Extended Response practice questions.

An essay question begins 'To what extent…'. What does this command term require?

• A description of all relevant facts
• A judgement on the claim, supported by arguments for and against
• A definition of every term in the question
• Unconditional agreement with the claim, defended with several examples

Answer: A judgement on the claim, supported by arguments for and against

'To what extent' demands an evaluative judgement: you weigh supporting arguments against counterclaims and conclude how far the statement holds.

Which opening paragraph is strongest for the essay 'Discuss the claim that state sovereignty is being eroded by globalization'?

• A vivid, extended anecdote about a recent summit with no reference to the essay question
• A promise to 'look at both sides' without naming any arguments
• Definitions of sovereignty and globalization plus a clear thesis for the essay
• A list of every example that will appear later in the essay

Answer: Definitions of sovereignty and globalization plus a clear thesis for the essay

Top-band introductions define the key concepts in the question, take a position (thesis) and signpost the line of argument.

What is the main function of counterclaims in a Global Politics extended response?

• To fill space when you run out of supporting points
• To show the examiner you know many facts drawn from several other course units
• To prove that no conclusion is possible
• To test the thesis against opposing arguments, strengthening the judgement

Answer: To test the thesis against opposing arguments, strengthening the judgement

Markbands reward balanced argumentation: engaging seriously with counterclaims and responding to them demonstrates evaluation rather than one-sided assertion.

How should real-world examples be used in a Global Politics essay?

• Selected, specific cases analysed to support a claim in the argument
• Retold in full narrative detail to show depth of knowledge
• Mentioned by name only, since analysis matters more than evidence
• Drawn exclusively from the last twelve months

Answer: Selected, specific cases analysed to support a claim in the argument

Examples earn credit when they are specific (named actors, dates, outcomes) and explicitly linked to the claim they support; storytelling without analysis stays in the lower bands.

Which set contains the four key concepts of Global Politics that strong essays explicitly engage with?

• Democracy, free-market capitalism, socialism, anarchy
• Power, sovereignty, legitimacy, interdependence
• War, peace, trade, aid
• Realism, liberalism, marxism, constructivism

Answer: Power, sovereignty, legitimacy, interdependence

Power, sovereignty, legitimacy and interdependence are the course's four key concepts; anchoring your argument in them shows conceptual understanding, unlike listing ideologies or theories.

The command term 'Evaluate' in an essay question asks you to:

• Give a detailed account of events in chronological order
• Break the topic into parts and describe each one
• Make an appraisal by weighing up strengths and limitations
• Offer your personal opinion without needing evidence

Answer: Make an appraisal by weighing up strengths and limitations

Evaluate is an assessment-objective-3 term: you must weigh strengths against limitations and reach a substantiated judgement.