Political paper

Political Paper or Blog

What It Is:

A political paper or blog is an independent project where you write, research, and publish papers or articles on current political topics, policies, or social issues. You can either start an individual blog or write for an established platform, school newspaper, or student magazine. This platform can be used to display your research, opinions, and analytical skills in political and social issues that align with your academic interests, such as Politics, Philosophy, Geography, or Public Policy.

Why It’s Great for You:

  • Demonstrates Writing and Research Skills: Universities, especially Oxbridge, LSE, and Ivy League schools, value strong writing and research abilities. Producing a political paper or blog highlights your ability to engage critically with political issues and your capacity to structure complex arguments clearly.

  • Develops Analytical and Critical Thinking: Writing about politics requires a deep understanding of current affairs, governance, and global challenges, all of which are aligned with your future aspirations in Consulting, Public Policy, or Law.

  • Showcases Commitment to Politics & Public Policy: This is directly aligned with your A-level choices in Government & Politics and Philosophy, making it an ideal extracurricular to demonstrate your interest in the political sphere. It positions you as someone actively participating in political discourse—which is valuable for Oxbridge and other top-tier universities.

  • Personal Branding: By developing a blog or paper, you build your personal brand and establish yourself as a thought leader on relevant topics. This is a great way to enhance your personal statement when applying to universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE, as they look for students who engage with intellectual discussions outside of schoolwork.

How to Achieve It:

1. Decide on the Platform:

  • Start a blog using platforms like WordPress, Medium, or Substack. You can choose between a public blog or private access.

  • If you prefer something more formal, consider writing for your school's newspaper or magazine. Since you're at Wycombe Abbey, this could be a great way to collaborate with your peers, while also improving your writing skills.

2. Research & Topic Selection:

  • Choose topics relevant to your interests, focusing on political debates, public policy, global issues (e.g., climate change), or philosophical debates in politics.

  • Ideally, pick topics that align with your A-level subjects (e.g., government and politics, philosophy, geography).

  • Research current affairs and global political debates. Use resources like BBC, The Economist, The Guardian, and JSTOR for research-backed information.

3. Start Writing & Publish:

  • Write short-form articles (500-800 words) first. Focus on clarity and logical flow, presenting a structured argument.

  • Work your way to long-form essays (1,500–2,000 words) once you gain confidence in your writing. These can focus on more in-depth analysis and must include evidence-backed arguments.

4. Engage with Others:

  • Engage with political discussions in online forums (e.g., Reddit or Twitter), and consider sharing your work with communities that discuss topics related to your essays.

  • Comment on articles published by major political blogs or publications, and connect with journalists or political analysts. This helps build your networking skills.

5. Consistency & Regular Updates:

  • Aim to write 1–2 articles per month. Consistency is key to building a reputation as an opinion leader. This will also help demonstrate long-term commitment to political discourse on your personal statement.

  • Build a content calendar and ensure you stay on top of political developments so you can publish relevant content when major events occur.

Best Year to Start:

  • Year 11: You can start small in Year 11 with short political articles or opinion pieces, while familiarizing yourself with the writing and publishing process. By starting early, you’ll gain experience and confidence in crafting structured political arguments and can refine your writing style over time.

  • Year 12: This is an excellent time to expand your scope. You’ll have a deeper understanding of politics and philosophy through your A-levels, which will enable you to write more in-depth pieces. You’ll also be better equipped to balance your writing with your academic workload. This is the year you can establish your blog or submit articles for your school paper.

  • Year 13: At this point, you should be actively building your portfolio and ensuring you have a collection of well-crafted articles or essays to showcase to universities. It’s an excellent time to focus on more serious political topics and develop a strong personal brand as a political thinker. You can use this content as part of your personal statement or interview discussions.

How This Helps Your University Applications:

  • Oxbridge: Strong writing, political analysis, and engagement with global issues will help you stand out. Oxbridge values intellectual curiosity, and your political paper or blog would demonstrate that you're actively engaging with real-world issues, which will be a major plus in your personal statement.

  • LSE: Your ability to articulate complex ideas in writing will be highly valued. A political blog or paper aligns perfectly with LSE’s academic focus on political science, public policy, and economics. Plus, LSE loves students with a global outlook and the capacity to critically engage with key issues.

  • Consulting: Writing for a blog or paper can help develop skills that are crucial for consulting: structured thinking, problem-solving, and presenting complex ideas clearly.

  • Law: Being able to formulate arguments and back them up with evidence is crucial for law school. The political paper or blog helps you practice these skills, which will make your law school applications stronger.