AS Government and Politics -STUDY SKILLS

1. AS Government and Politics -STUDY SKILLS HOW TO ANSWER (a) exam question

2. A-Level Government and Politics requires students to………… • Comprehend, synthesise and interpret political information in a variety of forms • Analyse and evaluate: i. political institutions, processes and behaviour ii. political arguments and explanations iii. the relationship between institutions, processes, ideologies, concepts, behaviour and values • Identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between aspects of the political systems studied • Select and organise relevant material to construct arguments and explanations leading to reasoned conclusions • Communicate arguments and explanations with relevance, clarity and coherence, using appropriate political vocabulary.

3. AS Government and Politics Exam • Unit 1 People and Politics Assessed on 4 topics • Democracy and Political participation • Pressure Groups • Elections and Electoral Reform • Political Parties EXAM DATE: January 14th 2013

4. EXAM LAYOUT • THERE WILL BE 4 QUESTIONS ON THE EXAM PAPER -One on each topic • Each Question will have 3 parts • 5 marks • 10 marks • 25 marks • YOU MUST ANSWER ANY 2 of the 4 Questions

5. EDEXCEL • The 5-mark questions will require students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. • The 10-mark questions will require students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding, as well as analyse and evaluate political information, arguments and explanations. • The 25-mark questions will require students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, analyse and evaluate political information and construct and communicate coherent arguments.

6. EXAM –KEY INFO • DURATION - 1hr 20 minutes • Answer 2 questions • All 4 topics will come up • Each question is worth 40 marks • In total paper mark is 80

7. (a) –The 5 mark question • Simple explanation of a key term

8. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AO1 Knowledge and Understanding • This is basically factual knowledge and understanding of key ideas, concepts, meanings, distinctions and processes. It also refers to your knowledge and use of appropriate examples to back up and illustrate your answers. In short, it is what you know. 50% of the total assessment is for AO1.

9. AO2 Analysis and evaluation • This is what students often find tough, although the good news is that AO2 only accounts for 30 % of the total marks. • This refers to your ability to show you can analyse a question, can evaluate certain ideas, distinguishing between what is important and what is less important. It mainly applies to questions which ask you ‘to what extent’ or ‘why’ or explain the difference’ etc. • It also gives marks for making connections between different parts of the political system. One way of looking at AO2 is that it contains marks for how well you have actually answered the question, however much factual knowledge you may or may not have.

10. AO3 Communication • In short, this is how well you write. There is little you can do about your standard of literacy by the time you come to revision, but you can make sure that you are aware of the appropriate language and vocabulary to use in a particular answer. AO3 is for the accuracy of your writing, how well you go about answering the question, and, equally importantly, how well constructed. • There is a total of 20% of marks available for AO3. Note that there are no marks reserved for the use of particular words or phrases. We are not playing politics bingo. If a relevant point is made, with a supporting example, clearly supported with an explanation of its relevance to the question, then full AO3 is up for grabs. It is vital that you familiarise yourself with the assessment objectives, not least because the examiners who mark your work will give separate marks for each of those assessment objectives.

11. Part (a) – 5 marks • All the marks for this part are for assessment objective 1 – knowledge and understanding. There are no marks in part (a) for analysis and evaluation or for communication. Answers should therefore be purely factual, demonstrating your knowledge of political meanings, definitions of institutions and processes and examples to illustrate your knowledge and understanding. • Occasionally you may be asked to distinguish between one process or idea and another. This is also assessment objective 1. You should resist the temptation to analyse, discuss and evaluate in part (a) answers. • Say, for example, you were asked to distinguish between a pressure group and a party. • All you need to do is to draw out the main distinctions and illustrate them with real examples.

12. THE QUESTION • Question will usually as you one of the following DEFINE ‘Define Direct Democracy’ OUTLINE ‘Outline two functions of an election’ EXPLAIN ‘Explain what is meant by ‘accountability’ DISTINGUISH ‘Distinguish between a promotional and a sectional pressure group’

13. EXAMPLE 5 MARK QUESTIONS

14. Define representative democracy. Representative democracy is a system in which citizens do not make every political decision for themselves but instead elect others to do so on their behalf (1). ……………… .……Representative democracy must be based on democratic elections which are free, fair, regular, competitive and based on universal suffrage (2)……… ……………Representative democracy is more practical in modern society in which citizens do not have time for direct democracy and it ensures representatives are accountable to the people as they can be removed as easily as they are elected (3). …….. However, it can be seen as rule by professional politicians who often do not truly represent their constituents in terms of their socio-economic background, for example, and can be seen as elitist ……………(4). ……The UK is considered to be a representative democracy as the public elect MP’s to represent them (5). • 5 points made = 5 marks

15. Distinguish between a promotional and a sectional pressure group. • “A promotional group seeks to promote a cause whereas a sectional group attemptsto pursue the interests of a section of society” (1)-Clear Basic Answer - 2 marks • Promotional groups are not self-interested but are concerned with the welfare ofsociety, for example with environmental or social issues, and hence they have openmembership. Sectional groups are, however, self-interested. They seek friendlylegislation, or to prevent hostile legislation or wish to raise public and governmentawarenessof the interests of their own section of society, and restrict membership to their client groups” (2) Develop the answer - 2 marks • A good example of a promotional group is Friends of the Earth which campaigns on arangeof environmental issues. An example of a sectional group is the British Medical Association (BMA) which promotes the interests of doctors. (3) Example provided – 1 mark

16. 5 Mark Question • (5) Answers -Between 100-500 words -Spend on 5 minutes on the question (a minute a mark!) -Be clear and concise -No evaluation necessary -Knowledge and Understanding

17. OVER TO YOU! • Using your study skills booklet • Answer the first (a) 5 mark question ‘DEFINE DIRECT DEMOCRAY’ (5 Marks) -Sentence 1- give simple definition -Sentence 2/3- Where did it originate/features -Sentence 4/5 Give an example of where/how it is used today