Focused Argumentation in Political Theory: Structuring a Concise Analytical Essay

The essay is expected to reflect in depth study of the selected literature by explicitly and appropriately drawing on at least two, and preferably, three (or more) sources.Since you have only 800 words, it is essential that you focus and limit your argument.There is no space to discuss or even summarize all points made in each textthat you selected. Instead, from the very start of your essay, you need to be really clear about the one or two main points that you want to make and that are relevant to The question.Then, you can organize your essay around them by actively adducingthe relevant passages in the light of the research question and critically discussing their contributions and limitations.Assessment criteria-QUALITY(clarity, coherence, originality) of your argument: are you able to develop your own argument with respect to the debate(s) concerned?-USE OF LITERATURE:do you show adequate insight into and are you able to make appropriate use of the relevant readings (including quality of additional readings)?-STRENGTH OF CONCLUSION:does your conclusion logically follow from the preceding and does it answer the essay question and clearly define your own position with respect to the Respective debate(s)?How to structure your essayIt is important you structure your argument well and organize it around logical, coherent and well-focused paragraphs.Introduction:The essay provides an answer to one of the questions provided above. It must include an introductory paragraph in which you outline the question, touch upon the significance of this question (putting it into context), andintroduce / preview the argument you will make. Please keep the introduction short.Argument ation:The main body of the essay provides the argumentation developed in support of your answer to the essay question, and hence of the case you seek to make.It is important that here you go beyond a general discussion of a broad debate; but actually provide an answer to the selected question by developing your Own argument. So, for example, if you are asked the question ‘Is economic growth a prerequisite for the development of a democratic political system?’, you cannotwrite a general discussion on democracy. You have to tackle this particular question. Accordingly, you must ensure, when writing the essay, that every single sentence and paragraphs are directed to, and useful for, providing your particular answer.In that sense, we are more looking for depth (of argument) than breadth. Rather, take a position and defend it.In developing your answer, please provide several arguments that support it (possibly deriving form a particular perspective) whilst also engaging with possible counter- arguments (and where applicable rival perspectives) It is thus important that the main body of your essay reflects and engages with the core debates or debates underpinning your selected essay question. There are various ways of structuring this. A fairly standard one (and relatively safe!) is to make your case for a particular answer (‘X’) and then examine and reject objections to X. Or vice versa. One of the most common criticisms that essays elicit is ‘asserts rather than argues its points.’ It is one thing to say ‘X’; it is quite another to provide a justification for X. In an academic essay, you are asked to dothe latter. One way of providing justification for the theoretical arguments youpresent is by backing these up with empirical examples. However, make sure that you do not engage with evidence in a merely anecdotal manner, but rather discuss how ithelps you to craft an argument.Conclusion:You should finish the essay with a concluding paragraph that summarizes your argument, and, if appropriate, opens up the debate (e.g., by mentioning other issues which are Relevant and interesting but which constitute further avenues of inquiry). It is important that your conclusion entails the answer to the question posed. Please keep your conclusion short.

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