Buss4 Technique

1. Buss4 Technique How to write the essays you need to write to get the grade you need!

2. Structure of paper • Time is 1 hour 45 minutes • 2 questions so that is • 52 ½ minutes per question

3. Timing part 2 • 2 questions each worth 40 marks • So 50 minutes for 40 marks • = planning time (do it!) • (if you don’t plan you will write for 50 minutes which inevitably means waffle- or you won’t have enough to say which means sitting in the exam room being very bored.)

4. Sections Simples • There are two sections called • A and • B • One essay from each section

5. General rules for essay writing • Read question (it helps) • Plan • Write some paragraphs (4?5?) • Plan conclusion • Write conclusion

6. Read the Q • You’re writing an answer to a question • Look for key words in Q • Spec words • Words that judgement hinges on – survival? success? • Be clear what it is asking

7. Plan – The DWS wayit will take 5 minutes-use them • Get a clean sheet of paper - could be first page of answer book or an additional sheet, use the space. • Words • you list the theory words you have learned using your notes and the spec • Firms • List the main ones you have studied: don’t think too hard about relevance as you list them

8. The plan • Industries • Remind your self of the three you have notes on + any others you have studied • Food retail • Airlines • Car industry • Leaders • List your favourites • Leahy?, Stellios?, Willie Walsh?

9. Stare and decide • Stare at your piece of paper, this is your plan, re-read the question and decide the route you are going to take • Could be ( this works nicely) • For and against using three or more examples • For and against using two industries and businesses within them

10. Choosing the route to answer • Could be • Take three businesses and say who has been the best at …….. • (not so common) • Or • (you see something completely different in that magic moment of inspiration)

11. Conclusion • Do not plan it at this stage: you may have an idea where you are heading but all may change as you write. • You will plan and write it at the end.

12. The answer part 1takes 30 minutes • Intro • Define spec words, define ‘hinge’ words – such as success • Keep this bit SHORT

13. The paragraphs • Each one should be a point answering the question. It could easily be a business. • Set the scene with a short sentence about the business • British Airways is striving to be a market leader but has problems with costs • Toyota want to be • JCB make diggers and are affected by the construction industry

14. The paragraphs Weave • Use the business and the theory you have on your plan (keep on looking at it) to make an argument that answers the question. • Make a point that answers the question, but the point is made by analysing what happened in a real context • Try not to write two or three sentences of theory and then say and this is shown by…. But if you can’t think of anything better then do it.

15. At the end of each paragraph write a short mini conclusion to show the examiner you are answering the question • For example discuss if recession is an opportunity or threat • You may have written quite a few lines about Primark - mini conclusion yes recession is an opportunity • Then you may write another load of stuff about how BA are struggling for revenue- mini conclusion recession is a threat

16. Plan Conclusion – the DWS way • You have time You must make sure you have time • Maths moment • Time for the question 50 minutes • Time planning 5 minutes • Time writing three or four paragraphs 35 (30?) minutes • Time for conclusion including plan • 10 minutes ( and should be longer)

17. Get your sheet of planning paper at your side, use the back- use space for single words • read your answer – • Read you mini conclusions- • Tick or cross in relation to the Q • So overall you agree or disagree • a good conclusion MUST be based on your earlier paragraphs only

18. Example to what extent is an unconventional culture necessary for success? • Google unconventional-----tick • John Lewis slightly different-------success • Toyota strong but in the end---not success • Tesco strong culture (leader)----success • Now your conclusion writes itself? Add the joining words to these notes and conclude:

19. Plan the conclusion to get Level 3 • Then look for what the paragraphs that belong to each side have in common – this is likely to be the MAIN thing IT DEPENDS ON. • So for the culture example it could be • Each of the companies chosen have a strong culture which in each way makes them unconventional ( and explain) • and so

20. Write conclusion • At LEAST half a page of writing – you’re trying to earn 14 marks – can’t do that in less than ½ a page • Finish writing conclusion, avoid temptation to add bits and certainly not new firms or points • Sit back and wait for great grade

21. And finally… • In the real thing beware TIME • You must give equal time to each essay they have equal marks • Don’t keep on writing more and more stuff in the middle it will become waffle • At least 10 minutes for conclusion- this is how you nail the marks (no matter what grade you are after)

22. And finally How not to be a Muppet ONLY 1 QUESTION FROM EACH SECTION – DON’T DO BOTH Qs IN SECTION A Only do one question from section B Repeat after me how many essays will you write?? (TWO)