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Scaffolding your ‘Assess’ essays

Assess the importance of ICT and mobile communication in the growth of globalisation [12 marks]

Assess: Use evidence to determine the relative significance of something. Give balanced consideration to all factors and identity which are the most important.

Fibre Optics/Internet

  • Fibre optics have allowed much more information to flow between countries at faster rates
  • Has facilitated seamless trade through barcode technology and automated processes
  • Facilitated the rise of social media which has homogenised cultures and spread western commodities, diets and popular culture globally.
  • It has also allowed for instant communication with people around the world
  • This is all indicative of the Time Space Compression which is a key characteristic of globalisation

Factor/s

How has it been significant in the growth of globalisation?

The Structure

  • Opening Narrative: Globalisation is…../The growth of globalisation has…../Since WW2 globalisation has….
  • One of the most significant factors in the growth of globalisation has been (Factor 1). This is because….
  • A factor that has also been significant is (Factor 2). This has contributed to the growth of globalisation because….
  • A third factor which has played a role in accelerating globalisation is (Factor 3). In the way that it has…..
  • Finally, (Factor 4) is less important but still significant because….
  • In conclusion……

1

2

3

4

Checklist

Factors clearly identified and given balanced consideration (acknowledgement that some are more important than others)

Layered and developed explanation as to how they have contributed to the growth of globalisation

Subject specific and sophisticated language

A clear substantiated conclusion

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Scaffolding your ‘Assess’ essays

Assess the extent to which global shift has caused more social costs than benefits [12 marks]

Assess: Use evidence to determine the relative significance of something. Give balanced consideration to all factors and identity which are the most important.

Chinese Government

Player

1

2

3

4

Checklist

A range of players are included with every point featuring a counter argument or counter player

Your points are layered and cover a range of social costs/benefits

Subject specific and sophisticated language

A clear substantiated conclusion with the phrasing ‘I agree to a ___________ extent’

Social Benefit/Cost?

Counter Player/Counter Argument?

-Experienced unprecedented growth of about 10% every year since Xiaping’s Open Door Policy

-Allowed 800 million to be lifted out of poverty (benefitting citizens too)

-Established China as the biggest manufacturing economy in the world and world’s largest exporter

-Allowed for significant infrastructural investment such as Three Gorges Dam and more recently the Belt and Road Initiative which allows China to continue to project its political power throughout the world (155 countries part of B&R)

-Huge investment into education and health

-Government still face huge criticism over human rights

-Their economic growth is starting to slow down (3.8% down to 3% thus year)

-Youth unemployment is a significant issue (25% of 16-30 years olds are unemployed in some provinces)

-China becomes increasingly hostile and isolationist

-Huge environmental impacts

-Ageing population without the social infrastructure to take care of the elderly

Social Benefit/Cost?

Counter Player/Counter Argument?

Social Benefit/Cost?

Counter Player/Counter Argument?

Social Benefit/Cost?

Counter Player/Counter Argument?

Introduction: Your introduction should be an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the global shift. This should include the countries and major players involved (ideally the ones who you are going to talk about in your answer!) What key pieces of info are you going to include?

Conclusion: The question asks you to assess the extent to which the global shift has caused more social costs than benefits. The points you make above should lead you to a natural conclusion of agreeing to this to a mild extent/some extent/significant extent/overwhelming extent….

I agree that the global shift has created more social costs than benefits to a _________________ extent because as this answer illustrates,....

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Evaluate the reasons why regeneration strategies are often controversial [20 marks]

Evaluate:  Review information then bring it together to form a conclusion, drawing on evidence including strengths, weaknesses, alternative actions, relevant data or information. Come to a supported judgement of a subject’s qualities and relation to its context.

Regeneration is controversial because:

1

Checklist

Synoptic links are clear throughout the essay

Your points are layered and cover a range of case study detail

Subject specific and sophisticated language

A clear substantiated conclusion which highlights the main factor causing controversy

Synoptic Links: 20 markers are an opportunity to demonstrate your awareness of the synoptic links – notably players, winners, losers and uncertainties. Let's think about some A01 narratives that we could frame through these synoptic links:

Conclusion: You conclusion should be a summary of all that has been previously discussed in your main body. You should seek to rank the main reason/s why regeneration strategies can be controversial. You should also consider a counter argument in the form of the reasons why regeneration may not be controversial. You should also try to weave in the synoptic themes so that it is one of the last things the examiner reads.

Scaffolding your 20 mark essays

Players

Winners & Losers

Uncertainties

Why can regeneration strategies be controversial? We need to think of a main point and then elaborate on this using case study detail

Application of knowledge, synoptic links and case study content:

Regeneration is controversial because:

2

Application of knowledge, synoptic links and case study content:

Regeneration is controversial because:

3

Application of knowledge, synoptic links and case study content:

Regeneration is controversial because:

4

Application of knowledge, synoptic links and case study content:

Regeneration is controversial because:

5

Application of knowledge, synoptic links and case study content:

Regeneration is controversial because:

6

Application of knowledge, synoptic links and case study content:

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Scaffolding your ‘Assess’ essays

Assess the importance of international organisations in the growth of globalisation [12 marks]

Assess: Use evidence to determine the relative significance of something. Give balanced consideration to all factors and identity which are the most important.

Checklist

A sophisticated understanding of the operations of the WB, IMF and WTO with specific examples

Thorough Assessment: how important have they truly been? How important will they be in an uncertain future?

Subject specific and sophisticated language

Key synoptic themes embedded throughout

The question takes concern with the growth of globalisation (remember this can mean social, cultural, political and economic) and so we need to consider what these IOs have done to accelerate the process. Write your ideas below:

World Bank

International Monetary Fund

World Trade Organisation

You now need to assess how important these things have been in the growth of globalisation!

  • The IMF is known as a lender of last resort which means they provide financial assistance and aid following economic crisis or a natural disaster
  • IMF have been heavily criticised for the ‘economic conditions’ that they attach to their loans. This hinders developing countries in the long-term and can limit the growth of economic globalisation in developing nations. This empowers additional players as more appealing lenders such as China reducing the global influence of the IMF in the 21st Century.

Time to ‘go beyond’ the question. Which other Players or Actions have been more significant in the growth of globalisation?

Conclusion: Summarise the relative importance of each IO whilst presenting the additional players, factors or actions which may also be significant in the growth of globalisation and then consider what the FUTURE may hold for these IOs in an increasingly UNCERTAIN and unpredictable time.