Comparative Politics 1 POL1010 Revision Lecture Thursday 28 th April 2005, 3-4pm

Comparative Politics POL1010: Class Administration Bill’s last lecture will take place next week – 5 th May 2005 The exam timetable – SHIPSS noticeboard Study Skills: m

POL1010 Assessment 3 Essays: 1500 word essays first essay = not formally assessed second essay = 15% of the final mark third essay = 20% of the final mark Tutorial Presentations: 15% of final mark – based on the better of the two presentations given Exam: 3 hour examination at end of the second semester: 50% of the final mark

Course Aims The course aims to give students: a basic grounding in the main forms of government on the world – focus mainly upon European (including the EU), US, Islamic and post-Communist systems the conceptual tools with which they can compare and contrast these different systems

Revision: What to Expect on Exam Day I Exam: 3 hour examination at end of the second semester: 50% of the final mark Each student should answer 4 questions in the 3 hours Students can answer any 4 of the 12 questions – i.e. there are no sections or compulsory questions

Revision: What to Expect on Exam Day I You have 45 minutes for each question Markers are NOT expecting to get 3 hours worth of writing Do not write for 45 minutes solid on each answer We are expecting answers that have been structured – go for quality not quantity

Revision: What to Do on Exam Day SELECT YOUR TOPICS AT THE OUTSET PLAN THE ANSWER DEFINE TERMS ANSWER THE SPECIFIC QUESTION SET The Answer Itself – an Essay Answer INTRODUCTION – explain what you are going to do in your answer ARGUMENT – MIDDLE CONCLUSION – summarise your argument and answer to the question

Revision: In the Exam Do Not Attempt To Question Spot Revise More Than 4 Areas Be Ready To Engage With The Question You Face On Exam Day – I.E. Do Not Answer The Question You Might Like To Have Been Asked! Examiners Are Looking For An Answer To The Question Set

Topics to Consider: Semester 1 SEMESTER 1 The Comparative Method Democracy European Integration EU and the Democratic Deficit Unitary versus Federalism Political Cleavages in Western Europe

Topics to Consider: Semester 2 SEMESTER 2 Presidential Governments Anglo American Government Communism – Chinese versus USSR Islam and Democracy Concept of Civil Society Transitions to Democracy