EP Presentation 1

In February you filled out one of these…..

You may not have noticed this……

UPPER SIXTH SUBJECT CHOICES Name

Group

Tick the appropriate box to indicate whether you intent to follow Route 1

OR

Route 2

Please indicate your 3 or 4 chosen A2 subjects for the Upper Sixth A2 Choice 1

A2 Choice 2

A2 Choice 3

A2 Choice 4

If following Route 1, indicate here the subject you will drop after AS

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Slide 1

In February you filled out one of these‌..

UPPER SIXTH SUBJECT CHOICES Name

Group

Tick the appropriate box to indicate whether you intent to follow Route 1

OR

Route 2

Route 3 (3+EP)

Please indicate your 3 or 4 chosen A2 subjects for the Upper Sixth A2 Choice 1

A2 Choice 2

ECONOMICS A2 Choice 3

A2 Choice 4

If following Route 1, indicate here the subject you will drop after AS

Extended_Project@kes

Slide 2

In February you filled out one of these…..

Very soon you will fill out one of these…..

UPPER SIXTH SUBJECT CHOICES Name

Group

Tick the appropriate box to indicate whether you intent to follow Route 1

OR

Route 2

Route 3 (3+EP)

 Please indicate your 3 or 4 chosen A2 subjects for the Upper Sixth A2 Choice 1

A2 Choice 2

ECONOMICS A2 Choice 3

A2 Choice 4

If following Route 1, indicate here the subject you will drop after AS

Extended_Project@kes

Slide 3

What is the EP? • Half an A level, graded to A* that is finished by Christmas • An opportunity to look more deeply into an area that interests you • A way of impressing universities, by showing that: - you are interested in your subject and academic work in general - you are willing and able to take on additional study - you have developed important undergraduate study skills:  research skills  independent study  planning  critical thinking  Reflection / self evaluation

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What do universities think?

“A-Levels do a pretty good job developing a sound knowledge base… but have been less good at developing .. insight, clarity of thought and analytical ability, extended argumentation skills..The EPQ has great potential in easing the transition to HE study.. (I).. Would therefore encourage potential applicants to undertake one” Geoff Parks,

Director of Admissions for Cambridge

“I love the Extended Project”**…. Chris Fuller, Southampton University

“It shows the applicant has both the capacity and the interest in extended study. If your school offers it, why would you not do one?” –

Rhiannon Ash, Tutor Merton College, Oxford ** un-sourced (ie ‘made-up’ quote). EP fail.

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What does the EP involve?

The EP can take the form of a dissertation, an experiment or field study, a performance, or an artefact. To date all KES students have chosen a dissertation, but we would like to widen this 1. You decide an area of investigation, a research project or an ‘artefact’ that you want to create 2. With the help of a supervisor you finalise your title and plan your work 3. You receive dedicated support / tuition in the key skills areas (e.g. research, referencing, ethics etc) 4. You conduct independent research using university facilities, guided by your supervisor 5. You write up your findings 6. You present your findings 7. You reflect on what you have learnt

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Previous titles have included…

What are the historical, philosophical and socio-economic implications of the UK government attempting to reduce its debt?

What are the ethical issues related to pre-symptomatic testing for variant CJD?

The Human Rights Act: Should it stay or should it go?

Is the governments decision to abolish primary care trusts correct?

To what extent were the British to Blame for the problems concerning the uprisings in Ireland in 1916-24?

Was “the Great Moderation” more down to luck than economic policies?

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On what grounds should the government prohibit the availability of a drug on the NHS? Why did the international body fail to prevent the Rwandan Genocide?

Did the recent recession share How have scientific advances character with previous recessions, influenced modern day attitudes and if so could it have been towards death? predicted?

Are self-help schemes the best approach to adopt for slum settlements in the future?

How does the UK government implement climate change policy?

How true is the statement that the Roman republic’s destruction was made inevitable by its political system?

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The time Commitment…

According to Edexcel the EP consists of 120 ‘Guided Learning Hours’, of which around 80 is likely to be independent study •This term: 10 – 15 hours •Summer holidays: 30 – 40 hours •Autumn term: 2 hours timetabled time plus 2 hours independent work per week (14 * 4), plus 14 hours in half term = 70 hours

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Slide 9

Why would you not do it?

1.

You don’t have the time available because of other commitments

2. You want to concentrate on your 3 subjects because you are worried you will not get good enough grades otherwise 3. You’re not applying to a university that will favour you because of it – not sure this is a good reason

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Slide 10

What to do next….

Think carefully about whether you want to take this on If you are applying for a competitive university or for a subject you are not currently studying then the EP should be an obvious choice If you are interested, fill in your details on the form after the session or see NDC later today.

If you want to discuss the EP further see NDC or OJL We will start next Monday………location tba (dependant on numbers) Southampton University library is booked for July 13th……

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