How to Write a Politics Essay – Simplifying a Complicated Process

Politics affects every person in the world. There are numerous critical issues which are addressed in this discipline, for example, justice, sovereignty, democracy, globalization, populism, environmentalism, nationalism, etc. Due to the vast nature of the topics within politics and their heavy intertwinement with other disciplines such as economics, health, philosophy, religion, science, etc. political science papers can be quite complex. However, writing a paper in political science helps you to think critically about past, present and future issues that directly affect our world and to which you can add your own voice.

Successful execution of a politics paper requires rigorous research and mastery of the concepts contained therein. From topic selection, pre-reading and dissecting the question, do your research, all the way to creating drafts, writing and submitting your work, this article provides a guide to submit an impeccable politics essay or research paper.

First, What Is a Politics Essay?

Politics is a mostly argumentative discipline. The premises of countless debates have been used to dictate policy and make life changing contributions not just to countries, but to our entire world. Note that this is “argumentative” and not “persuasive,” as the purpose of a politics paper is not for you to impose your own personal opinions on your readers. Politics essays, therefore, seek to showcase your understanding of core concepts and your ability to relate what you have learnt in class with what actually happens in the real world. For example, your essay prompt may sound something like “Is the use of foreign intervention in Syria justified in light of UN sanctions and the recent use of chemical weapons? Relate this to the concept of sovereignty.”

This is a very specific example which is asking you to provide commentary on an ongoing international affair covering areas of foreign intervention, the imposition of UN sanctions and the concept of sovereignty. You have to be well versed on these subjects and understand theoretical literature before tackling this very precise question. It isn’t room to give your own personal opinions on the matter; rather the goal is for you to build clear arguments in response to the question. Simply put, you should convince your reader through your points that your answer or your solution is the best, by providing solid research, data and sources, fully cited.

How to Write a Good Politics Essay

Most students are able to pull of research in politics papers comfortably. The major problem is structuring that research and pieces of evidence into proper arguments that can comfortably stand the needed opposition. In many cases, we already have preconceived ideas of the answers that should be provided. However, there is no space for personal opinion. Any debate presented should be supported by fact and reason. Scholars may also have differing views on concepts such as ‘freedom’ or ‘democracy.’ This means you have to understand and carefully apply background theory in order to come up with the best answer to your question.

How to Start a Politics Essay

For your paper, a topic may be provided to you, or you may be faced with an open prompt. In this case, choose a topic that isn’t too broad or vague. “The fall of Socialism in the Soviet Union” is too wide, but “corruption and currency devaluation as a cause of the fall of Socialism in the Soviet Union” is a more focused and narrowed topic. Once you’ve settled on a topic, you should brainstorm before doing any research. This allows you to adopt a more unbiased and independent methodology to your writing. As you do more digging, you will come across the works of more formative and influential authors, and these can form a grounding for your own thesis statement.

How to Structure a Politics Essay – Always Start With an Outline

As you brainstorm and start your research, the purpose of the question becomes much clearer, and you get more comfortable with the direction that your thoughts are levitating to. You can now start planning your writing by first starting with an outline that summarizes the paper into its various sections, and with a few words for each section. This outline should mesh with your politics essay structure, complete with sections such as the introduction, body paragraphs (arguments, transitions, and counterarguments), and the conclusion. As you write, you should also annotate to make your writing easier.

Politics Essay Introduction

This section showcases your background understanding of the research material and the theoretical framework within which you answer the question. The research question and thesis should be clear, succinct and concise. Furthermore, you should also define any terms or keywords which directly affect your question, for example, you might want to define a term such as ‘sovereignty.’

Politics Essay Body

The crux of any politics paper is argumentation. Arguments are the build-up to your thesis, just like columns support the superstructure of a building. Focus on a single argument in each paragraph, introducing each section with a header and a topic sentence. Make your arguments as clear as possible without any ambiguity. Structure your arguments and sub-arguments based on which arrangement places your debate in the strongest position. Ideally, you should also offer an anticipated counterargument from a probable point of objection.

Politics Essay Conclusion

Give a quick recap of your thesis and tie that up with your main arguments. You might also talk about the broader implications of the debate and how your approach might help shed new light on the debate. Remember to write your conclusion consistently and plainly and be brief.

Our experts always remind students, so they always try to express their ideas using one’s own words and minimize the use of quotations. Any unoriginal ideas should always be properly cited based on the technique required by your rubric. If the process seems too difficult or you run out of time, always consult our expert writers in the field! Here you can find not only reliable tips on how to write, but also a reliable and professional essay writing assistance to finish that dreadful task. We can and will help, order now to succeed!