Whether you like it or not, you will have to write essays in Global Politics. If you don't want to write essays then this may well not be the subject for you. However, if you think you are just not very good at essay writing then do not panic. Writing a good essay is a skill and, like all skills, it can developed with practice. Follow this advice and you will be writing top quality essays in Global Politics in no time.

 

Planning is essential

 

Whether you are writing an essay for an end of unit assessment piece or writing under time pressure and exam conditions, it is essential that you take the time to plan out what you are going to say. What evidence will you include in each paragraph? What will your argument be? What theories and concepts will you use to support what you say? Make a plan... and refer back to it regularly when writing your essay. This ensures you stay focused on answering the question.

 

Give Definitions

 

Why should you give definitions in your introduction? Two very simple reasons: Firstly, it proves to the examiner that you understand the key concepts of the course and, secondly, it's easy to get started once you actually being writing the essay. Obviously, you will have revised hard and will know the relevant definitions so this will cause you no difficulties.

 

Examples are essential

 

You must support any points you make with contemporary examples. Contemporary can be a difficult term to define so the best advice is, whenever possible, to use examples from within your lifetime. You should not use examples that are from before the end of the Cold War.  This is why it is so important to make sure you keep up to date with current affairs and are familiar with a range of case studies that you can apply to different areas of the syllabus content.

 

Use theories and concepts

 

It is essential, in writing a good essay, that you link the arguments you make to the theories and concepts that make Global Politics different to other subjects in the curriculum. Remember, think of the concepts as building blocks of the subject and use them to help build your argument. Not only that, but it shows the examiner that you are writing an explicitly 'Global Politics' essay rather than just a 'common-sense' piece. Concepts, as you know, are ideas such as sovereignty, cultural relativism, and peace. Theories include realism, liberalism and Galtung's work on conflict.

 

Keep answering the question

 

It is very easy to become distracted and stray off topic when writing as essay, which is why spending time planning your answer is so important. In particular, there are two points to bear in mind here. Firstly, you need to be sure that any point you make helps you to answer the question. If it isn't relevant, don't include it. Secondly, you should make it easy for the examiner to see why you have included this point by linking it back to the question. To make this link you can use sentence starters like 'this shows that...' and 'this is important/relevant because...'.

 

Keep it academic

 

Remember, whether you are writing a longer essay for an end of unit assessment or a paper 2 question under exam conditions, you must write in an academic style. This means writing in the third person and avoiding phrases like "I think...". Instead, a more appropriate expression would be "it could be argued...".

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Two sides of every argument

 

There are two sides to every argument. Equally, there are always two sides to every essay. You must make sure you always look at the other side of the argument. The mark scheme offers access to higher mark bands only if you do this. It's also important, once you have presented both sides of the argument to state which side is most convincing based on the evidence.

 

Get the basics right

 

A very simple point, this one. It is far better to focus on the basic, fundamental stuff, get it right and explain it well and in detail. Trying to make ambitious guesses and explain theories you don't fully understand is likely to backfire. Remember, don't run before you can walk. And, if you hadn't realised already, solid revision is the key to stopping this from becoming a problem.

 

A conclusion is not optional

 

Your conclusion is important. Don't see it as something you simply need to remember to stick on the end of your essay before you stop you writing. Your conclusion should do two things. It should summarise the most important points (and the evidence which supports those points) and it should answer the question.

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Don't forget George Orwell's six elementary rules, from his essay, 'Politics and the English Language.'

 

1. Avoid Clichés 

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    Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

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2. Use Short Words

   

    Never use a long word where a short one will do.

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3. Don't Use Unnecessary Words

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    If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

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4. Use Active Voice

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    Be direct. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

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5. Use of Plain English

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Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

 

 

6. Break any of these rules sooner than saying anything outright barbarous

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