Politics 1A
Autumn 2022
Course Essay
Due on Wednesday 7 December, no later than 12:00 noon.
You must write a course essay that is worth 40% of your final grade.
The essay must follow these guidelines – failure to follow the guidelines will result in a reduced mark:
• 1,500 words in length (plus or minus 10%). DO NOT INCLUDE THE BIBLIOGRAPHY IN THIS
COUNT. Use the ‘word count’ function in your writing app to track your essay length. Essays
that exceed the word limit by more than 10% will be penalised as follows: one point for 1015% over, two points for 15-20% over, three points for 20-25% over, and so on.
• Use an 11-point, easily readable font (such as Times or Arial)
• Double-spaced, with 25 mm (2.5 cm) margins and page numbers
• Referenced with the ‘Harvard’ author/date in-text system (see guidelines below) with a
bibliography containing all sources cited in the essay on a separate page at the end; citations
in footnotes or endnotes are NOT acceptable
Failure to cite sources and supply a list of the sources cited (bibliography/works cited) will result in
a failing grade!
You will upload an electronic version of your essay to Turnitin in the ‘Summative Essay’ link of the
course Moodle page.
ESSAY QUESTIONS – respond to one of the following
1. Democracy requires a specific type of political culture where certain political attitudes prevail.
Discuss.
2. Political participation is not declining but changing. Discuss.
3. The parliament of the United Kingdom is, much of the time, either peripheral or totally
irrelevant (King and Crewe 2013, 361). Critically discuss.
4. Discuss the differences in executive-legislative relations between parliamentary, presidential
and semi-presidential systems when power is NOT concentrated around a single party.
5. What is a competitive authoritarian regime? How do they differ from democracies and what
do they have in common?
6. Is the judicialization of politics democratic?
7. What are the main assumptions and arguments of the postmaterialism theory? What
mechanism is proposed to account for value change?
8. Compare the strengths and weaknesses of three different approaches to the study of Politics.
IMPORTANT GUIDANCE from Course Guide
Please note that failure to follow the guidance will result in a reduced essay mark. An important
employability skill is learning to follow guidelines in preparing work, reports, etc. All of your classes
will provide you with guidelines on submitting course work that must be followed for full marks.
Guidance for writing a good essay
General:
• Answer the question (completely). This (unbelievably) is not done in many cases. If you do
not answer the question (or, instead, answer some ‘other’ question), you cannot possibly get
a good mark on the essay.
• State your argument (and you MUST have one) clearly in the introduction. Do not wait until
you are on page 2 or 3 (this is NOT a mystery novel—you are not Agatha Christie). So, give
your brief answer to the question and say WHY– give the main reasons. These are the main
points that you will develop in the body of the essay.
• Avoid regurgitating lots of irrelevant information from your readings. Stick to the points you
introduced at the beginning of the essay. Resist the temptation to share ‘a little history’ on
your topic that takes up most of page 1 and is completely irrelevant to your main points.
• Organise your essay in a logical way so that it is easy to read; avoid rambling.
• Be analytical and critical! Analysing is about connecting phenomena and ideas. Being critical
means that the essay appraises—through logic and evidence—the connections made by
others. The best essays present a thoughtful analysis of the issues and convey a good
understanding of the different (and sometimes opposing) viewpoints reasonable people
might hold while making the best case for one’s own perspective.
Writing:
• Avoid errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Be sure to use double spacing and page
numbering.
• While spell-checkers on computers are helpful, there are instances in which you might actually
use the wrong word that is spelled correctly (common example: their/there).
• Grammar and punctuation are important. A common error is the run-on sentence (‘comma
splice’). Please do NOT connect what could be two complete sentences with just a comma
(example: Tony Blair had a presidential style of governing, some people say that he behaved
like an elected dictator). You must either make two separate sentences, use a semicolon (;),
or insert the word ‘and’ so that you avoid a run-on.
• Another error is the sentence fragment, in which you do not actually have a complete
sentence (remember, a sentence must have a verb in it).
• Use the apostrophe correctly! Learn the difference between its and it’s. The former shows
possession, while the latter is a contraction (it is).
• Use the hyphen! Prefixes like ‘non’ are NOT words on their own, so need hyphens (example:
non-fiction). In some cases, you can merge the prefix and the word (example: multiparty).
• When you use a direct quote, put it in quotation marks (‘inverted commas’) and do NOT
italicise it.
• Use transitions to help your writing flow in an organised manner (and be sure to use
paragraphs!).
• If any of the above advice is alien to you, please consult a style guide, such as Fowler’s Modern
English Usage (http://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b2068419).
• MAKE SURE YOU PROOFREAD YOUR ESSAY BEFORE YOU SUBMIT IT!!!
References:
• Proper Referencing is a vital component of academic writing. Failure to properly cite and
reference your sources will likely result in a charge of plagiarism and potential academic
penalties and censure. This a major issue and is taken very seriously. You avoid plagiarism by
carefully referencing all of your work.
o The University definition of plagiarism is: The incorporation of material without
formal and proper acknowledgement (even with no deliberate intent to cheat) can
constitute plagiarism. Work may be considered to be plagiarised if it consists of: a
direct quotation; a close paraphrase; an unacknowledged summary of a source;
direct copying or transcription”
o We would strongly suggest you watch this video from the University of Glasgow on
plagiarism: https://youtu.be/TR7uE81vhK8
•
A proper citation format for your references: You must use the in-text author/date ‘Harvard’
format. This is the most commonly used system in the political science literature, and you will
probably find it much easier than other systems. Here is a guide to the Harvard Referencing
system: https://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/subjecthelp/referencing/harvardreferencing/
•
Citations are made in the text of your essay by inserting the name of the author(s), the year
of publication, and the page number in parentheses after the mention of the idea/work:
Kavanagh 2000: 2.
•
Do NOT use ‘ibid’ when you refer to the same source more than once.
•
This is a guide to author/date ‘Harvard’ referencing; you can use this or the suggestions below:
https://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/subjecthelp/referencing/harvardreferencing/
•
Please note that you may spell out an author’s first name or simply use the first initial(s) in the
list of sources (you will see both conventions in journals and books) – just be consistent.
•
Be sure to include a list of sources (bibliography/references/works cited) to which you actually
refer after the essay and on a new page (do not try to cram it in directly under your conclusion,
no matter how much space you have left). Please do NOT include items you consulted but did
not actually cite in the essay – we do not need a list of ‘further reading’.
•
Here are some samples of common sources and how to list them in a bibliography (this
approach below might differ slightly from some other ‘Harvard’ referencing styles – just be
consistent in which approach you take):
o
For a book: Stoker, Gerry (2006) Why Politics Matters: Making Democracy Work. Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan.
For a journal article: Lundberg, Thomas Carl (2006) ‘Second-Class Representatives? MixedMember Proportional Representation in Britain’, Parliamentary Affairs, 59(1): 60-77.
For a book chapter (from an edited volume): Damgaard, Erik (1997) ‘The Political Roles of
Danish MPs’, in Wolfgang C. Müller and Thomas Saalfeld (eds), Members of Parliament in
Western Europe: Roles and Behaviour. London: Frank Cass, pp. 79-90.
For an article from a Web site: BBC News Web site (2003) ‘List MSPs hit back at Wilson’,
[viewed 1 October 2021] Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3155434.stm .
o
o
o
Do NOT simply list out Web sites (or worse, just their addresses!) on their own; cite the article or
information you obtained from it, with the author’s name first (if known), or the organisation’s name
(as in the previous example), and mix it in with the rest of the items in alphabetical order.
Do NOT list Web sites separately! All types of sources (articles, books, etc.) should be listed together,
in alphabetical order by each author’s surname.
•
You should expect to cite several (at least 5-10) good academic sources in this essay. Wikipedia
and other similar ‘sources’ do NOT count!!
DO NOT USE FOOTNOTES OR ENDNOTES WHEN REFERRING TO SOURCES IN THIS ESSAY! USE THE
‘HARVARD’ IN-TEXT AUTHOR/DATE SYSTEM.
1.1.1
Essay submission: What to take into account?
Turnitin (in the ‘Essay’ section of Moodle): Turnitin is intended to support students in their avoidance
of plagiarism and to support staff in their detection and prevention. Information about Turnitin, how
to upload your work and how to interpret your originality reports is available in the Politics and IR
Moodle portal. Please read this before submission. If you want to submit a draft version to Turnitin,
you MUST do so at least 24 hours in advance or you may not be able to see the originality report
before the submission deadline. Please note that the draft does not replace the submission of the final
version. If you only submit the draft, we might use this version for grading.
You MUST label the electronic file containing your essay with your student number (GUID
without the letter) and not your name. This format would be good: 2xxxxxxessayPol1A.docx. You
should retain the Turnitin reference number, which is on the analysis report you will receive after
submission. Problems with electronic submission are not a valid reason for an extension.
Penalty for late submission
Failure, without good reason, to submit your essay on time will result in the loss of 2 points per
working day (so, not including weekends) up to five working days. After five working days, failure to
submit the essay will result in the award of an ‘H’ grade (0) for the essay and may result in the refusal
of credit for the course. YOU MUST SUBMIT AN ESSAY IF YOU WANT TO GET CREDIT FOR THIS
COURSE. For more information on the university-wide penalty system, visit
https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_124293_smxx.pdf
Extensions: In exceptional circumstances, students may need to apply to defer their coursework
deadline (or to have late penalties lifted). Note, however, that extensions, even short ones, are NOT
an entitlement. They are to be granted only if the person responsible for granting the extension is
satisfied that the ‘candidate submitting the application has been prevented by circumstances beyond
his or her control from submitting the relevant work on time’ (University Calendar, 16.28b). Extension
requests will be considered only when a medical or serious personal problem that stands in the way
of timely submission can be convincingly demonstrated. Essay deadline ‘congestion’ (i.e., several
essays due in a short period) or computer problems will NOT be considered.
All requests for an extension—regardless of length—must be submitted to the Undergraduate Office
as early as possible before the essay due date. Late requests will be accepted only ‘where the
circumstances preventing the candidate from submitting work on time have also prevented
application for a deferral of the deadline for submission’ (University Calendar, 16.28d).
To submit an extension or Good Cause request:
When requesting an extension, students need to submit a completed extension request form, as well
as relevant medical or other appropriate evidence.
To request a coursework extension for up to 5 working days, submit an extension request form
available
on
the
Moodle
Politics
Undergraduate
Common
Room
or
here
https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/currentstudents/studentinfo/extensionrequestforms/
and submit by emailing it to Karen Masterson (Karen.Masterson@glasgow.ac.uk).
To request a coursework extension for longer than 5 days, submit a Good Cause Claim on MyCampus:
go to your ‘Student Centre’ and select ‘My Good Cause’ from the Academics menu. Guidance for
students on reporting good cause is available at https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_420013_en.pdf.
Please include any important or sensitive information – it will be treated sympathetically and
confidentially Evidence is always required to support a claim of Good Cause. Please do not submit a
Good Cause request without supporting evidence as it will automatically be rejected. If you miss an
examination due to adverse circumstances, you should submit a Good Cause Claim instead of an
Absence report.
Student Guidance on the Absence Policy and Reporting is on the University Web pages
at https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/senateoffice/policies/studentsupport/absencepolicy/ and
further guidance is at https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_129312_en.pdf. This sets out whether you
need to submit an absence report or whether you need to submit a good cause claim. Please note
that good cause requests submitted without details or supporting evidence will automatically be
declined.
1.1.2 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s work as your own. The University Calendar says
that it is ‘considered as an act of academic fraudulence and is an offence against University discipline’.
The University Calendar sets out the procedure that a Head of Subject must follow if plagiarism of
assessed work is suspected. The presentation of someone else’s essay is obviously fraudulent, but the
dividing line between your own work and that of your sources is less clear. The solution is always to
acknowledge your sources and to use quotations when repeating exactly what someone else has said.
Generally you should avoid excessive paraphrasing of others’ writings, even with acknowledgement;
it does not demonstrate that you have understood the material you are reproducing. If in doubt seek
guidance from your teachers. For more information about the policy on plagiarism, please visit
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/senateoffice/studentcodes/plagiarism/
Information on how to avoid plagiarism is here:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/leads/students/plagiarism/
Additionally, see the section above on Referencing.
In general, be sure to provide a brief, clear answer to the question early in the introduction, in which
you should also spell out briefly what the main points are that support your argument. Then you
should develop these points in the body of the essay, citing relevant evidence and scholarly literature
to support your points. Finally, you should supply a concise conclusion that does not introduce any
new points, but ties together the ones you made in the essay. On a separate page, list out the sources
(at least 5-10) you cited in the essay in alphabetical order by the authors’ surnames.
Please note that there are three sample essays on Moodle to help guide you. These are in the Essay
section.
LEGENDARY WRITING
FOR
EPIC ESSAYS
Your mission,
should you choose to accept it
• 1500-word essay (+/- 10%), don’t count the bibliography
• 12 pt. font (Times New Roman or Arial)
• Insert page numbers
• 1.5 or 2x-spaced
• Embrace your course guide!
• Essay questions, referencing style, essay writing guidelines and more!
BE WARNED!
• A proper layout is key!
? Cover sheet, introduction, essay body, conclusion, bibliography
• Communicate!
? Deadline extension in exceptional circumstances, practice essay
• Time is of essence!
? Late essays will be penalised 2 points a day!
What do we like/dislike, you ask?
• We will go over this now!
PLANNING AND STRATEGY
• Identify key themes
• Read the relevant literature
? reading notes, page numbers, annotations
• Make an outline
?for a tight, coherent structure and a logical, systematic flow
• Stay on target!
?How does each point relate to the essay topic/your argument?
THE ESSAY QUESTION
ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!
• Read the question and understand it
• Identify key terms/concepts in the question
• Narrow down the essay focus! There are many ways of addressing the topic!
• Form an argument, map your thoughts
• Take a decisive position – no fence-sitting
• Answer the question up front – this isn’t a mystery novel
AN EXAMPLE
Q: Does devolution threaten the British welfare state?
A: Yes, devolution threatens the welfare state because…
A: No, devolution does not threaten the welfare state because…
A: You could also answer in terms of ‘to what extent’
So this means:
• State your answer right from the start and spend the rest of the essay developing it
• Take a clear position, to develop a clear and consistent argument
THE BASICS: STRUCTURE
1. INTRODUCTION
2. MAIN BODY
3. CONCLUSION
4. REFERENCE LIST
I. INTRODUCTION
One paragraph to introduce the reader into everything needed for the following discussion
• Give a clear, concise answer
• Briefly state the reasons for that answer
• Outline the main points of your argument
• Give a ‘roadmap’ of your essay!
‘First, the essay will describe the decentralisation undertaken in each country,
then it will critically analyse their success against four criteria…’
NO HISTORY LESSONS!
Don’t provide ‘a brief history’! Get to the point!
What does the reader need to know for the
following discussion of yours?
?Key definitions, case choices, data choices etc.
Don’t waste words. Prioritise specificity over breadth of knowledge!
II. MAIN BODY
• Develop the key points of your argument
• Give relevant evidence with proper citations
• You should aim for a minimum of five sources
• Employ critical analysis to make it awesome
III. CONCLUSION
• Here is where you tie it all together
• Summarise the main points and how you addressed them
• Relate them back to your central argument
• Do NOT introduce any new material!
• Do NOT predict the future!
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Separates the As from the Bs:
• Provide evidence and analysis that is explicitly relevant to your central argument
• Identify different and opposing viewpoints, but make the best case for your own argument
• Be critical of the literature
• Keep your argument clear and consistent from the beginning, so that the
marker can see how you develop your essay
• Keep it tight and focused, no waffling
• Peer review – use spell/ grammar-check!
THE BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Appears on a separate page. Page Break!
• Only cite what you use; no ‘works consulted’
• All entries in alphabetical order (first letter of surname)
• Treat online books/articles as physical copies, not web resources
SOURCES
Emphasis on ‘academic sources’!
• Peer-reviewed work
• The books (including ebooks) in the library
MAIN SOURCES
Books
Journal articles
– Lots of information
– Many introductory level info
– Physical copies (or e-books) in the
library
– Shorter than books
– Focused and specific
– Digital access through library
– Published more frequently
?greater variety of arguments,
perspectives, evidence
USE THE LIBRARY
DATABASE
• Log into MyGlasgow
• Click on ‘library account’
Choose ‘search for’:
• ‘print and online resources’ for books etc.
• ‘articles only’ for journal articles
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
• Primary sources are allowed
? government reports, speeches, party documents, etc
• Newspapers (preferably online) are fine for quotes
? their analysis is not academic!
• Try to avoid blogs, tabloid newspapers, videos on YouTube
NEVER CITE WIKIPEDIA!!!
=
REFERENCING STYLE
Use the Harvard citation format! See course guide!
This is an in-text system:
• (Author, Year: Page number[s]) for all references
• Full reference in the bibliography
NO footnotes and NO endnotes
REFERENCING …
• Is not just for quotes: it is for supporting the evidence/examples you provide.
• You don’t need to reference everything
Example: 9/10 would know that there is a Conservative Government at Westminster.
? NO REFERENCE REQUIRED
1/10 would know the percentage of the national vote won by the Conservative Party at the last election.
? REFERENCE REQUIRED
EXAMPLES
In fact, executive dominance has only increased given the “large parliamentary
majorities enjoyed by the Labour Party” (Flinders, 2005: 74).
The additional member voting system employed in the 1999 Scottish Parliament
Elections benefited the nationalists as well as the Conservatives, who ironically
opposed proportional representation (Leach et al., 2006: 300).
According to Lijphart (1999: 17), the UK is a “unitary and centralized state”.
LASTLY,
DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID!
• Avoid rhetorical questions
• Avoid posing new questions
• Stick to the word limit
• DON’T PLAGIARISE!!!
• ADD THE COVER SHEET (on Moodle) to the end of your document!!!
MORE INFORMATION:
• Extension requests: Exceptional circumstances only (contact Karen Masterson, not your tutor or
course conveners)
• Word count: exclude bibliography
• Save the file as Word (.doc or .docx)
YOU NEED EVEN MORE?
SEE ESSAY WRITING TIPS ONLINE!
• Pay attention to your introduction!
• Tie things together (don’t be too general)
• Be powerful (don’t copy the 1st paragraph
https://www.internationalstudent.com/essay_writing/essay_tips/
READ THE COURSE GUIDE!
• THE COURSE GUIDE HAS LOTS OF ADVICE
• THE DOCUMENT ‘STUDYING POLITICS’ HAS EVEN MORE ADVICE, INCLUDING SOME EXCELLENT EXAMPLES
OF INTRODUCTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS!