are those that show that students are familiar with existing research and with the larger concerns of the discipline. Research methods Many methods of investigation are possible. Students might, for instance:
analyse and interpret a sacred text, image or ritual
analyse the role of a particular doctrine within one or more theological systems
conduct in-depth interviews in order to understand how ordinary believers approach a particular religious belief or practice
engage in participant observation of sacred spaces or religious practices.
Ethical guidelines Students should obtain the permission of the leaders of religious communities before observing services and rituals. They should also obtain the permission of anyone they interview, making it clear how the results will be used and how, if at all, the interviewees will be identified. Sources Students are encouraged to use both primary and secondary sources. Secondary sources should be consulted in order to:
locate students’ topic within a broader context
gain an understanding of various methods of investigation, analysis, interpretation and argument
clarify the state of debate around the question.
The best essays generally test these established positions against primary sources or data collected for the EE. Be cautious in using catechisms and encyclopedias: Catechisms should be used only as primary sources that provide evidence of the way doctrines are presented at the popular level. They are rarely definitive doctrinal statements and never scholarly studies. Encyclopedias tend to summarize accepted scholarly results and often ignore or treat poorly the kind of disputed questions that make for a good EE. The more scholarly encyclopedias may be an exception, framing the “state of the question” with respect to a particular area of scholarship, but should only be a starting point, never a principal source. Interpreting primary sources Supervisors should make sure that students have at least a basic grasp of the scholarly methods needed to interpret primary sources, for example:
literary, source and historical-critical approaches to sacred texts
formal and iconographic analysis of visual images
various approaches to the interpretation of rituals.
Methods of investigation and analysis must be appropriate to the topic and be well executed. Essays that contain naive analyses and interpretations that reflect no training and could have been prepared without any formal study will not receive high scores. Interviews
In-depth interviews are an excellent way of finding out how ordinary members of a religious community understand and experience their religion. However, students must ensure they conduct a significant number of interviews with a diverse cross-section of the population being studied.
Interviews should not be used naively as a source regarding the “official teachings” of a religious institution: simply supplementing readings of secondary sources with a few interviews with local clergy accomplishes very little.
Comparative studies Comparisons between well-defined aspects of two or more different religions are permissible, but students must take great care to ensure that the comparisons are:
genuine, clear and specific
a manifestation of sensitive and objective analysis.
Comparison in religious studies means the comparing of ideas or practices, not the making of value judgments such as “Buddhist meditation is more effective than Christian prayer”. Comparison is made more difficult because religions tend to pose different questions rather than offer competing answers to the same questions. Should the student or the supervisor have any doubts about the student’s ability in these areas, a comparative study should be avoided. Writing the essay The results of the investigation, analysis and interpretation should be presented in the form of a well-written, well-organized argument that supports a clear and well-defined answer to the research question. Logical links and relationships between ideas should be spelled out. The conclusions should show an understanding of the wider implications of the research. Visual materials The use of materials such as drawings, pictures and photographs should be encouraged where they appropriately illustrate the discussion or argument. These should be included in the essay in a way that makes the intended point, and this point should be spelled out clearly in the analysis, interpretation and argument. When such materials are derived from another source, that source must be acknowledged.
Examples of Topics, RQs, & Approaches
Note: All information on this webpage has been copied or adapted from the IB Extended Essay Guide (2018) and is used for educational purposes only.