Critically discuss and valuate the impacts of cultural on individual lives.

Overview

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

Students are required to write a 1,500-word essay, constructing a theoretical framework using theories of globalisation, identity, and individualisation, and outlining the advantages and disadvantages of economic, political, and social global processes.

Essay question: Critically discuss and valuate the impacts of cultural on individual lives.

Marking Criteria

The emphasis should be on coherence of argument, rather than simple breadth of coverage.

It is important that the writing presents a clear argument; is analytical, rather than descriptive; and, at the top end, demonstrates critical and evaluative skills. (ILO A-B)

Student should be able to apply theoretical knowledge and understanding to the understanding and analysis of real-world examples in a critical manner.

Students should be guided by their seminar notes, weekly readings, and in-class discussions and own independent research.

Use academic sources available on Bb (as well as other academic sources). Provide an accurate and complete bibliography.

Reference correctly and consistently, using the Harvard system .

Recommendations:

Below are some recommendations about the structure and the content. Remember to look at the seminar slides for each week to pick up the concepts, theories, and scholars that are mentioned. Use the library resources to do readings on those concepts, theories and scholars in addition to the weekly and module readings.

Introduction (+/-150 words)

1. You need to answer the question in one sentence in the introduction of your essay. This is the argument. Many students failed to do this in their essays.
2. Briefly state which theories the essay will use to answer the question and/or which empirical example(s) it will illustrate the argument with.

Body of the essay (+/-1200 words)

This essay is about how well you understand theories and can unpack ideas within the theories and critically discuss them.

1. You need to make sure you unpack the theory and show the limitations or continual strengths of the theory.
2. Use relevant theoretical concepts, explain them briefly, also mention the key scholar(s) of the theory if you know them.
3. Remember do not just make the essay descriptive (many made this mistake in their essays). The essay needs to be analytical and critical. Descriptive means that you just list facts about a topic, this is not good enough, although of course you should show knowledge of facts, but don't just list them.
   1. Critical means that you compare and contrast ideas; show in detail why one theoretical idea is stronger, more plausible, more accurate than the other and why another idea is weak, etc.
   2. Analytical means that you unpack a concept, an idea and real-world example and discuss the different ways that it can be understood. You then point out why your chosen perspective provides a more accurate view of the real-world, idea, or concept and why. You prove or disprove the overarching argument of your essay through analytical empirical illustrations.

This essay is also about how well you can look at real world examples and give a complex explanation and interpretation of such real-world events.

1. You need to make sure you unpack the topic of globalization and individual lives.
   1. Pick one or two specific empirical example, i.e. real world example, that is related to and illustrates your topic and argument. First, briefly describe the example. In the case of globalization one could chose to look at global trade and the empirical example to unpack would the global labour force, think of Schengen Zone, EU vs. cheap labour in factories in Bangladesh. It has to be specific.
   2. Be analytical and critical - analytical would mean that globalization is unpacked to show that on one hand it means an increase of the movement of people, ideas and goods, but on the other hand it means that sovereign states are reinforcing their borders - hence globalization can be understood as something good and bad. Being critical would mean challenging some of the main assumptions about the topic, e.g. globalization is seen by many as something positive, however, if it is exploitative by allowing only the wealthy (from the developed world) to move around freely, but the poor (from developing nations) to not have the same freedom, then it is actually perhaps negative. Show both sides of the story or interpretations, but don't forget your overall argument.
   3. Include theories in your discussions: In the case of globalisation: on one hand, one could say that the reason why globalization doesn't benefit every one equally is because realist believes that sovereign states and especially great powers are still the main actors and hence globalisation serves their national interest and when it doesn't they increase their sovereignty. On the other hand, one could say that globalization and free market economies have facilitated global development in countries like China and liberals have always argued that free-trade increases global prosperity. Mention scholars if you know them.
   4. What does this all mean for individual identities, lives, power, democracy, etc.

Key point to remember throughout both essays:

The argument, which is the answer to the essay question, needs to be threaded through the entire essay. The essay needs to refer the various discussion back to the argument and show how the various examples illustrate the argument.

Conclusion (+/-150 words)

Restate what your argument was and sum up briefly how your essay proved it.