How has the case Roe v. Wade been the most impactful governmental action in influencing arguments surrounding reproductive rights and bodily autonomy and shaping feminist activism throughout the late 20th century?HL
Loading scores...
C
Official IB Result
18/34
Criteria A: Focus and Method
4/6
0
3
6
Criteria StrandsPro
A.1Topic communication and appropriateness
Moderate
A.2Research question clarity and focus
Poor
A.3Methodology completeness and appropriateness
Poor
Criteria Feedback
- The student communicates a historically relevant and meaningful topic clearly from the outset.
- The student's research question is explicit and stays connected to the general issue of Roe and feminist activism.
- The student shows awareness of multiple source types, including legal material, scholarly work, and contextual commentary.
- The student's question is too broad for a tightly controlled historical investigation.
- The comparative phrase about being the "most impactful" is not defined clearly enough.
- The student's methodology is described, but not fully justified through source selection or explanation of how the evidence will be used.
1.1·Weakness
Page 1
The question is too broad and the phrase “most impactful governmental action” creates a difficult comparison that is never clearly defined. The student should narrow the time frame, specify which feminist activists or organizations are being studied, and state what evidence will be used to judge “impact” against other actions.
1.2·Strength
Page 1
The topic is clearly introduced and immediately signals a historical investigation into a significant legal and social issue. This is a strong starting point because the reader can quickly identify the broad area of inquiry and the essay’s relevance to feminist history.
1.3·Weakness
Page 4
This describes source types, but it does not explain how the student selected them or how each type will answer the comparative claim in the question. A stronger methodology would justify why these sources are appropriate, how primary and secondary evidence are being distinguished, and how the source base will test “most impactful.”
Criteria B: Knowledge and Understanding
4/6
0
3
6
Criteria StrandsPro
B.1Application of source material
Moderate
B.2Subject knowledge and understanding
Moderate
B.3Use of terminology and concepts
Good
Criteria Feedback
- The student uses a range of relevant material connected to abortion rights, feminist activism, and the legal legacy of Roe.
- The student shows clear knowledge of important legal terms and concepts such as privacy, due process, the trimester framework, and undue burden.
- The student demonstrates an understanding that legal protection and real-world access are not the same thing.
- Some claims are too general and are not supported by precise historical evidence.
- The student often moves too quickly from Roe as a legal decision to broad social outcomes without fully proving the causal link.
- Several important sources and legal developments are mentioned without sustained or close use in the argument.
2.1·Strength
Page 3
This is a clear and accurate summary of the core legal holding. The student shows sound understanding of the case by linking the ruling to the right to privacy and the constitutional basis of the decision.
2.2·Weakness
Page 4
The claim moves too quickly from legal protection to broad social equality without showing the causal chain. The student should separate what Roe directly changed in law from what later activists or social trends may have built on it, so the argument does not overstate the ruling’s immediate historical effects.
2.3·Question
Page 6
What evidence shows that this benefit was experienced equally across socioeconomic groups, given the later discussion of the Hyde Amendment and unequal access? The student could strengthen this point by showing where the constitutional right changed access in practice and where it did not.
2.4·Weakness
Page 6
This is a strong-sounding claim, but it needs closer evidence and clearer explanation of causation. The student should show why this increase can be attributed to Roe rather than to broader economic, demographic, or feminist changes happening at the same time.
Criteria C: Critical Thinking
5/12
0
6
12
Criteria StrandsPro
C.1Research quality
Poor
C.2Analysis depth
Poor
C.3Discussion and evaluation
Poor
Criteria Feedback
- The student develops a coherent overall argument that Roe mattered for reproductive rights and feminist activism.
- The student includes some evaluative points about unequal access, backlash, and the limits of legal victory.
- The student organizes the discussion into analytical themes that make the response easy to follow.
- The student's central judgement is not tested strongly enough against alternative explanations or comparisons.
- The essay often states conclusions without fully weighing the evidence behind them.
- The source base is relevant, but it is not consistently deep enough to support a very large historical claim.
3.1·Weakness
Page 5
This is asserted as direct causation, but the essay does not demonstrate that Roe was the decisive factor. The student should compare Roe with other influences, such as wider economic change, second-wave feminism, and changing labor markets, to show whether the conclusion is justified.
3.2·Strength
Page 5
This is effective use of evidence because it connects the legal ruling to a measurable public-health outcome. The student should keep building arguments like this by pairing each major claim with specific historical or statistical support.
3.3·Weakness
Page 8
This is relevant, but it remains too general to show the depth of activism or the effect of Roe on it. The student should name the specific reforms, explain how NOW used Roe strategically, and show evidence that the ruling changed activism rather than merely coinciding with it.
3.4·Weakness
Page 10
This statement is plausible, but the essay does not provide enough evidence to connect increased female representation directly to Roe. The student should identify specific legislators, legislative debates, or policy changes to show how Roe influenced political participation in a demonstrable way.
3.5·Strength
Page 11
This shows strong analytical sequencing of legal precedent. The student is not just listing cases but explaining how later decisions built on Roe’s framework, which strengthens the historical argument.
3.6·Weakness
Page 13
The language becomes evaluative without enough evidence to support the scale of the claim. The student should qualify this statement or support it with examples showing which legal and social developments were actually reversed, and which remained intact after Dobbs.
3.7·Question
Page 16
How does the student know Roe was more impactful than other major governmental actions, such as Title IX, the Equal Rights Amendment campaign, or changes in workplace law? A direct comparison would make the conclusion much more convincing.
Criteria D: Presentation
2/4
0
2
4
Criteria StrandsPro
D.1Structure appropriateness
Excellent
D.2Layout and formatting
Good
Criteria Feedback
- The student's report includes the major structural elements expected in a formal investigation.
- The layout is generally readable and easy to navigate.
- The student provides a word count and uses headings and page numbering, which help presentation.
- The student's citation style is inconsistent in places and some source details are incomplete.
- The bibliography presentation is not fully polished, which reduces professionalism.
- Some sections repeat ideas rather than sharpening the argument in the final stages.
4.1·Strength
Page 2
The report includes all major structural elements expected in an extended essay, and the sectioning is easy to follow. This helps the reader navigate the argument and shows that the student has planned the investigation as a coherent whole.
4.2·Weakness
Page 14
The conclusion repeats broad claims from earlier sections rather than tightening them into a more precise final judgement. The student should use the conclusion to weigh the evidence, address the limits of the argument, and answer the research question more carefully.
4.3·Weakness
Page 17
The bibliography format is inconsistent here, with source details running together and several entries missing clear punctuation or publication information. The student should standardize citation style and make every entry complete so the reference list looks professional and can be used reliably by a reader.