History Essay Contests 2014

Is anyone going to take part in Robson History Prize ?? Is it actually worth an effort? Provided that you will participate, which topic have you chosen?

p.s: if u are taking part in another essay competition you may also give sugestions if u wish

Hey,

I wrote an essay for the Robson History Prize last year and even though I didn't win anything I would still recommended it on all accounts. It taught me to write in a way which goes beyond the relatively restrictive school style essays if nothing else and I still received a letter with some feedback albeit brief. So, I would go for it if you have time to kill over the summer and particularly if you are considering applying for History.

Wow a really quick response I really appreciate your quick answer and it sounds very inspirational what was ur topic?

Hi, I'm considering doing the last question, 'Is history an art or a science?'

Would the contest be useful for me, even though I am not interested in applying to either Oxford or Cambridge? I went to the LSE open day yesterday, and they said that it is obvious in a PS whether an applicant is aspiring to go to Oxbridge, and that it can sometimes lessen their chances of gaining an offer from LSE. If I wrote about the Robson History Essay in my PS, would this make it seem like I was a potential Oxbridge candidate?

I'm planning on starting my research very soon, and completing it quickly (but obviously working hard on it). I also have an EPQ to do over the summer, busy busy busy!

One question - are you meant to cite your sources properly (e.g. Harvard referencing) or just write a standard essay? Thanks!

I entered this contest last year and did not submit an application to either Oxford or Cambridge - it's very much worth doing and was a beneficial experience regardless of whether you decide to apply to Oxbridge! I doubt LSE would give your application less consideration than it deserves because of this. Regarding referencing, I admittedly wrote mine in a mad dash less than a week before the deadline so just attached a list of sources as opposed to properly referencing them, however, I would recommend doing so!

Hi, I'm considering doing the last question, 'Is history an art or a science?'

Would the contest be useful for me, even though I am not interested in applying to either Oxford or Cambridge? I went to the LSE open day yesterday, and they said that it is obvious in a PS whether an applicant is aspiring to go to Oxbridge, and that it can sometimes lessen their chances of gaining an offer from LSE. If I wrote about the Robson History Essay in my PS, would this make it seem like I was a potential Oxbridge candidate?

I'm planning on starting my research very soon, and completing it quickly (but obviously working hard on it). I also have an EPQ to do over the summer, busy busy busy!

One question - are you meant to cite your sources properly (e.g. Harvard referencing) or just write a standard essay? Thanks!

I got told to Harvard reference. It means that the essay takes twice as long to complete though. There's a great guide to harvard referencing on this website:

http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm

Good luck! How much have you wrote so far?

Thank you for the website! I've done about a page at the moment, but at the moment my school is making everyone concentrate on drafting personal statements so I haven't had much time... Hopefully it won't be too time-consuming though, because my school's historical society focuses a lot on what history actually is, so that's helpful.

I'm on around 500 words, there's so much to talk about!

Wow, personal statements already? My college isn't even thinking about them until September, but I think ima draft one over the summer.

You picked the most technical, theoretical question on the list! Don't know how you can cope with it haha

Which question did you choose? Yeah I know, the question is so broad that I don't know if what I'm writing is good or bad... I love discussing history and what it really is, but it's definitely harder to write about than to talk about!

And yeah, my school has basically made us start our PS, EPQ and even begin our UCAS profiles already! No rest for the wicked

I chose number 47 - 'Why and with What Consequences was India partitioned in 1947?' I wanted something more specific, to help keep my essay more focused.

I wouldn't mind doing an EPQ, no such opportunities come around at my college. We're not encouraged at all :-l

That sounds good! Good idea to keep it focussed haha, that's definitely becoming an issue with mine...

Is there no way you could submit one independently? It counts as another AS I think, some unis take it in place of an AS subject if you miss the grades.

I'm doing the Robson Essay competition as well. I've had a mad moment and decided to do the one on William I (not sure how many others are opting to do a medieval question?). I'm at the 800 word mark, whereabouts is everybody else?

I'm at 1,000. Are you harvard referencing?

I was doing a medieval question but couldn't find any information anywhere so I had to change.