Romana
Hi, welcome to what I believe will be my final EPQ advice blog. Sorry this has come later than expected, but, after taking you through researching your topic (read about it here), here are the dos and don’ts of writing your academic EPQ essay (or any academic essay for that matter:
DO make an essay plan – my essay plan was honestly my saviour throughout the writing process. It kept me sane. Without a plan, it’s easy to get lost in all the words and points and research, leaving you with a final product which is illogical and difficult to follow. Even having some basic ideas like different sections to your essay can keep you on track.
DON’T forget to reference – any ideas which come from your research (whether this is a direct quote or just a concept) needs to be accurately referenced. Crediting the right source is key if you want to avoid plagiarism, so whilst you can compile your full references after writing your first draft (as I did), make sure you’ve somehow noted where you got you points from so you can come back to them later.
DO answer the question – this sounds obvious, but it’s very easy to go off on a tangent when your essay is long, so constantly remind yourself of your question/title and what you aim to conclude. I found that sub-conclusions at the end of each section made it clear how each argument was relevant.
DON’T over-complicate – ‘academic essay’ makes it sound like a big deal, but in terms of language and structure, it’s very similar to regular essays written throughout school. Keep it simple. The most important thing is making sure your essay is clear, easy to understand and linked to research. So don’t stress out trying to include too much sophisticated language or complicated sentences.
DO relax – you’re an expert on your topic after all that research! The writing will come easier than you think.
Remember these few things, and you’re all set. I hope you guys found my EPQ blogs helpful, I’ll be back soon with something new.
R J