Extended Essay (EE)

Extended Essay Coordinator - Eileen Knapp

eknapp@aspenk12.net

The extended essay invites students to investigate a topic of special interest, in the form of a 4,000-word piece of independent research. Students select an area of research from DP subjects and become acquainted with the independent research and writing skills expected at university. This leads to a major piece of formally presented, structured writing, in which ideas and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the subject chosen. It is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. As an authentic learning experience, the EE provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research on a topic of choice, under the guidance of a supervisor at ASD.

2026 Diploma Candidates' EE Research Questions:

Luke Abbaszadeh - Global Politics - To what extent have the Trump administrations reshaped students’ freedom of expression and academic autonomy in U.S. higher education?

Paul Anzalone - Business Management - How successful is the joint venture between the Aspen Skiing Company and Winter X Games as a growth strategy for both companies?

Oliver Auvray - Business Management -  How does YETI's approach to sustainable production and cause driven marketing impact consumer perception and brand loyalty in the water bottle and cooler industry?

Chloe Axelman - English A - How do the relationships we unintentionally form instill values in us that we lean on in the face of extreme violence?

Lily Barbin - Business Management - To what extent has Lululemon’s focus on customer experience and community engagement contributed to its competitive advantage in the North American market?

Alexis Berger - Business Management - How did CCC invest in various marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage and maintain its market leadership?

Angelina Bradley - Psychology- How do the specific psychological processes in the cognitive and sociocultural fields of psychology contribute to someone's decision to stay in a religious cult?

Josie Brands - Global Politics - To What Extent did the Rise of Social Media and the Internet Influence the 2024 Presidential Election in the US?

Margaret Buck - Business Management - To what extent has the addition of Amazon’s digital shopping cart contributed to its customer retention and sales growth in the U.S. market?

Josephine Cole - Visual Arts - How have artistic techniques and cultural contexts of The Birth of Venus and Venus of Urbino influenced the portrayal of femininity and female representation, and how do these various artistic decisions shape the way women are portrayed even today?

Maximilien De Baets - History - To what extent did Tokugawa Ieyasu’s strategic manipulation of political alliances and betrayals contribute to the collapse of the Western Army and his eventual victory at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600?

Sylvan Doyle - Business Management - How do the marketing strategies of Alta Ski Resort compare to Aspen Snowmass?

Cade Feast - English A - How have societal constructs of patriarchy and masculinity evolved over time, and how have these changes impacted gender roles, relations, and individual identity in today's society?

Elizabeth Foster - History - To what extent was Cacao the most significant trading commodity for Spain during the Columbian Exchange (1500s to 1800s)?

Eli Genshaft - Business Management - How have Toyota and BMW’s ventures into hydrogen-powered vehicles influenced their growth in the sustainable car market up to the present day?

Wade Gerardi - Business Management - To what extent would stronger moral standards be able to improve Nike's overall success?

Sydney Klausmann - English A - How do the two novels The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank convey themes surrounding harmful societal expectations for women? Additionally, by analyzing how these authors chose to convey these themes, what can we learn about the authors and the evolution of women's voices in American society?

Kristofers Klavins - Business Management - To what extent do the financial benefits of Shell's greenwashing outweigh the environmental and ethical concerns?

Carter Kuhlman - Biology -  Is there a significant difference in the mean growth rate (mg per day) of Ocimum basilicum plants grown in soil with 0.0g, 1.0g, 1.5g, 2.0g, and 2.5g of biochar created through the pyrolysis of Lemna minor?

Cody Lewis - Business Management - To what extent is Starbucks' profitability dependent on its cafe experience?

Stella Lodge - Visual Arts - To what extent do principles of design and elements of art make propaganda, including women, more effective and convincing to the viewer?

Zachary Loeb - Physics - What is the relationship between the efficiency of an electric motor measured in watts and the magnetic field strength being imposed on the system as measured by Teslas?

Annika Lundeen - English A - To what extent do My Neighbor Totoro, Whisper of the Heart, and Princess Mononoke symbolize and portray Hayao Miyazaki’s childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as discussed in his various biographies?

Emmet Meidar - History -  To what extent did the economic and social policies of Pinochet's government (1973-1900) change Chile's food systems economically, socially, and environmentally?

Valerie Menendez - English A - How does Noah Kahan use recurring literary devices across the entirety of Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) to construct a narrative of personal transformation?

Mia Mottier - Psychology -  To what extent does psychological trauma influence the content and frequency of dreams?

Luca Nettleton -  Environmental Systems & Societies - What are the environmental consequences of cotton farming for fast fashion, and how can sustainable practices reduce its impact on water and land use?

Spencer Novak - Psychology - How important is physical touch in early infancy on cognitive development?

Alyson Ocampo - Psychology - To what extent can biological processes explain sleep paralysis, and how do cognitive factors contribute to the experience?

Daane Reische - English A - To what extent does Harry, in Ernest Hemingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro, represent a failure to embody the interpersonal ideals of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, and how does this failure reflect Hemingway's personal critique of the American dream during the Great Depression?

Marley Rich - History - To what extent were egalitarian pirate communities along the Malagasy Coast during the Golden Age of Piracy, 1680-1720, a result of egalitarian values in native Malagasy populations?

Jackson Rumbaugh - Physics - How does the surface area of a parachute impact the descent time?

Chase Slesinger - Hall - History - How significant was the role of propaganda in shaping public perception of the Cold War from 1947-1959 in the United States?

Aurelia Tunte - Biology - How does the presence of extracellular vesicles affect the repair and strengthening of connective tissues in relation to hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?