LibGuides: Y10 Higher Project Qualification: Connecting with your topic

HPQ requirements

Your topic MUST:

Be research-based - you can't just write about or make something that you already know a lot about.
Not overlap too much with any of your GCSE subjects. You cannot choose an HPQ topic that would get you marks on one of your GCSE exams. Make sure you check the specification for your whole course and talk to your teachers.

For a 2,000 word research report:

For an artefact (accompanied by a 500+ word research report):

Your question MUST be debatable. You can't just describe a situation or choose a question where the answer is obvious.
You MUST be able to address your whole question in 2,000 words. Don't worry about this initially - we will narrow it down as you learn more about your topic.
Avoid speculative questions about the future - you can't draw evidence-based conclusions about things that haven't happened yet.

Your artefact MUST be research-based. You are mostly marked on how well you base your artefact on your research, not on the quality of the artefact itself.
You need to research both the type of artefact and the subject of the artefact e.g. if you are writing a short story set during the French Revolution then you research how to write short stories AND the French Revolution.
Your title does not need to be a question.
You MUST be able to make your artefact (or a protoype) within the time-frame of the HPQ.
You MUST be able to gather evidence of how successful your artefact is. It helps to have a target audience in mind so that you can get feedback.

Task 1

1. Create a mind map of possible topics.

Think about:

your hobbies and interests
areas of your GCSE subjects that interest you (but aren't on the GCSE syllabus)
news stories and causes that interest you

Give as much detail as you can for possible topics.

If you already have a clear idea of the topic you want to explore, make a mind map of that instead. What subtopics does it suggest? How might each develop? What sort of questions might you ask?

But how do I get ideas if I really don't know what I want to explore?

Try browsing some of our subscription databases for ideas. I recommend:

	The Day: a news site aimed at school age students. Try using the menus at the top to browse by topic and subject
	Gale Global Issues: A database of global issues and events. Try using the Browse Issues button on the top bar.

How can I make my mind map on a computer if I don't want to do it by hand?

While there are lots of online tools, make sure you explore the saving and printing options on free sites BEFORE you commit too much time to them

Office 365 includes a mind mapping tool called Visio (click on the nine dot square on any 365 page. If Visio doesn't appear as one of your apps, click the 'more apps' button.

Task 2

2. Explore your topic

Spend some time reading about your topic. If you are still undecided, choose two topics to explore. Try reading books, newspapers, magazines, reputable websites or subscription database articles, or maybe watching videos or listening to audio programmes. Keep a record of any interesting sources you find that you might want to revisit. If you are considering an artefact, you might use a wider range of sources e.g. discussion forums or online tutorial videos.

Try to find at least two interesting sources to get your thinking going.

At this stage you are just reading around your topic - you don't yet need to have a fixed question in mind.

Task 3

3. Create a short presentation (no more than 2 minutes) to share your topic ideas with the group. Include your mind map, comments on two sources that interested you, and suggestions of the sorts of questions you might ask or types of artefact you might make. Be as specific as you can.