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, guiding students to structure their work effectively with a clear aim, rationale, and plan. The video offers practical tips on page length, introduction, conclusion, and the strategic use of graphs, tables, and diagrams, ensuring each page contributes meaningfully to the exploration. Mr. Flynn also advises on the use of Microsoft Word for a professional appearance and the avoidance of repetitive content, concluding with examples of well-presented IAs.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“ The first criterion for an IB Math IA is presentation, aiming for a coherent, well-organized, and concise exploration.
  • ๐Ÿ”ข A minimum of three out of four points is recommended for this criterion, with four being the target for excellence.
  • ๐Ÿ“‘ The IA should be between 12 to 20 pages, excluding the bibliography, and must include an introduction and conclusion.
  • ๐ŸŽฏ The introduction must clearly state the aim, rationale, and plan of the exploration.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Ensure that graphs, tables, and diagrams are placed appropriately and referenced near their description in the text.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Large tables of data should be moved to the appendices to maintain conciseness.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Use clear and simple language; the IA should be easy to follow for students in the class.
  • ๐Ÿ’ป Microsoft Word is preferred over Google Docs for its better formatting and equation editor.
  • ๐Ÿ‘€ Pay attention to small details such as margins and page numbers to ensure a professional appearance.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Avoid repetitive calculations; if necessary, include them in the appendices and summarize the results in the main text.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Correct citations are crucial; ensure they are accurate if used in the IA.

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 should be coherent, well-organized, and concise to achieve the maximum score.

  • 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 in the presentation criterion, as it is the minimum to be considered a good IA.

  • What does Mr. Flynn mean by 'concise' in the context of an IB Math IA?

    -In the context of an IB Math IA, 'concise' means that every page of the IA is important and contributes to the exploration. It is not about the length but the relevance and necessity of the content.

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

    -The recommended page range for an IB Math IA is 12 to 20 pages, excluding the bibliography, with double-line spacing.

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

    -Having an introduction and a conclusion is important because the introduction sets the aim, rationale, and plan of the exploration, while the conclusion refers back to the aim and summarizes the findings.

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

    -The introduction should include an aim, a rationale for the exploration, and a plan outlining how the investigation will be conducted.

  • How should the content in an IB Math IA be organized to ensure it is coherent and well-organized?

    -The content should flow logically from one section to the next, with clear headings and subheadings. Each section should build upon the previous one, leading to a coherent narrative.

  • 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 follow and understand. They should be placed near the relevant discussion in the text.

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

    -Mr. Flynn recommends Microsoft Word because it provides a more professional appearance, especially with its equation editor, which is considered superior to Google Docs for mathematical presentations.

  • What is the significance of ensuring that every page in an IB Math IA is important and contributes to the exploration?

    -Ensuring every page is important contributes to the conciseness of the IA. It prevents the inclusion of unnecessary or repetitive information, maintaining the focus on the investigation's aim and findings.

  • How can students avoid repetitive calculations in their IB Math IA?

    -Students can avoid repetitive calculations by summarizing findings and only including necessary calculations in the main body of the IA, moving less critical calculations to the appendices.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ“ Achieving Coherence and Conciseness in Presentation

The speaker emphasizes the importance of coherence, organization, and conciseness in academic presentations to achieve a top score. They explain that a well-organized presentation should have a clear aim, rationale, and plan, and should flow logically from one section to the next. The introduction and conclusion are crucial, with the conclusion referring back to the aim. The speaker also advises on the appropriate length of the presentation, the use of graphs, tables, and diagrams, and the placement of large data sets in appendices. They suggest using Microsoft Word for a more professional look and remind the audience to pay attention to details such as page numbering, margins, and correct citations.

05:02

๐Ÿ“š Streamlining Presentation with Effective Flow and Visuals

This paragraph focuses on the seamless flow of content and the strategic use of visuals to enhance the presentation's clarity. The speaker provides an example of a well-structured presentation, highlighting the importance of placing graphs and tables close to the text that references them. They advise against including large tables of raw data in the main body of the presentation, instead suggesting to summarize them and direct readers to the appendices. The speaker also touches on the preference for Microsoft Word over Google Docs for its superior formatting capabilities, especially for mathematical equations. They conclude with advice on avoiding repetitive calculations and ensuring correct citations, providing examples of two effective presentations.

10:03

๐ŸŽจ Enhancing Presentation with Visual Appeal and Structured Content

The final paragraph showcases the value of visual appeal and structured content in presentations. The speaker presents two examples of high-quality presentations, one focusing on the probability of qualifying for a competitive race and the other on the surface area of a chocolate egg compared to its wrapper. Both examples demonstrate a clear aim, rationale, and plan, with well-placed visuals that aid understanding. The speaker notes the importance of a logical progression of topics and the inclusion of relevant mathematical explanations. They stress the significance of a visually appealing and well-organized presentation that is both concise and engaging.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กPresentation

Presentation in the context of the video refers to the way an IB Math Internal Assessment (IA) is organized and displayed. It is one of the criteria for scoring, emphasizing the importance of a coherent, well-organized, and concise exploration. The video script mentions that to achieve a high score, every page of the IA should be important and contribute meaningfully to the overall presentation.

๐Ÿ’กCoherent

Coherent means logically connected and consistent throughout the IA. The video script explains that a coherent IA is one where the exploration is logically structured, making it easy to follow the student's line of reasoning from the introduction to the conclusion.

๐Ÿ’กWell-organized

Well-organized pertains to the layout and structure of the IA. The script suggests that an organized IA has a clear introduction, rationale, plan, and conclusion, with each section flowing logically into the next, making the exploration easy to navigate and understand.

๐Ÿ’กConcise

Conciseness in the video script is about being brief and to the point without unnecessary repetition or irrelevant information. The video emphasizes that even a 20-page IA can be concise if every page is important and contributes to the exploration, avoiding 'waffle' or filler content.

๐Ÿ’กIntroduction

The introduction is the opening section of an IA where the aim, rationale, and plan of the exploration are stated. The script highlights the importance of a strong introduction, setting the stage for the rest of the paper and clearly outlining the student's objectives and approach.

๐Ÿ’กAim

The aim of an IA is the specific question or problem the student intends to explore. The video script provides an example of a focused aim, such as calculating the probability of winning a 100-meter sprint in the Olympic Games, contrasting it with a vague aim like investigating patterns in trees.

๐Ÿ’กRationale

Rationale explains the reason behind choosing a particular aim or topic for the IA. The script suggests that a good rationale should be more than just personal interest; it should relate to the student's personal experience or a specific problem they wish to address.

๐Ÿ’กPlan

A plan outlines the steps the student will take to achieve the aim of the IA. The video script illustrates a plan with an example of modeling a free kick in football, involving taking a video, finding a model, and doing calculus to compare with professional players.

๐Ÿ’กConclusion

The conclusion is the final section of an IA where the student reflects on the aim and summarizes the findings. The script emphasizes that the conclusion should refer back to the aim, discussing whether the initial objectives were met and providing insights gained from the exploration.

๐Ÿ’กMicrosoft 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 script suggests that using Microsoft Word can enhance the presentation quality of the IA.

๐Ÿ’กAppendices

Appendices are supplementary sections at the end of an IA for additional information like large tables of data. The script advises placing extensive data tables in the appendices to maintain conciseness in the main body of the IA, avoiding overwhelming the reader with too many numbers.

๐Ÿ’กCitations

Citations are references to the sources of information used in the IA. The video script stresses the importance of correct citations to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the original authors, which is a fundamental aspect of academic integrity.

Highlights

The first criterion for an IB Math IA is Presentation, aiming for a score of four out of four.

A coherent, well-organized, and concise exploration is essential for achieving the highest score.

The minimum expectation is three out of four, indicating some coherence and organization.

Conciseness is a challenge, with every page needing to be important and contributing to the IA.

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 mandatory for the IA.

A focused aim is crucial, such as calculating the probability of winning a specific event.

The rationale should explain the choice of topic and aim, providing a personal connection.

A plan outlines the methodology, such as recording a free kick and comparing it to professional players.

A conclusion that refers back to the aim and assesses whether the objectives were met is necessary.

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

Flow is important, with each section logically leading to the next without repetition.

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 recommended over Google Docs for a more professional presentation.

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

Avoid repetitive calculations; summarize findings and place extensive data in the appendices.

Correct citations are important to maintain academic integrity.

Examples of good communication in IAs include clear aims, rationales, and plans.

Photos and visuals can enhance the presentation if they add value and clarify the exploration.

The next lesson will focus on mathematical communication within the IA.