Academic Research Booklet

Academic Research

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is academic research? Meetings with supervisors Example essay questions Crafting an essay question

Planning your research

Credible sources

How to locate a book in the library

One Search

Journal articles

Key words and how to use them Getting around academic paywalls Academic honesty Using AI Setting up your document: title page Adding sections and subsections Adding a contents page Adding page numbers and double spacing Adding a bibliography (using Word) Adding pictures and a table of figures

Citations and references

How to create references using mybib

Writing academically How to quote Sounding professional Sentence starters Using linking words to create flow

What is an abstract?

Introductions

Introduction guidance: EE Introduction guidance: EPQ

Literature review

The body of the essay: PEEL

Conclusion

Reflection

Do not be descriptive/ Instead be reflective

Glossary Proof reading checklist Library opening times and contacts

Crafting an essay question

Narrowing down a broad topic into a viable essay or dissertation question can feel daunting but using the formula below could help a lot.

Start with your TOPIC and consider what VARIABLES impact on said topic, add in a SPECIFIC factor and you’ll quickly find yourself with a viable essay question – or at the very least a decent starting point to discuss with your supervisor.

For example:

SUBJECT

MEDICINE

TOPIC

WOMEN’S MEDICINE

VARIABLE

GROUP: ETHNICITY AND/ OR AGE RANGE

VARIABLE

OUTCOME: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

SPECIFIC

MEDICAL CONDITION: ENDOMETRIOSIS

SPECIFIC

LOCATION: NORTH AMERICA

Question: To what extent does ethnicity affect the timeline of diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in women between the ages of 18-45 in North America?

Example essay questions To what extent does VARIABLE impact TOPIC according to SPECIFIC place/ location/ company/ sector/ person, author etc.

To what extent does the effect of climate change impact the economy of South Africa ? How far was the Christian Democrat victory in the Italian elections of 1948 influenced by Cold War tensions ? To what extent was poor leadership the reason for the defeat of the Ottoman armies at the gates of Vienna in 1683 ? To what extent is wireless networking a feasible alternative to cabled networking within a whole-city context of San Francisco ? To what extent has Zoonation’s interpretive dance successfully transformed the characterization of the White Rabbit and the Red Queen in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to explore mental illness ? To what extent does geography influence the use of French idiomatic expressions ? How is Flaubert’s portrayal of Emma in Madame Bovary delivered and affected by the costuming in the film version by Claude Chabrol (1991) ? Can the physical and chemical properties of the undiscovered elements be predicted using the law of periodicity ? How does the exponential function, and its calculus , inform areas of science such as nuclear physics, geology, anthropology or demography ? To what extent would a 10% decrease in honeybees change the output of crops grown in the UK ? To what extent do energy drinks affect recovery rates in middle-distance runners ? To what extent does wisdom imply acting in accordance with the order of nature , according to the Tao Te Ching ?

Planning your research Carefully planning your research will help you both save time and stay organised throughout your project. Not only is it a good idea to think carefully about the questions you need to answer and the sources you need to look at, but you will also need to think about how long you have to get things done. Creating a timeline for completion is incredibly important as project end dates which are over a term away can make it feel like you have all the time in the world, but in reality you have that long because there is a lot to do. Breaking down the tasks early on is essential. Top Tip: use your diary to work back from your deadline and set yourself goals per lesson, week, cycle and per half term. Methodology As you research, you’ll need to make deliberate decisions about which sources to focus on. These decisions form your methodology - your approach to research - which in an EE should be written about in your essay introduction and reflections, or if doing an EPQ your methodology will be covered in further detail in the literature review and your project log. Note: If you're writing a science-based essay, use the term "approach to research" in the introduction. You may also need a separate methodology section to describe your experiment or data collection—check this with your supervisor. If your essay includes a literature review, you don’t need to include your methodology in the introduction, as the literature review will cover your research approach in more detail.

Click here to jump to methodology guidance when writing the introduction.

Click here to jump to literature review guidance.

Planning research can feel daunting at the outset however it can be as simple as devising a timeline for completion and asking yourself:

‘What do I already know?’ and ‘Based on what I already know, what do I need to find out?’ To create a timeline for completion start with any deadlines you have been given such as your final hand-in date and work backwards to determine what you need to do and by when to stay on track. The best plans will be detailed (probably even more so than the one on the right below!).

Research potential topics using Wikipedia and simple Google searches

Finalise essay question

Weeks 1&2

Finalise topic and propose question

Week 3

Plan research: write out questions I need answers to and consider where to find the information

Begin research

Week 4

Start reading the author biography

Weeks 4&5

Start writing

Look up definitions of terminology used and key events or people

Week 5

Search for and read articles and essays on my topic

Week 6

Finish writing

Look for book reviews and critiques of the book and the performance

Week 7

Review notes and questions I still need to explore, adapt plan

Complete bibliography

Week 8

Review notes, specifically, make links between sources explored so far and then consider questions I still need to explore.

Week 9

Hand in essay!

Make a basic essay plan and identify what information I still need

Week 10

Research to fill in the gaps in my knowledge

Week 10&11

Review notes and develop essay plan

Week 12

Writing out a series of questions you need answers to is an excellent way

Notice how this is not yet a question, at the early stages it’s normal to have a focus or topic but to not have succinctly worded your question.

Focus: Alice’s Adventures i explore mental health issues

Book: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Based on what I know now, what do I need to find out next?

Author b

Author m

What did the author say about the book?

Letters and essays w

What is the authors personal story?

Reviews on book wr public

What have other people said about the story?

Essays written a

What are some specific moments in the book which point to mental health issues?

Critical analyse

Video and written inte company and

The book was written before mental health issues were openly discussed; how definitively can we therefore say there is a link?

Dance comp

Were there any defining moments in the authors life which influenced the writing of the novel?

Reviews of the

Journal articles/ essay mental

To answer these questions and explore the topic fully a range of sources will need to be consulted.

Definitions and interpr terminology used; men colour theory, stag

to start planning and develop your methodology (approach to research).

Consider your topic, what is a logical starting point? What do you need to know first? In this case, the pupil needs to read the book and watch the performance.

in Wonderland adapted to s through interpretive dance

Performance: dance adaptation (video)

Based on what I know now, what do I need to find out next?

iography

memoir

How are mental health issues portrayed through the dance?

written by the author

ritten at the time of cation

What is the dance company background/ history/mission statement?

about the books

What was the directors motivation and vision?

es of the book

What have other people said about the performance (critiques, reviews etc.)?

erviews with the dance d/ or director

Who else has made the link between the book characters and mental health?

pany website

e performance

How are mental health issues defined?

ys linking the book to health

The proposed sources in the middle column cover books, websites, journal articles, interviews and videos giving a well-rounded overview of the topic.

retations of words and ntal health conditions, ing and movement

Books Start with the school library catalogue, Access-IT. Log in using the Microsoft 365 option to create reading lists, view your current and past loans, and reserve books. If a book you need isn’t in the library, email Ms Eldred (eldreds@stedwardsoxford.org), or visit her in person in the library. Effective use of time You don’t need to read the whole book! Start with the blurb (on the back or inside cover) or the summary on Access-IT. Read the contents page and note any relevant chapters. Use the index to scan for keywords and go straight to those pages. Read around the relevant sections, then decide whether to keep or discard the book based on its usefulness. Credible sources Credible sources are materials that are trustworthy, accurate, and written by experts in the field. These typically include academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, reputable news organisations, and official websites such as those ending in .gov, .edu, or .ac.uk. Credible sources are well-researched, clearly referenced, and published by recognised institutions or professionals. One Search Accessit's One Search function helps you find credible sources—like books, articles, and trusted websites—all in one place. It saves time and makes it easier to find reliable information for your research. Click here for more on One Search.

Journal articles Journal articles—written by academics and researchers—are credible sources and should be central to your research. Find via One Search on Access-IT or click here to view all databases provided by the library.

Key Resources: JSTOR: Over 2 million academic articles—an excellent place to start.

Google Scholar: Searches scholarly material and supports Boolean operators to refine results. Articles sometimes hidden behind paywalls, email Ms Eldred if you cannot access an article. ResearchGate: Offers millions of articles (some require a request). Access it via the school library pages to avoid needing an account—email the Ms Eldred with the title if you’d like help requesting an article.

Effective use of time Journal articles often contain dense information therefore make the best use of your time by only reading those that are truly relevant to your research. Read the abstract or first and last paragraphs first. Use CTRL+F (Windows) or CMD+F (Mac) to find keywords. Read around those keywords to ensure you understand the context before deciding whether to read in full. ⚠️ Be cautious: using keyword searches or indexes can help you scan quickly, but may lead to information being taken out of context. Always read around key points to understand their meaning properly.

Getting specific Boolean search terms are words and symbols which you can use in combination with your key words to create ‘word equations’ to narrow down your results when searching in databases and search engines such as Google and JSTOR. Operator Works On Function Example Notes

Finds results containing both terms Finds results containing either term Excludes results with the second term Excludes subtracted words Considers just the words in the brackets Searches for exact phrases Stands in for unknown words Finds words close together (meaning they are likely related) Limits search to a specific website Finds articles with the keyword in the title Filters for a specific file format

JSTOR, Google

women AND education

Google assumes AND by default between words

AND

JSTOR, Google

suffrage OR voting rights

Use for synonyms or related terms

OR

education NOT university

Google uses - instead, see next

NOT

JSTOR

education -university

Use no space between - and word Use when combining with other operators to make word equations Great for proper names or key phrases For thinking outside the box!

- (minus)

Google

(UK OR United Kingdom)

(brackets)

Google

JSTOR, Google

"" (quotes)

“women's rights”

* (wildcard)

Google

British * in 1920s

women NEAR/10 education

Use 5, 10, or 25 for best results

NEAR/

JSTOR

suffrage site:jstor.org

Good for narrowing results

site:

Google

intitle:"empress Cixi"

Helps find more targeted sources

intitle:

Google

Useful for finding downloadable documents

civil war filetype:pdf

filetype:

Google

Getting around academic paywalls You’ve found the perfect article—then hit a paywall! Don’t worry, there are ways around it: Email the link to Ms Eldred —if she can access it elsewhere, she’ll send it to you. Read the abstract —it summarises the main findings and can help guide your research by giving suggestions of further avenues of research and mentioning other researchers or studies which you can then find yourself. Check the bibliography —you can follow the author’s sources to find similar material that is accessible. Search the author —many researchers post free versions of their work on personal sites or link to interviews, reviews, or related resources. Use ResearchGate —millions of academic articles are free to read. If access is restricted, Ms Eldred can request it for you.

Academic Honesty Plagiarism is using someone else’s work without acknowledging it.

It can be intentional—like copying from a website and claiming it as your own—or unintentional, such as forgetting you copied something. Examiners can't tell the difference, so accidental plagiarism is treated the same as deliberate cheating. Plagiarism can have serious consequences, including losing your qualifications or being barred from future courses with the same governing body. When writing your essay, it’s important to use others’ work to support your ideas. To avoid plagiarism, you must cite your sources using references and a bibliography (see pages 29–34). Using AI AI may one day be acceptable in academic work—but that time hasn’t come yet. Using tools like ChatGPT or CaktusAI to write your essay is not allowed. If you’re caught, your work will be invalid, and you’ll receive a failing grade. These tools often cite sources incorrectly—or invent them entirely. AI-generated work can also be reliably detected by plagiarism checkers. It’s simply not worth the risk!

Setting up your document: Title Page Formal academic work should include the elements listed on the table below. For the EE, make use of the Dummy EE found on Teams.

Formatting requirement

Notes

Your student code Essay question Subject OR if Interdisciplinary : State the two subjects the essay relates to and the interdisciplinary framework it connects with. Word count From the beginning of the introduction to the end of the conclusion. If footnotes have been used for anything other than citations i.e. further clarifying information, they must be included in the word count. NO NAME NO SCHOOL NAME NO PICTURES Essay question Word count From the beginning of the introduction to the end of the conclusion. If footnotes have been used for anything other than citations i.e. further clarifying information, they must be included in the word count. Name School Candidate number Abstract NO PICTURES

EE ONLY

Title page

EPQ ONLY

Title page

To what extent has Zoonation’s interpretive dance successfully transformed the characterization of the White Rabbit and the Red Queen in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to explore mental illness? Student code: 01234 How effective are the measures Singapore has taken since 2018 to ensure food security and sustainability for it’s people? Economics and Geography Sustainability, development, change. 3890 words EE ONLY Title pages matter! Your title page introduces your essay, note the differences for EE vs. EPQ.

EPQ ONLY

4890 words Pupil Name St Edward’s School Candidate number: 39056

Abstract: Through a close analysis of choreography, costume, and staging in Mad Hatter’s Tea Party by ZooNation, this project examines how physical movement and symbolic motifs are used to convey anxiety, control, and emotional fragmentation. The essay considers...

Adding sections and subsections Formal academic work should be broken up into sections highlighted by section titles. Optional: within each section you may want to include further sub-sections. Section titles: Highlight the section title ⟶ Home tab ⟶ ⟶ Styles ⟶ ⟶ Choose Heading 1 Subsection titles: Important! Sections DO NOT start on new pages, they run on from each other with a simple line space in between.

Highlight the subsection title ⟶ In the Home tab select Styles ⟶ ⟶ Choose Heading 2

Adding a bibliography This can only be done once you have created your references. The bibliography starts on a new page at the end of your essay References tab

⟶ Bibliography drop-down ⟶ ⟶ Choose the first option

If you add or make changes to your references: Click on the Bibliography list ⟶ Click the Update Citations and Bibliography option

Citations and references When writing academically or formally, showing other people where you found your information is what gives your work credibility - it shows a clear train of thought and allows others to follow your research trail. A citation is when you make a note in the essay where a piece of information has come from someone else’s work, it looks like this (Hanlon, 2025). Sometimes you may want to include the author name or date in the sentence, whichever of the two you don’t include in the sentence must be included in brackets to complete the citation. A reference is details on where to find the information you cited in the essay, it looks like this: Hanlon, Michael E. (2025). Doughnut: The Official Story. Worldwar1.com. http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/doughnut.htm A reference list is a list of all the references used in your essay. It appears at the end of the essay on a new page. You MUST include one and it must be properly fomatted. A reference list looks like this: References Hanratty, J. (2017, May 1). Doughnuts and the Salvation Army: Doughnuts, Salvation Army, and World War I . Doughnuts and the Salvation Army. https://scalar.usc.edu/works/doughnuts- and-the-salvation-army/world-war-i Madison, J. H. (2007). Slinging Doughnuts for the Boys : an American Woman in World War II . Indiana University Press. Hanlon, Michael E. (2025). Doughnut: The Official Story . Worldwar1.com. http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/doughnut.htm Rhoades, T. (2020, March 31). Honoring the Doughnut Girls - Girl Museum . Girl Museum. https://www.girlmuseum.org/doughnut-helen/ Swain, J. (2021, June 3). “A Helmet Full of Doughnuts” - The War Cry - The Salvation Army USA . War Cry. https://www.thewarcry.org/articles/a-helmet-full-of-doughnuts/

How to create references using MyBib

Remember: drop in to see Ms Eldred in the Library if you get stuck!

How to quote Notice how the wording changes in the following examples yet the same information is given. Regardless of how the information is written all three examples still have a citation. Original quote (a direct quote): “Pandas are often seen eating in a relaxed sitting posture, with their hind legs stretched out before them. They may appear sedentary, but they are skilled tree-climbers and efficient swimmers.” (National Geographic, 2020). Reduced quote with added words: Though “Pandas are often seen eating in a relaxed sitting posture… [and] may appear sedentary… they are skilled tree-climbers and efficient swimmers.” (National Geographic, 2020).

Use ellipses… to show words have been removed and [square brackets] to show words have been added.

Quote completely reworded (an indirect quote) : For a lot of the time pandas often sit in a relaxed posture where they stretch their legs out in front of them, they are very good at climbing trees and swimming even though they seem to spend most of the time not doing very much (National Geographic, 2020).

When should you cite your sources? If the information is a fact. If the information is something you didn’t already know. If you are quoting someone. If you copy and paste or copy and reword information.

Below: The section highlighted in yellow is a direct quote, the section in blue is an indirect quote (re-worded to fit the flow of the essay).

Note how the quotes are surrounded by further wording either introducing, concluding or building on a point. Quotes should never be in sentences on their own.

Pandas like to swim

The National Geographic (2020) states “Pandas are often seen eating in a relaxed sitting posture, with their hind legs stretched out before them. They may appear sedentary, but they are skilled tree-climbers and efficient swimmers.”, this suggests although we tend to consider Pandas to be fairly inactive animals, they in fact have other, often overlooked attributes. Patrick Smith’s 1999 study corroborating this looked at how regularly Pandas engage in swimming, it was found Pandas swim for pleasure on average 3 times a month; using the data provided the conclusion can be drawn that not only are Pandas adept at swimming, they do in fact like to swim.

The citations have been written differently for the two quotes; sometimes you may want to include the author name and/ or date in the sentence, whichever of the two you don’t include in the sentence must be included in brackets to complete the citation.

Writing academically

General expectations All sections throughout the essay must refer back to both the title of the section and the essay question. Use the language of the question throughout the essay, for example the highlighted words: To what extent would a 10% decrease in honeybees change the output of crops grown in the UK? Use CTRL+F (Windows) or CMD+F (Apple) to quickly search for words in your essay. If you have an entire page, section or lengthy paragraph that has not incorporated at least some of the words in your question it’s possible you’ve gone off track! Every sentence should be needed and useful - you must try to avoid repetition. Top tips: Print your essay and go sentence by sentence identifiying whether each on is a making a Point, giving Evidence or Explanation or linking back to the Question (PEEL) click here for examples . Read your essay aloud to see if it makes sense when spoken - make changes as you go. Swap your essay with a friend and give feedback on each others work - did you understand their essay? Ask if they understood yours, ask them to look out for errors in spelling and phrasing. Ask them to look out for repetition and for overly long sentences. Academic essays should be written in the third person: ' The conclusion could be drawn...' as opposed to 'I have come to the conclusion...'

Introductions A good introduction will set the tone for the rest of the essay. Work through the prompts below and use the exemplars on the next pages to make sure you include everything you need to get top marks!

1

Introduce the topic

2

Explain the significance of the topic

3

Provide necessary background/ context

4

Narrow the focus

EE : state the exact research question and explain the reasoning behind it

EPQ : state the research question or project aim and explain the reasoning behind it.

5

EE ONLY

EPQ ONLY

6 Show awareness that the issue can be debated or interpreted in different ways

EE : outline the approach to research clearly and in detail. Be explicit about your use of primary vs. secondary resources.

EPQ : outline the approach to research briefly (1 sentence, 2 max) as this will be covered in detail in the literature review.

7

EE ONLY

EPQ ONLY

8 Summarise the key themes or areas to be explored: what aspects of the topic will the essay focus on?

9 Indicate the line of enquiry or argument (without concluding): Signal what kind of answer or direction the investigation is likely to explore.

10 Briefly signpost the structure: how you have broken up the essay, what you have included and excluded

Introduction sentence starters

Example Sentence Starters

When to use

• The issue of [topic] has become increasingly relevant in... • The [topic] has sparked significant debate in the field of... • [Key term] refers to... • This topic is worthy of investigation because... • Understanding this issue is important due to... • The significance of this question lies in its potential to... • This essay seeks to answer the question, [question], by exploring... • The need to understand [topic] because of [cause], led to the central research question, [question]. • This essay draws on a range of primary and secondary sources including... • A qualitative/quantitative approach was adopted to... • The research methodology involved analysing... • The essay is divided into three key parts: firstly... • The following sections will explore... • This analysis begins by examining..., followed by..., and concluding with... • Preliminary research suggests that... • This essay argues that... • While opinions vary, this paper will demonstrate that...

Introduce the topic

Explain the significance of the topic State the research question and reasoning

Outline the methodology/ approach

Summarise key points/ themes

Present the line of inquiry or argument

Introduction To get top marks for the introduction you must ensure you cover all ten points, use the example below as a guide. Pay close attention to how long the response to each prompt is, background information for example is only one sentence, whereas reasoning and methodology both have two to three sentences. Your introduction should be no more than 500 words, the example given on these pages is 453 words. EE ONLY Question : To what extent did Empress Cixi contribute to the modernisation of China in the period 1861 to 1908? 1. Introduce the topic The late Qing Dynasty was a period of profound political, social, and economic challenge for China. 2. Explain the significance of the topic Faced with internal rebellions, foreign imperial pressure, and military defeats, China was increasingly forced to confront the weaknesses of its traditional political structures. As Western powers expanded their influence in East Asia, the need for reform and modernisation became unavoidable, leading to a series of attempts to strengthen the state and preserve dynastic rule. 3. Provide necessary background / context One of the most influential figures during this period was Empress Dowager Cixi, who effectively controlled the Qing government for much of the period between 1861 and her death in 1908. 4. Narrow the focus Despite her central role in Chinese politics, Cixi has often been portrayed in historical accounts as conservative, power ‑ hungry, and hostile to reform. 5. Show awareness that the issue is debated / interpreted in different ways Traditional narratives frequently depict her as an obstacle to China’s modernisation, particularly when contrasted with reformers or later revolutionary figures. However, recent historical scholarship has begun to question this interpretation, suggesting that her role may have been more complex.

6. State the research question and explain the reasoning behind it This reassessment raises important questions regarding the extent to which Empress Cixi contributed to China’s modernisation during the late Qing period. The introduction of new military technologies, industrial developments, educational reforms, and limited political changes all occurred under her rule. Evaluating whether these developments were actively encouraged, reluctantly accepted, or resisted by Cixi is essential to understanding her historical significance and led to the research question To what extent did Empress Cixi contribute to the modernisation of China in the period 1861 to 1908? 7. Outline the methodology / approach The methodology used to answer this question was to begin by exploring primary sources - comparing the seminal biography by Jung Chang with various personal accounts by people who knew her. Sources such as Princess Der Ling’s diary was investigated in order to understand the extent of her efforts to modernise China and the possible political pressure placed on her. However, due to difficulty in finding extensive primary sources, modern secondary sources that utilised primary material helped provide perspectives of historians on Cixi’s role in China. 8. Explain why the question is worth studying This question is worthy of investigation as Mao Zedong has often been given the credit as the figurehead that led China’s modernisation due to the common historical misogyny. 9. Present the line of enquiry / argument (without concluding) Empress Cixi’s achievements have often gone unrecognised, but this investigation reveals it was Cixi who laid the foundation and embarked on China’s modernisation. 10. Consider scope and briefly signpost structure The scope of this essay is limited to the years between 1861, when Cixi first came to power as regent, and her death in 1908. It focuses on political, military, and social reforms associated with modernisation, while revolutionary developments following the fall of the Qing Dynasty are excluded. The essay will examine both supportive and critical interpretations of Cixi’s actions before reaching a balanced judgement on her contribution to China’s modernisation.

EPQ ONLY

Introduction To get top marks for the introduction you must ensure you cover all ten points, use the example below as a guide. Notice how the response to each prompt is short - this

framework ensures that every sentence is necessary and meaningful. Your introduction should be no more than 500 words, the example given on these pages is 383 words. Question: To what extent does wisdom imply acting in accordance with the order of nature, according to the Tao Te Ching? 1. Introduce the topic The concept of wisdom has been explored across many philosophical traditions as a guide for how humans should think and act. In Chinese philosophy, wisdom is often connected to harmony, balance, and living in alignment with broader forces beyond the individual. 2. Explain the significance of the topic Understanding how wisdom is defined in philosophical texts is significant because it shapes views on ethics, leadership, and personal conduct. Eastern philosophical traditions, in particular, offer alternative perspectives to Western ideas of control, rational mastery, and progress, which makes them valuable areas of study. 3. Provide necessary background / context One of the most influential works in Chinese philosophy is the Tao Te Ching, traditionally attributed to Laozi. The text forms the foundation of Taoism and presents ideas about the Tao (often translated as “the Way”), which is understood as the underlying order or natural process of the universe. 4. Narrow the focus Rather than offering practical instructions or rigid rules, the Tao Te Ching uses short, poetic passages to express its ideas. A recurring theme within the text is the suggestion that human suffering and disorder arise when people act against the natural flow of the Tao.

5. Show awareness that the issue can be debated or interpreted in different ways Scholars and readers have interpreted the text in different ways, particularly regarding whether its ideas should be understood metaphorically, spiritually, or as guidance for real ‑ world behaviour. This has led to debate over how closely wisdom, as described in the text, is linked to acting in accordance with nature. 6. State the research question and explain the reasoning behind it These differing interpretations raise questions about the relationship between wisdom and nature in Taoist philosophy. If wisdom is central to Taoism, it is important to consider what it requires of human behaviour. This leads to the research question: To what extent does wisdom imply acting in accordance with the order of nature, according to the Tao Te Ching? 7. Outline the methodology / approach This project draws on close readings of selected passages from the Tao Te Ching, supported by secondary sources such as philosophical commentaries and interpretations, in order to explore how wisdom is presented in the text. 8. Summarise the key themes to be explored The project will focus on themes including the Tao, wu wei (non ‑ action or effortless action), natural order, and the portrayal of the wise person, examining how these ideas relate to human conduct and understanding. 9. Present the line of enquiry or argument (without concluding) While wisdom in the Tao Te Ching is often associated with withdrawal and passivity, this project explores whether it more accurately describes a conscious alignment with natural processes rather than complete inaction. 10. Briefly signpost the structure The essay will first outline key concepts within the Tao Te Ching before analysing selected passages that describe wisdom. It will then consider different interpretations of these ideas before reaching a balanced conclusion.

The body of the essay Writing academically is a skill that takes time to hone. Throughout the body of your essay you should be making points to answer your question and back those points with evidence. Use the PEEL structure to get it right every time! PEEL Point (P) : Begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main argument of the paragraph, this must be related to answering your question. Evidence (E) : Provide supporting evidence, such as quotations, data, examples, or case studies, to support the point. Explanation (E) : Analyse the evidence. Explain how the evidence proves your point and why it is significant to your argument. Link (L) : Conclude by connecting the paragraph back to the essay question or transitioning to the next paragraph.

Peel Examples

Essay Question: To what extent has global energy consumption driven the climate crisis and its associated environmental damage?

(Point) One significant cause of the climate crisis is the reliance on fossil fuels. (Evidence) For instance, data from the International Energy Agency (2024) shows that coal and oil still account for over 60% of global electricity production. (Explanation) This heavy reliance means that industrial activities consistently release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, directly trapping heat and accelerating global temperatures. (Link) Consequently, reducing dependency on these energy sources is crucial for mitigating environmental damage, a topic that will be explored further regarding renewable energy alternatives.

Essay Question: To what extent does aerobic exercise improve athletic performance?

(Point) Aerobic exercise plays a crucial role in improving athletic performance by enhancing the efficiency of the cardiovascular system. (Evidence) For example, endurance training such as long-distance running has been shown to increase an athlete’s VO₂ max, which measures the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during exercise (Bassett and Howley, 2000). (Explanation) An increased VO₂ max allows more oxygen to be delivered to working muscles, enabling athletes to sustain higher intensities of exercise for longer periods without fatigue. This improved oxygen delivery also delays the onset of lactic acid build-up, directly enhancing endurance and overall performance during prolonged physical activity. (Link) Therefore, aerobic exercise is a key factor in improving athletic performance, although its impact must be considered alongside other components such as strength training and recovery. (Point) Ambition is presented in Macbeth as a dangerous force that ultimately leads to destruction. (Evidence) This is evident when Macbeth admits that he has “no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition,” acknowledging that ambition alone is driving him towards murdering King Duncan (Shakespeare, 1606). (Explanation) This metaphor suggests that ambition is uncontrollable and reckless, as it “vaults” beyond moral limits and falls on the other side. Shakespeare uses this moment to show that Macbeth is fully aware of the consequences of ambition, yet chooses to pursue power regardless, which makes his downfall self-inflicted rather than unavoidable. (Link) Therefore, Shakespeare portrays ambition not as a noble quality, but as a corrosive force that propels the tragic collapse of the protagonist. Essay Question: How does Shakespeare present ambition in Macbeth?

When to use

Example Sentence Starters

This essay set out to explore... The central question of this investigation was... The purpose of this research was to determine whether... Throughout the essay, it has been demonstrated... Evidence suggests... The main arguments presented have shown... In answer to the question, To what extent ... In response to the essay question, the findings suggest the extent to which... It can therefore be concluded... In response to the question posed, this essay finds... The findings indicate... These findings are significant because... This has wider implications for... The topic remains important in current debates around... While this essay offers insight into..., there are limitations to... Further research could explore... Due to limited scope, this essay did not... Ultimately, this essay highlights the importance of... In conclusion, understanding [topic] is vital because... This analysis contributes to ongoing conversations about...

Restating the research question or aim

Summarising your key findings/arguments

Answering the question clearly and directly

Reflecting on implications or significance

Acknowledging limitations or further questions

Ending with a thoughtful final statement

Reflection Reflecting on your work and progress is a key element of many of your courses and is a very good life skill to have – and one you will very likely need for future careers. In Sixth Form at Teddies in the EE you will have three formal reflections meetings and conclude the porject by writing a 500-word relfection. In the EPQ you will write a project log throughout the project and an evaluation at the end, both need to be reflective. In both the EE and the EPQ your ability to write reflectively will impact your marks.

When reflecting on your work and progress you should aim to do the following:

Make every sentence specific and meaningful. Simply saying you enjoyed or disliked something is not enough: you must evaluate your experiences.

Evaluating your experiences means assessing the value of what you've learnt and being self-critical. It is not enough to simply describe your experiences, you must demonstrate you've learnt skills and made deliberate choices. You might also consider how doing this piece of work has helped/ will help you in other subjects or at university for example. YOU MUST state not only what you have learnt about yourself but what you would do differently next time if you did this process again. Consider you limitations and your areas of growth. BE POSITIVE. Even if you had a stressful or negative experience, use it to demonstrate how it made you think, grow or develop in some way. To the examiner, moaning - however valid you feel it is - will only come across as an inability to reflect and adapt.

DO NOT describe a blow-by-blow account of your progress, instead you need to evaluate specific actions you have taken.

Descriptive vs. reflective writing

Avoid writing descriptively by ensuring every sentence discusses skills learnt or being developed, a challenge anticipated/ overcome or solutions/ proposed solutions to those challenges.

Consider the short exemplars and analysis on the following pages which were written by previous Teddies IB pupils. If doing an EPQ , you should be writing reflectively in your project log and evaluation, if doing an EE you will write a 500 word reflection at the end of the process, in both cases your ability to reflect on your progress will be marked. X Descriptive writing On the 19th of May I had my first Reflection meeting with my supervisor. So far I have read and made comprehensive notes on 5 different historical secondary sources. We also discussed a research plan for half term. Over Half term, I will read the rest of the sources my supervisor put on the shared space, which will make my bibliography 12 sources long, I will find 2 different primary sources, at the moment I will investigate Garibaldi’s “My Life” and the different manifestos Mazzini’s secret societies published. I will also do brief source analysis on these primary sources. I have narrowed my research question as I will either, look at it from the perspective of Garibaldi being the most important factor (which is the consensus amongst most historians) or look at it from the perspective of Count Cavour, and his diplomatic work. (144 words)