Ultimate EPQ thread
Scroll to see replies
Original post by TenaciousMonkey
I'm already touching the word limit... :/ I guess I'll just have to start cutting bits out...
what word limit? it just has to be over 5000 words...
Original post by corpuscallosum
what word limit? it just has to be over 5000 words...
Our project manager has specifically said we have to keep ours at 5000 words give or take 1000 either way - so I'm topping 5500 at the moment and not quite finished... if there was no word limit, I'd be over the moon. The reason I have so many footnotes is because they don't count to the word count and I'm trying (badly) to save space :/ (And in that case, surely it doesn't matter whether or not they're in footnotes?)
Screw it, I e-mailed AQA, see what they say.
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by TenaciousMonkey
Our project manager has specifically said we have to keep ours at 5000 words give or take 1000 either way - so I'm topping 5500 at the moment and not quite finished... if there was no word limit, I'd be over the moon. The reason I have so many footnotes is because they don't count to the word count and I'm trying (badly) to save space :/ (And in that case, surely it doesn't matter whether or not they're in footnotes?)
Screw it, I e-mailed AQA, see what they say.
Screw it, I e-mailed AQA, see what they say.
If you have lots of information which is in some ways necessary but not central to the focus of the text, I'd stick it in appendices.
They won't affect your word count.
I think it's much better to keep footnotes completely for references (and perhaps the odd comment), mainly for clarity, so that you can see exactly what your sources are, without having to scan through essentially a second level of text.
So too, seeing a load of calculations isn't essential for a reader of your project - but it is essential that they have been done, and that there is evidence there that they have been.
When I did my EPQ, I pretty much wrote the conclusions of calculations and proofs in the main body of the text, and then said, see appendix something-or-other for the derivation and details of the calculations.
It can be hard to label things, but I adopted a system of numbering and sub-numbering every small section of my project, and then having an appendix subsection of the corresponding number, containing any intermediate steps which belonged to that section of the piece.
Original post by TenaciousMonkey
I'm already touching the word limit... :/ I guess I'll just have to start cutting bits out...
Most people find themselves cutting small - or in some cases large - parts of their projects.
Once you start, it gets quite easy to cut bits out, and it really makes you test whether every part of the project is essential to your argument: so not only will the project get smaller, but also more sharp and coherent - hopefully!
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by placenta medicae talpae
If you have lots of information which is in some ways necessary but not central to the focus of the text, I'd stick it in appendices.
They won't affect your word count.
I think it's much better to keep footnotes completely for references (and perhaps the odd comment), mainly for clarity, so that you can see exactly what your sources are, without having to scan through essentially a second level of text.
So too, seeing a load of calculations isn't essential for a reader of your project - but it is essential that they have been done, and that there is evidence there that they have been.
When I did my EPQ, I pretty much wrote the conclusions of calculations and proofs in the main body of the text, and then said, see appendix something-or-other for the derivation and details of the calculations.
It can be hard to label things, but I adopted a system of numbering and sub-numbering every small section of my project, and then having an appendix subsection of the corresponding number, containing any intermediate steps which belonged to that section of the piece.
They won't affect your word count.
I think it's much better to keep footnotes completely for references (and perhaps the odd comment), mainly for clarity, so that you can see exactly what your sources are, without having to scan through essentially a second level of text.
So too, seeing a load of calculations isn't essential for a reader of your project - but it is essential that they have been done, and that there is evidence there that they have been.
When I did my EPQ, I pretty much wrote the conclusions of calculations and proofs in the main body of the text, and then said, see appendix something-or-other for the derivation and details of the calculations.
It can be hard to label things, but I adopted a system of numbering and sub-numbering every small section of my project, and then having an appendix subsection of the corresponding number, containing any intermediate steps which belonged to that section of the piece.
Yeah, that's actually quite a nice idea. I'll propose it to my project supervisor see what he thinks is best. Thanks!
Reply from AQA:
"Thank you for your email. Please speak with your supervisor about this and talk through why your EPQ is 7,000 words long. There is no automatic penalty for exceeding 5,000 words but you do need to think about whether your aims are too ambitious to be successfully reached in a 5,000 word written report or thereabouts which might show up a weakness in your project planning, design or monitoring of progress. You should be able to resolve this and make the right decision by discussing this with your supervisor and listening to their advice.
I hope this is useful and that you’re enjoying doing your EPQ."
Original post by placenta medicae talpae
Most people find themselves cutting small - or in some cases large - parts of their projects.
Once you start, it gets quite easy to cut bits out, and it really makes you test whether every part of the project is essential to your argument: so not only will the project get smaller, but also more sharp and coherent - hopefully!
Once you start, it gets quite easy to cut bits out, and it really makes you test whether every part of the project is essential to your argument: so not only will the project get smaller, but also more sharp and coherent - hopefully!
Mm... I know which bit I can cut out but it's not massive, will only grab me another couple of hundred words. But hey, if AQA e-mail me back, maybe I won't have to (because it is relevant, but I could quite happily do the project without it. Actually, maybe I'll cut it anyway...)
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by TenaciousMonkey
Mm... I know which bit I can cut out but it's not massive, will only grab me another couple of hundred words. But hey, if AQA e-mail me back, maybe I won't have to (because it is relevant, but I could quite happily do the project without it. Actually, maybe I'll cut it anyway...)
I did my EPQ as an artefact, rather than an essay, because it was far too mathematical and well just not like an essay
to fall into that category: could you consider that instead?Best thing is ... no word limit for an artefact!
My project was literally thousands and thousands of words long, and apparently I did lose a mark for that, but one mark is 2%: well worth losing in my opinion.
But if you do an artefact, then you do have to do a 1000-word summary too.
Took me half an hour of copying and pasting bits out of my report and adding the odd sentence in the library one morning
Original post by placenta medicae talpae
I did my EPQ as an artefact, rather than an essay, because it was far too mathematical and well just not like an essay to fall into that category: could you consider that instead?
Best thing is ... no word limit for an artefact!
My project was literally thousands and thousands of words long, and apparently I did lose a mark for that, but one mark is 2%: well worth losing in my opinion.
But if you do an artefact, then you do have to do a 1000-word summary too.
Took me half an hour of copying and pasting bits out of my report and adding the odd sentence in the library one morning
to fall into that category: could you consider that instead?Best thing is ... no word limit for an artefact!
My project was literally thousands and thousands of words long, and apparently I did lose a mark for that, but one mark is 2%: well worth losing in my opinion.
But if you do an artefact, then you do have to do a 1000-word summary too.
Took me half an hour of copying and pasting bits out of my report and adding the odd sentence in the library one morning
Yeah, I was talking to a friend of mine doing his on celestial mechanics; he's been deriving everything under the sun and said that's what he's gonna try and do. Unfortunately, mine;s not that mathematical, it just has lots of words D:
Original post by TenaciousMonkey
Yeah, I was talking to a friend of mine doing his on celestial mechanics; he's been deriving everything under the sun and said that's what he's gonna try and do. Unfortunately, mine;s not that mathematical, it just has lots of words D:
Ooh hey, great for him - sounds like an epic project!
In fact, I did a Nuffield bursary, and my partner spent most of his project looking at how to derive Kepler's laws of motion for planets and things.
Fair enough: hope it goes well anyway.
Does anyone have any information about this? Usefulness, difficulty, workload etc..it seems like it would strengthen my application to any universities, and it's offered at my school, just wondered if anyone knew much 
Thanks! Much appreciated
Thanks! Much appreciated
Hello everyone!
I'm also doing the extended project but unsure what to do, I am doing the extended project, English Literature A2, Graphics AS (in Year 14). I did BTEC Media and BTEC ICT in year 12 n 13 so I am planning to do something in the multimedia field. But not sure on what exactly..I'm currently obsessed with typography but I don't think I can present it in that form since I am not good at (hopefully my media teacher will advise me).
So anyone doing their extended project in the media field? Was thinking of something cliche like how celebrities make a high impact on their audience and tries to be like them and youtubers are becoming a trend and how youtube has created internet celebrities etc..I dono S..any advise? need it asap thanks x
I'm also doing the extended project but unsure what to do, I am doing the extended project, English Literature A2, Graphics AS (in Year 14). I did BTEC Media and BTEC ICT in year 12 n 13 so I am planning to do something in the multimedia field. But not sure on what exactly..I'm currently obsessed with typography but I don't think I can present it in that form since I am not good at (hopefully my media teacher will advise me).
So anyone doing their extended project in the media field? Was thinking of something cliche like how celebrities make a high impact on their audience and tries to be like them and youtubers are becoming a trend and how youtube has created internet celebrities etc..I dono S..any advise? need it asap thanks x
anyone know if you can use a short story you used for AS English as your 'product'
Original post by blue_
anyone know if you can use a short story you used for AS English as your 'product'
I'm not sure if you could somehow get away with using it as an artefact.
But in general, an EPQ should ask a question, investigate potential answers, do some pretty close analysis, and if possible find out something new and form a conclusion.
You also need to do research and consult a range of sources, referenced appropriately throughout the piece.
You could definitely do something like investigating how effective different short stories are compared with each other, or maybe analysing the importance of the short story in the world of literature; you could probably even investigate what constitutes the 'optimum' short story, producing an example of one as an artefact, with annotations to explain the effect ... but check whether your project is appropriate with your supervisor before doing anything, is the best advice I can give!
(edited 12 years ago)
would it be good to do an epq on the taboo topic of incest or genectic sexual attraction
Original post by Olive123
would it be good to do an epq on the taboo topic of incest or genectic sexual attraction
Yep, definitely can do.
One of the example EPQ's from AQA was about how men can change their behaviour to attract women, so I guess anything like that is perfectly acceptable.
But of course, all the usual rules still apply, and it'll still require all of the depth and rigorous analysis needed for any other subject.
Hello, I'm starting my EPQ pretty soon and need to start brainstorming some ideas. Originally I wanted to do something based on a drama performance (I couldn't do drama at a level and was gutted) but the only ideas I had involved like theatre in education and how it affects the audience. I was also going to do a physics related one, but lacking in ideas! ):
I had a psychology idea: are children born in the summer less academically able at the end of primary school than children born nearer September (due to the fact they lose 8ish months of education) What are people's opinions on that, and if not, could anyone suggest maybe another idea either physics or drama related?
Thank you (:
I had a psychology idea: are children born in the summer less academically able at the end of primary school than children born nearer September (due to the fact they lose 8ish months of education) What are people's opinions on that, and if not, could anyone suggest maybe another idea either physics or drama related?
Thank you (:
Original post by EricaDeane
I had a psychology idea: are children born in the summer less academically able at the end of primary school than children born nearer September (due to the fact they lose 8ish months of education) What are people's opinions on that
Sounds like a good idea
But it would be good if you could open the question out a bit, in order to get rid of any suspicion that you've already formed a conclusion before the project has even started
But yeah - anything from does age at which a child begins full (or part?) time education affect their ability, to whether the temperature on their birthday has an affect (okay that might not be entirely serious
).With that project, you could even do freedom of information requests for all sorts of data, from KS2 results, to more specialist tests which only certain groups take, like any IQ tests, CAT's and the 'Cheshire test' (which might or might not still exist).
Plenty of opportunities for interviews and letters to OFSTED, and possibly Ofqual/QCA (if relevant) to see which measures, if any, they use to account for this at KS1 especially.
To anyone doing a project which could involve statistical analysis (which seems to be loved because it makes the project so much more rigorous), I'd really recommend asking anyone who knows about such things to teach you or guide you through an appropriate statistical procedure which could then be included in your project.
Some really great ones to include would be use of the Normal, t, or chi-squared distributions.
Anyone studying statistics or biology will study these anyway (with the exception of the t-distribution).
(edited 12 years ago)
I'm thinking of doing a psychology based extended project, something about whether people are born evil and maybe looking at why some people kill, hopefully incorporating the yorkshire moores murders as i find that really interesting. Just looking if anyone has any ideas. I haven't done psychology a level so i'm a little inexperienced in the field, so any help is good
I'm about 3/5 done out of my EPQ but I'm already 3,795 words in! I'm afraid that I'm going to go over the 5000 words. Does anyone know the maximum amount we can do?
How have people already almost finished their EPQ? I haven't even had my first EPQ lesson yet.
Original post by Zhy
How have people already almost finished their EPQ? I haven't even had my first EPQ lesson yet.
Same here! What are you going to do your EPQ on?
Original post by Charlottie93
Same here! What are you going to do your EPQ on?
Something abstract and mathematical with a good deal of physics thrown in. I want to get a lot of mathematical ideas in there but not at the expense of clarity! I've made a list of a dozen possible topics, but still haven't chosen which one. I really want to get my EPQ done as quickly as possible so I don't have to worry about it for the rest of the year.
What's your EPQ on?
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Sheffield Medicine
- Is EPQ Essential For Medicine ?
- EPQ
- Dropping EPQ
- Med school applications
- changing to med subjects in yr13
- Where to apply for medicine
- Hull admission
- Are my Gcse grades good enough for a Russel group?
- Psychology EPQ advice
- Which medical school?
- which medical school should I apply for
- Is it possible to do Core math, Geography,Chem Epq and Bio for Medicine
- Should I apply to King's Extended MBBS with UCAT 2490
- Which medical University should I apply for
- UCAT
- retake
- Average GCSEs, A* A* A* A-levels, enough for oxbridge medicine??
- Uni choice help
- Resit
Latest
Trending
Last reply 2 weeks ago
worth mentioning epq in kcl dentistry ps?Last reply 2 weeks ago
Should I continue doing my EPQ? (EMERGENCY, PLEASE HELP)Last reply 3 weeks ago
Do you lose marks for incorrect reference?Trending
Last reply 2 weeks ago
worth mentioning epq in kcl dentistry ps?Last reply 2 weeks ago
Should I continue doing my EPQ? (EMERGENCY, PLEASE HELP)Last reply 3 weeks ago
Do you lose marks for incorrect reference?
