This is the EPQ dissertation that earned me an A* (52/54 overall) with the exam board Edexcel. It focuses on English Literature, but can be used as an exemplar layout of a completed, successful EPQ dissertation for any subject area.
EPQ Title: ‘How has depression in women’s literature evolved over
time? With reference to Sylvia Plath and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.’
Centre Number: 24435
Candidate Number: 1592
Word Count: 7938
1
, Contents Page
Contents Page........................................................................................................................................2
Project Proposal form............................................................................................................................2
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................6
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................7
Literature Review..................................................................................................................................9
What is Mental Health and Depression?...........................................................................................9
Who was Sylvia Plath?.....................................................................................................................12
Why is Plath’s Literature Important?...............................................................................................14
Who was Charlotte Perkins Gilman?................................................................................................15
Why is Gilman’s Literature Important?............................................................................................17
Discussion............................................................................................................................................19
“You’re not really sick!”: The Misunderstanding of Depression in Women’s Literature..................19
The Fig Tree Analogy in The Bell Jar.................................................................................................22
The After-effects of Depression.......................................................................................................24
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................26
Evaluation............................................................................................................................................27
Bibliography.........................................................................................................................................28
Reflective Log.......................................................................................................................................31
Project Proposal form
Learner Name Lucie Turberfield Learner number XXX
Centre Name Worcester Sixth Form College Centre Number 24435
Teacher Assessor Date 1/07/2022
Unit
‘How has depression in women’s literature evolved over time?
Proposed project title
With reference to Sylvia Plath and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.’
2
, Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of project (in the form of a question, commission or design brief)
‘How has depression in women’s literature evolved over time? With reference to Sylvia Plath and
Charlotte Perkins Gilman.’
Project objectives (eg, what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to learn how to do? What do you
want to find out?):
— I want to research Sylvia Plath’s life and her only novel ‘The Bell Jar’.
— I want to research Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s life and her short story ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’.
— I want to research societal differences of both time periods (late 1800s and 1900s) in relation to
women’s roles and mental illness.
— I want to compare both authors and their works to gain an insight into depression in women and
why it was so prevalent in their lives in these periods of time.
— I hope to analyse language and meaning in both stories, therefore linking to my A-level studies in
English Literature, English Language and Media Studies.
If it is a group project, what will your responsibilities be?
This is not a group project.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this project
Reasons for choosing the project (eg, links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest, future plans,
knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):
I am currently studying Media Studies, English Language and English Literature A levels. I would like to go on to
study English Literature at university, and I feel that this question will enhance the skills I’ve already learnt in
my current A-level skills. I find the topic of mental illness—specifically depression and anxiety—very fascinating
and I would like to research more into why women in particular suffer mentally because of societal pressures. In
English Literature, we are studying Sylvia Plath’s poetry and why she wrote such doleful poems, which ignited
my interest to research more about her. This led me to read her only novel ‘The Bell Jar’, and I consequently
came across Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’, expressing similar themes of mental illness and
the mass misunderstanding of it by patriarchal society. Their lives are also eerily similar, and I would like to
take a deeper dive into both of these women’s stories, and how they are especially relevant to today’s epidemic
of mental health issues.
Section Three: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the project (eg, research, development and analysis How long this will take:
of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical analysis, rehearsal techniques, production
meetings, production of final outcome, administration, evaluation, preparing for the
presentation, etc):
3
, Project Planning:
I am going to do some initial research into both stories’ backgrounds and how 1 Week
they were inspired. This will help me to narrow down exactly what key themes
and factors in depression I want to include.
Research: 5 Weeks
I am going to re-read both ‘The Bell Jar’ and ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ and do
extensive research into key themes expressed, contextual factors, and any
critical articles, opinions, and research. I will then proceed to write up the
research portion of my project.
Development of Arguments: 6 Weeks
I will then take these multiple interpretations from critics, the authors
themselves, and myself to form different views of both pieces of work, and
then begin writing the discussion section of my project. This will also include
literary analysis, comparing and comparing both stories and authors, discussing
why they are important to us today.
Other Sections: 2 Weeks
I will add the abstract, introduction, conclusion and evaluation.
Editing:
3 Weeks
I will re-draft and edit my project when I have feedback from my supervisor.
Presentation: 1 Week
I will plan, rehearse and give my oral presentation.
Milestone one: First draft of research and plan for discussion
Target date (set by tutor-assessor):
Milestone two: Hand in complete dissertation
Target date (set by tutor-assessor): 13/02/2023
Section Four: Resources
What resources will you need for your research, write up and presentation (eg, libraries, books, journals, equipment,
rehearsal space, technology and equipment, venue, physical resources, finance):
I will be using my local library (The Hive).
4
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