Writing your project Deadline is 4pm on Tuesday 5th March

Starter activity Put the following sections in the correct order: Abstract Bibliography Conclusions and recommendations Introduction and rationale Literature review Main findings Methodology Project title Do you know what they all mean?

Writing your EPQ The sections listed on the previous slide are suggestions from WJEC if you are writing a dissertation. You do NOT need all of the sections listed although you should use most of them. Which ones will you use? Why? If you are not writing a dissertation WJEC recommend a different set of headings – what are they?

Headings for a non-dissertation EPQ Project title Rationale Research Methodology Description and evaluation of project outcome List of sources Any other additional information

What is a literature review? If you have to write an undergraduate dissertation, you may be required to _______ by writing a literature review Last year one of the EPQ students left school to go to university to study Bio-Chemistry. He contacted us to say how helpful his EPQ had been – in particular he said he was the only scientist who knew what a literature review was! A literature review is a __________ and evaluation of the available _____________ about your chosen topic. begin, literature, summary,

What are the aims of a literature review? To find and read the literature about your topic To synthesise the information i.e. to write a summary To critically analyse the information by: * identifying gaps in current knowledge * showing limitations of theories and points of view * suggesting areas for further research * reviewing areas of controversy

What should your literature review prove? It should show that you have an in-depth grasp of your subject; and that you understand where your own research fits into (and maybe even adds to) the existing knowledge.

Your literature review: which questions will be useful to you? What are the key sources? What are the major issues about the topic? What are the origins and definitions of the topic? How is the knowledge organised? What are the key points? What are the main questions and problems that have been addressed to date? How have approaches to these questions increased our understanding and knowledge?

Homework: 1. If you have not had a recent meeting with your EPQ supervisor you should arrange this now. You should have since them at least twice. 2. Decide what headings you will use for your EPQ and start to fill them in. 3. Carry out your literature review 4. If you have learnt new skills you should write this in section 7 pf EPF1 (page 7) and in the “Methodology” section of the project itself