In 4000 word essay examine a social issue that you understand to be an example of social injustice, and engage one or more theoretical perspectives on social justice.
Description
The Topic: Poverty and policy: Understanding social and political determinants. The essay must address the question: How does theory X help us understand social issue Y? in respect to the named topic and come up with a specific question.
Ensure you are very clear and specific on the social issue that you would like to discuss. Try to be as specific as possible. What is the problem? Why does it matter?
How is it related to social justice? What is the context? How and why theory is relevant to the social issue?
Give a brief account of the social issue you are considering and its wider sociopolitical context.
Take one theoretical perspective on social justice discussed on the module and explain how and why this is relevant to critically understand the social issue. If you
want, you can also show the potential limitations of a theory and use further literature to complement.
Demonstrate critical analysis of the social issue, not just description. Critical analysis means that you don’t just describe, but you discuss and unpack what it’s usually taken for granted about an issue. It has to do with distance – the ways you distance yourself from common wisdom. It means, for instance, to use theory to examine how a social issue emerges and becomes a ‘problem’; to consider broader social and political contexts; to challenge what is established as the ‘status quo’; to elaborate on definitions that are often taken for granted and left undefined; to examine issues from different perspectives and angles; to discuss how we can think differently and
how we can address injustice in our society.
Remember to back-up your claims and statements with relevant literature and supporting evidence.
Try to develop your ideas in a coherent and clear way.
For instance, you can: illustrate your idea with examples; offer an authoritative quotation; anticipate and responding to 3 counterarguments; discuss other viewpoints or perspectives on the ideas you’re discussing. Remember to elaborate on key definitions. Aim to use some of the reading provided in the photo, along with additional material.
Your essay must be clearly presented and well structured.
• Have a clear and coherent structure (i.e. introduction, main body, conclusion).
• Use sub-headings.
• Check the flow and that all different sections are well connected. Sections,
paragraphs and sentences flow logically, enabling the reader to follow your writing.Come to the point straightaway in your introduction then guide the reader, as if looking at a road map, through the main points you will discuss.
Describe how you have approached your topic. It is important how you construct your argument; how well you understand the area and how far you are able to make links and connections between different perspectives on a topic.
Use one or more theoretical perspectives and apply it to understand the social issue.
