EPQ Workshops
- Patricia Castelo
- Jul 1, 2015
- 2 min read
Our college's EPQ coordinator, Steph, organised workshops today and yesterday to help us with our research.
The first workshop that I attended was a talk led by our college's librarian, Diana, and informed us on how to use search tools and the diffrent search engines we can use. It was really helpful for me as it taught me how to use search engines more effectively. I was a bit worried because the search engines that Diana reccomended us will only be useful for students doing non-creative/arty topics and more traditional topics like science and maths. However, I looked at Infotrac, one of the search tools that she reccommended us, and saw that there are several articles that relates to 'book jackets' or 'graphic design'
The second workshop took place today and was held by Steph. She talked to us about how we should plan for our EPQ and how to contact experts. The main points that she focused on when planning was that it should: Give clear objectives and inidcatiors of success, our plan should predict sources, problems, and activities, it should propose possible solutions for problems, and it should include self made deadlines. For contacting experts, she recommended the four (five) P's which are: be prepared (you should know what you want to know), be polite, be precise, be persuasive and patient. Steph also gave up tips on how we should write letters/emails to experts or what to do when we call them. I have contacted experts before, such as artists and art directors, for my art GCSE and personal blog so I have a general idea on how to commuicate with them. However, the workshop gave me more confidence in trying to contacts experts and encourage me to call them or meet them in person rather than just sending them an email.
Overall, both workshops we're really helpful for my EPQ project. Our college is doing a taster day tomorrow for secondary school students so we don't have lessons on that day. Tomorrow, Thursday 2nd July, I'm going to start doing my research on classic dystopian fiction book jackets and brainstorm ideas for what I want to include in my design based on what I've read so far for my book jacket. Also, I have started reading Geroge Orwell's 1984 last week and I'm about to finish Part II chapter 5. At the end of Thursday, my goal is to have finished reading Part II chapter 9 of the book.
After a discussion with our EPQ coordinator, My supervisor adviced me to make my research question more specific. Rather than 'To design a book cover for 20th century dystopian fiction and make it appeal to teenagers', my question has now changed to 'How do publishers redesign classic literature book jackets to appeal to a modern YA audience? An investigation resulting in the creation of a new (set of ) book jacket for a 20th century classic.' The narrowed down topic I think will help me focus on a specific topic rather tha going off tangent. My supervisor has also arranged a meeting with me on Friday 3rd July just before we break up for the holidays to discuss what I'll be doing for my research during the holidays.
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