Written work for History and Politics at Oxford!

Hey, I am brainstorming for the required piece of written work for Oxford applications. I wanted to see if any current students or other applicants have tips or advice that could be helpful! I understand the essay must be answering a question, but can it really be about anything related to my course? And how should I select a topic?

Also, I am debating between applying to Magdalen or Brasenose college, any insight?

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

I am not up to date re the written work requirements, so can't assist there, save to say that you should perhaps steer clear of well-trodden historical or political subjects such as those routinely covered by GCSE and A level courses. Try to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, openness to multiple perspectives, and learning worn lightly.

Magdalen and Brasenose are both posh and pretty. Try not to fixate on any college as you might receive an offer from another college. It appears that most people end up liking whichever college they become a member of.

The article below offers some insights into the Oxford way of doing history.

https://academic.oup.com/past/article/261/1/259/7246025

This may also be of interest -

https://oxfordcharacter.org/

Reply 2

causticAnalysis

I got into History and Politics in 2021; I'm happy to help as much as I can. I talked to my A-level History lecturer and submitted what she thought was my best essay, which in my case happened to be about whether the English civil war was caused mostly by short-term factors. This essay actually got the date of King Charles I's execution wrong!

At least when I did it, you couldn't write a new essay specifically for the written work. It needed to be something you'd written and submitted naturally for class.

Reply 3

thegeek888

Original post

by maje450

Hey, I am brainstorming for the required piece of written work for Oxford applications. I wanted to see if any current students or other applicants have tips or advice that could be helpful! I understand the essay must be answering a question, but can it really be about anything related to my course? And how should I select a topic?
Also, I am debating between applying to Magdalen or Brasenose college, any insight?

St. John's, Wadham, Hertford and Univ are also worth considering. 😉

Or even better why not try out the "College Suggester" on the Oxford University Alternative Prospectus website? 🙂

College Suggester - Oxford University Alternative Prospectus#

I would choose an essay on Stalin and Soviet Union perhaps? 😀 lol

Reply 4

xyz1234567

You should submit the strongest piece of written work you did as part of your course. What tutors want to see is a genuine piece of schoolwork with the original teacher’s comments on it: the topic is irrelevant. They want to see the quality of the writing and analysis and will not give a second’s thought to what the topic is (which is not your choice usually anyway).

If possible I’d advise submitting something that isn’t written under timed conditions- a homework essay would be better.

Reply 5

maje450

Original post

by thegeek888

St. John's, Wadham, Hertford and Univ are also worth considering. 😉
Or even better why not try out the "College Suggester" on the Oxford University Alternative Prospectus website? 🙂
College Suggester - Oxford University Alternative Prospectus#
I would choose an essay on Stalin and Soviet Union perhaps? 😀 lol

I´ll check it out! Thanks

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