Politics Exam Skills
24th April 2010 • University of London Union • 10.30-4.30
A one-day course for students taking Government and Politics AS or A2 this summer, led by politics graduates and tutors from leading universities, taught through seminar discussions, mini-lectures, and group work activities.
Put your point across
Planning and writing effective politics essays under pressure takes skill and practice. Examiners are looking for clear and thoughtful answers that show knowledge, understanding, analysis and independent judgement. Our tutors will work with students to develop their technique and confidence. Topics covered will include:
- Writing effective introductions and conclusions
- Winning the debate in politics: how to show that you understand the issues at stake and that your opinion is correct
- The structure of an argument
- Planning an essay under time pressure
- How to make the comparisons examiners are looking for
Choose your words carefully
Even more than other subjects, Government and Politics demands precision. A level candidates need to master a wide range of terminology, deploy it with precision to for the purpose of analysis and comparison, and even answer questions about the meaning of words. During the course we will discuss how to use advanced vocabulary in your argument, working with definitions and responding to questions about technical terms.
Get your ideas straight
What are liberalism, conservatism, nationalism and socialism? How do they differ in different countries, and how have they influenced, and been influenced by, the make-up of our political institutions? The seminar on Political Ideology in Comparative Perspective is dedicated to developing our understanding of modern political ideologies, and exploring the relationship of ideology to practical politics. Even if you are not taking a module on political ideology, for top grades at both AS and A2 you will need to relate comparisons between parties or constitutional systems to changes in political thought.
The event is suitable for suitable for all students taking AS or A2 Government and Politics this summer and expecting a grade B or above. The programme is designed to meet all assessment objectives for the AQA, Edexcel and OCR syllabuses.
Debate Chamber Politics Tutors
Lewis Turner
Lewis graduated from New College, Oxford in the summer of 2009 with a first class degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. His academic interests include conflict in international relations, moral and political philosophy and historical and contemporary left-wing thought. Having lived in the Middle East, he has also developed a keen interest in the politics and society of the region.
Charlotte Fischer
Charlotte studied History and Politics at Balliol College, Oxford, during which time she was Vice-President of the Oxford Union. Her academic interest is in how children in conflict regions learn about the history of that conflict. She has previously served as a development consultant in Darjeeling, India, and worked for a peace mediation organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
Book a Place
Please note this course is only suitable for students expecting a B or above in their A or AS Level exam this summer.
The fee for the Politics Exam Skills Session is £85 per student. If more than one exam skills session is booked together then the cost is £155 per student for two events or £195 per student for three. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Debate Chamber offers a limited number of full and partial bursaries for students who would otherwise have difficulty attending. To book a place please call 0845 519 4827, email info@debatechamber.com or fill out the form below.
If you are a politics A Level teacher interested in holding an Exam Skills session in your school, please see the in-school events page for further information.