DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS, MEDIA AND PHILOSOPHY

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS, MEDIA AND PHILOSOPHY

ESSAY 1 (35%)

Length: 1400 words excluding references and bibliography/reference list. (Please indicate the word length on the first page of your essay)

Submission: Please submit your essay via the Turnitin link on LMS.

Instructions: Please write a 1400 word essay that addresses ONE of the questions below. You should read and cite at least six academic sources (i.e. books, book chapters or refereed journal articles) in your essay. In order to help guard against the risk of AI-generated essays and contract cheating, please note that the bulk of your references (at least two-thirds) should come from sources listed in the essential reading or further reading for the subject, or from sources referenced in the lectures. This still allows you to draw on a couple of sources you have found independently.

Please make sure to fully reference the sources you have drawn on throughout your essay using either Harvard in-text referencing or Oxford footnotes. Footnotes and the reference list/bibliography are not included in the word count.

Rationale: One of the aims of this assessment is to give you a chance to show your knowledge of one of the key topics we have covered so far in POL2 PID. A further aim is to give you some feedback on your essay writing midway through the semester, so you have the chance to work on any issues prior to submitting the longer research essay, which is due later in the semester and worth a higher percentage of your overall mark.

ESSAY QUESTIONS

Does social contract theory provide a convincing account of political obligation?

Liberals and traditional conservatives have different views of human nature. How does this shape the way they view the role of the state?

Is the government every justified in limiting freedom of speech?

NB Marking criteria and referencing information is listed on the next page.

MARKING CRITERIA

Relevance the essay addresses the question, staying on topic throughout with relevant material directed at what the question is asking.

Understanding the essay shows an understanding of the key theories, perspectives, and issues relevant to the topic.

Reasoning/Evidence the essay uses evidence and/or reasoning to support the argument, as appropriate.

Analysis the essay examines the topic systematically and in depth, showing the capacity to engage in critical thinking.

Structure the essay is well structured throughout with clear paragraphs in a logical order, along with a clear introduction and conclusion.

Written expression the essay is clearly written throughout with few errors in spelling, grammar or syntax.

Referencing the essay is appropriately referenced throughout and the author acknowledges where they have drawn on the work of other scholars through the appropriate use of citations and, where applicable, quotations. (See below for further information on referencing).

REFERENCING

It is crucial that you properly reference the research paper. The basic idea behind referencing is that you should acknowledge where you have drawn on the words and/or the ideas of other scholars. Whilst most of you are probably familiar with a bibliography/reference list a list of the sources you have consulted in your research for an essay it is important to remember that academic referencing at university level goes beyond this. In addition to providing a bibliography/reference list, you are required to use footnotes or in-text references and where, appropriate, quotation marks, to indicate during the course of your essay where you have drawn on the work of others. If you do not reference properly, you are open to allegations of plagiarism, which, if proven, can result in very severe penalties. To avoid this, please make sure that you complete the librarys academic referencing module, consult the academic referencing tool http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/referencing-tool/ and speak to the subject coordinator or your tutor if you have any questions.

The Politics program is flexible about the referencing system you use for your essay. You may use either the Oxford footnote system or the Harvard system.