Essay Assignment
Length: 2000 words.
• Introduction
I. Have you answered the question? Bespecific.Say exactly what your conclusion will be.
II. Have you explained how your argument is going to develop in the main part of the essay? What are the main steps you will go through?
III. Have you explained exactlywhat you will say at each of your main steps?
IV. Is there any ambiguity in the question? Is there too much to cover? If so, explain what you will be focusing on and why.
• Defining your terms
I. Have you defined any keywords or concepts whichmight be ambiguous or controversial?
i. Avoid using definitions from dictionaries or encyclopaedias for political concepts. We want you to engage with academic debates, so try to find a definition from an article/chapter/book you read.
ii. You don't need to define all terms - if they are not the focus of the essay you can often assume that your reader knows what basic terms mean (e.g. ‘politics' or ‘theory'). You will need to use your judgement.
iii. In some cases, e.g. where the essay question concerns a key concept, you might do this in the main part of the essay and at length (it might even be the focus of the essay). In other cases, if a shorter explanation is needed, you might do it in the introduction.
II. Are these definitions clearly referenced?
III. Is there disagreement about these definitions or concepts? If so, acknowledge this and say which definition will you be using.
• Main body
V. Does each paragraph help you support of your answer to the question?
VI. Are the links between each paragraph clear? Have you provided ‘signposts' which make clear its role in your argument? Good links and signposts could include:
i. ‘Another important question to consider is...'
ii. ‘The account of [e.g. hegemony]offered above helps us to understand that...'
iii. ‘While the previous section focused on [e.g. realist understandings of war further insights can be gained from considering [e.g. the post-colonial perspective] ...'
VII. Does the arrangement of the paragraphs correspond to the plan you outlined in your introduction?
VIII. Is each paragraph roughly the same size? Does each correspond roughly to one topic or sub-topic?
IX. By the end of the main body have you provided a clear explanation of your position/answer to the question?
X. Does your argument include critical analysis of key sources and theories?
• Conclusion
I. Does your conclusion provide a clear summary of your argument?
i. Are equally clear statements of your position contained in your Introduction and the Main Body of the essay? If not, go back and insert them.
II. Does your conclusion introduce any new ideas, concepts or examples that are not explained in the main body of the essay? If it does, go back and explain them.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
i) The answer should be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides.
ii) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
iii) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.