IB Math IA Complete Guide Part 2: Criterion A Presentation | Mr. Flynn IB

Mr. Flynn IB
19 Aug 202012:46

TLDRIn this educational video, Mr. Flynn focuses on achieving the highest score for Criterion A: Presentation in an IB Math IA. He emphasizes the importance of coherence, organization, and conciseness, suggesting a range of 12 to 20 pages for the IA. Key elements include a clear introduction with an aim, rationale, and plan, as well as a conclusion that ties back to the aim. Mr. Flynn advises on the placement of graphs, tables, and diagrams for clarity and suggests using Microsoft Word for a professional look. The video also provides examples of well-presented IAs, highlighting the need for straightforward language and avoiding repetitive content.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Aim for a coherent, well-organized, and concise exploration to achieve the highest score in Criterion A.
  • 📘 Ensure the front page includes a title, page count, and adheres to the 12-20 pages guideline excluding the bibliography.
  • 🔍 Include an introduction with a clear aim, rationale, and plan, and a conclusion that refers back to the aim.
  • 📚 Maintain a logical flow from one section to the next, ensuring each page is important and contributes to the exploration.
  • 📈 Place graphs, tables, and diagrams in appropriate locations, close to their reference in the text for easy understanding.
  • 📝 Keep the language simple and clear, avoiding unnecessary complexity that may hinder understanding by peers.
  • 📑 Utilize appendices for large tables of data, keeping the main body concise and focused.
  • 💻 Prefer Microsoft Word for a more professional look, especially with equation formatting.
  • 👀 Pay attention to small details such as margins and page layout to maintain a professional appearance.
  • 🔗 Ensure correct citations are used throughout the exploration to avoid plagiarism and maintain academic integrity.
  • 📈 Avoid repetitive calculations; summarize findings and place extensive data in appendices to maintain conciseness.

Q & A

  • What is the first criterion for an IB Math IA that Mr. Flynn discusses in the video?

    -The first criterion Mr. Flynn discusses is 'Presentation', which requires the exploration to be coherent, well organized, and concise.

  • What is the minimum score Mr. Flynn suggests students should aim for in the Presentation criterion?

    -Mr. Flynn suggests that students should aim for at least three out of four for the Presentation criterion, with four being the ideal.

  • What does 'coherent' mean in the context of the Presentation criterion?

    -In the context of the Presentation criterion, 'coherent' means that the exploration should be logically structured and consistent throughout.

  • What does 'well organized' mean in the context of the Presentation criterion?

    -'Well organized' refers to the exploration having a clear structure and flow, making it easy for readers to follow from one section to the next.

  • What does 'concise' mean in the context of the Presentation criterion?

    -'Concise' in the context of the Presentation criterion means that the exploration should be free from unnecessary information, with every page being important and contributing to the overall exploration.

  • What is the recommended page length for an IB Math IA, according to Mr. Flynn?

    -Mr. Flynn recommends a length of 12 to 20 pages for an IB Math IA, excluding the bibliography, with double-line spacing.

  • Why is it important to have an introduction and conclusion in an IB Math IA?

    -An introduction and conclusion are important because they set the context and aim of the exploration and then summarize the findings, respectively. They help to frame the exploration and make it coherent.

  • What should be included in the introduction of an IB Math IA?

    -The introduction of an IB Math IA should include an aim, a rationale for the exploration, and a plan outlining how the aim will be achieved.

  • What is the purpose of including graphs, tables, and diagrams in an IB Math IA?

    -Graphs, tables, and diagrams are included to visually represent data and findings, making the exploration easier to understand and more engaging for the reader.

  • Why does Mr. Flynn recommend using Microsoft Word over Google Docs for an IB Math IA?

    -Mr. Flynn recommends Microsoft Word because it provides better formatting options, particularly for equations, making the IA look more professional and polished.

  • What is an example of a concise and coherent IB Math IA that Mr. Flynn mentions in the video?

    -One example Mr. Flynn mentions is an IA about finding the probability of qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games. It has a clear aim, rationale, and plan, and is well-organized and concise.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Achieving Excellence in Presentation

This paragraph discusses the first criterion for a successful presentation, aiming for a perfect score of four out of four. The key attributes of a high-scoring presentation are coherence, organization, and conciseness. The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a clear aim, rationale, and plan within the introduction. They also stress the need for a coherent flow from one section to the next, with every page contributing significantly to the overall exploration. The inclusion of graphs, tables, and diagrams in appropriate places is highlighted, as well as the placement of large data sets in appendices to maintain conciseness. The use of Microsoft Word over Google Docs for a more professional appearance is recommended, and attention to small details such as margins and page numbering is advised. The paragraph concludes with the importance of correct citations and the presentation of two examples of well-communicated IAs.

05:02

📈 Clarity and Flow in Presentation Structure

The second paragraph continues the discussion on presentation, focusing on the clarity and flow of the content. It provides an example of a well-structured IA, starting with a clear aim and rationale, followed by a plan. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of logical progression from one section to the next, ensuring that graphs, tables, and diagrams are placed near their references to avoid confusion. It also advises against including large tables of raw data within the main body of the IA, suggesting their placement in appendices instead. The speaker reiterates the need for each page to be important and contributes to the conciseness of the IA. The use of Microsoft Word for a more polished look is preferred, and the importance of small details such as margins and page layout is highlighted. The paragraph ends with a critique of repetitive calculations and the importance of correct citations, followed by an example of a well-communicated IA with a clear aim and rationale.

10:03

🎨 Enhancing Presentation with Visuals and Organization

The final paragraph showcases two examples of IAs with excellent presentation qualities. The first example demonstrates a clear aim, rationale, and plan, with a logical flow and inclusion of relevant visuals that enhance understanding. The second example, an HL IA, also exhibits a well-defined aim and rationale, with a structured approach to explaining mathematical concepts and their application to the investigation. Both examples highlight the importance of visual aids, such as pictures and diagrams, placed strategically to support the text. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's intention to discuss mathematical communication in the next lesson, indicating a continuation of the topic.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Presentation

Presentation in the context of the video refers to the first criterion for an IB Math IA (Internal Assessment). It is about how the exploration is conveyed, emphasizing coherence, organization, and conciseness. The video aims to guide students to achieve the highest score by ensuring their work is well-structured and clear, avoiding unnecessary repetition and maintaining a focused approach throughout the document.

💡Coherent

Coherent means logically connected and consistent throughout the exploration. In the video, Mr. Flynn stresses the importance of a coherent IA, where each part logically follows from the previous, creating a seamless narrative that is easy to follow. Coherence is a key aspect of achieving a high score in the presentation criterion.

💡Well-organized

Being well-organized implies that the IA has a clear structure and layout. The script mentions that an organized exploration should flow from one section to the next without any disjointed parts. This includes proper sectioning, such as an introduction, rationale, plan, and conclusion, which are all integral to the structure of a compelling IA.

💡Concise

Conciseness in the video script is about brevity and avoiding redundancy. Mr. Flynn explains that an IA should be to the point, with every page contributing meaningfully to the exploration. Conciseness helps maintain the reader's interest and ensures the IA remains focused on the aim and objectives.

💡Introduction

The introduction is the opening section of an IA where the aim, rationale, and plan are presented. In the script, Mr. Flynn highlights the importance of a strong introduction, stating that it should clearly state the aim of the exploration and provide a rationale for the chosen topic and a plan for how the investigation will proceed.

💡Aim

The aim of an IA is the specific question or problem the student intends to investigate. The video emphasizes that the aim should be focused and clear, providing an example of a good aim related to winning a 100-meter sprint in the Olympic Games, illustrating how the aim sets the direction for the entire exploration.

💡Rationale

Rationale in the context of an IA is the explanation for why the student has chosen their particular aim and topic. The script suggests providing a personal connection or a specific interest that motivates the investigation, rather than a generic reason, to add depth to the exploration.

💡Plan

A plan outlines the steps or methods the student will use to achieve the aim of the IA. The video script mentions that the plan should be detailed, describing the process from data collection to analysis, ensuring the reader understands how the investigation will be conducted.

💡Conclusion

The conclusion is the final section of an IA where the student reflects on the aim and the findings. According to the script, the conclusion should refer back to the aim, discussing whether the initial objectives were met and summarizing the key findings in a way that is easy for the reader to understand.

💡Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is mentioned in the script as a preferred tool for creating the IA due to its professional appearance and superior equation editor compared to Google Docs. The video suggests that using Microsoft Word can enhance the presentation of the IA, making it look more polished and professional.

💡Appendices

Appendices are supplementary sections at the end of an IA that contain additional information such as large tables of data. The script advises placing extensive data tables in the appendices to avoid cluttering the main body of the IA, thus maintaining conciseness and focus on the key findings.

💡Citations

Citations are references to sources used in the IA. The video emphasizes the importance of correct citations to give credit to the original authors and to validate the information presented in the IA. Proper citation also contributes to the credibility and academic integrity of the work.

Highlights

The video focuses on achieving a high score for Criterion A: Presentation in an IB Math IA.

To achieve a perfect score, the IA must be coherent, well-organized, and concise.

A minimum of three out of four points is recommended for a good IA.

Conciseness in an IA means every page should be important and contribute to the exploration.

The IA should be between 12 to 20 pages, excluding the bibliography, with double-line spacing.

An introduction with a clear aim, rationale, and plan is essential for a strong start.

A focused aim provides a specific question or problem to be explored.

The rationale explains the choice of topic and aim, linking personal interest to the exploration.

A plan outlines the steps and methods to be used in the investigation.

A conclusion that refers back to the aim is necessary to show the results of the exploration.

The IA should be easily followed by a student in the same class, using clear and straightforward language.

Graphs, tables, and diagrams should be placed appropriately, near their reference in the text.

Large tables of data should be moved to the appendices to maintain conciseness.

Microsoft Word is preferred over Google Docs for its equation editor and professional appearance.

Attention to small details such as margins and page layout contributes to a professional look.

Avoid repetitive calculations; only necessary ones should be included in the main body of the IA.

Correct citations are crucial for academic integrity and should be checked thoroughly.

Examples of good IA presentations are provided, demonstrating clear aims and structured flow.

The use of pictures can enhance the IA, making it visually appealing and aiding in data representation.

The next lesson will focus on mathematical communication, another important aspect of the IA.