HOW TO PLAN AND WRITE AN ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ESSAY

THE PURPOSE
The purpose of an advantages and disadvantages type essay is to put forward the pros and cons of an issue in a cool and detached manner without taking sides. The complete lack of an argumentative element is due to the following:

·         There is no point in arguing for or against the issue because it is a well established fact whatever the arguments. All the writer can do is to point out the obvious. For instance, you can’t write an argumentative essay about iphones or androids,  air travel, only children, working women and the like but you can write advantages and disadvantages essays. On the other hand, you can write argumentative essays about capital punishment, censorship, euthanasia and the like.

·         The decision is being left to the reader. The writer presents the facts, indicates pitfalls and benefits but on the whole, doesn’t get involved.

THE PLANNING

The planning of an advantages and disadvantages essay is quite straightforward: the issue is presented in the introduction, the pros and cons are expressed in an objective and balanced way in separate paragraphs in the development.

The Introduction

In order to be able to discuss the pros and cons of an issue, you have to clearly delineate what the issue is. The way to do this is to start with the general and narrow the topic down to the issue. The rule of thumb is “from the general to the particular” or “from the past to the present”. Let us consider an example of the latter type of introduction:

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BEING AN ONLY CHILD

In the past, due to lack of birth control and the existence of  rural communities where manpower was an advantage and custom, large families with a dozen or so children were quite common. Infant mortality was high and some would pass away but others would survive to till fields and plough the land. In the modern world, over population, the widely publicized disadvantages of a large young population, changing life styles and the existence birth control have shrunk families with only children becoming ever more common. Although this is the current trend, it doesn’t mean being an only child has only advantages; there are disadvantages as well.

Now let us consider a second example where the focus is on the present but the argument is narrowed down to the issue in hand which is the pros and cons of compulsory military service:

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE

Human history is entirely composed of wars; a fact that continues today though missions do often serve peaceful purposes like aiding in clean up missions, humanitarian missions and disaster relief. This means the manpower to fight these wars or serve on these missions is necessary. There are very few countries that have small symbolic armies such as Switzerland and Japan; most countries have armies and recruit regularly. The period spent in the army is referred to as military service and is considered to be beneficial in numerous ways to the individual, to the society and to the wider community in general. Yet there are some undeniable drawbacks too.

One point of interest here is that the specific advantages and disadvantages are not listed in the introduction; the introduction is not ‘a table of contents’ or ‘an abstract’ it is an introduction to an essay. Listing all the points in the introduction, discussing them in the development and then listing the whole thing again in the conclusion makes the essay terribly repetitious and gives the impression one doesn’t know how to write introductions and conclusions.

The Development:

The development of an advantages and disadvantages is composed of two blocks: the advantages and the disadvantages. In a relatively short essay, they would be allotted a paragraph each but there is really no reason why they shouldn’t be dealt with in three paragraphs each or in as many paragraphs each as the writer sees fit or he has time for. Another point one needs to remember is that there needs to be transition between the paragraphs. Let us turn back to our example:

The army can transform the lives of people by encouraging a healthy lifestyle and regular habits. Going to bed and rising at regular hours after a decent night’s sleep gives people the energy they need to start the day. The first thing recruits do next is physical training, followed by showers and a healthy breakfast. Calories and food value are carefully calibrated in the mess. A life style such as this will help the recruit shed pounds and develop physical strength, which will impact mental health. Any ailments are treated very seriously and dealt with by the medical corps. Such a regular lifestyle has untold benefits and impacts  later life as well making it possible for people to both enjoy work and have fun while preserving their physical health. Yet nothing in this world is black and white and military service is no exception. (The function of this sentence is to provide transition to the disadvantages.)

The major disadvantages of military service are either practical or psychological or both. Since a career is impossible without doing one’s military servicein countries where conscription exists, a lot of people feel they are being held back by being obliged to do military service. They want to get started on the career ladder and rise fast; they don’t want to take time out doing something they feel is pointless. Plus the very macho atmosphere of the barracks doesn’t suit everyone: some are sensitive, lack confidence, cannot stand up for themselves and buckle under the pressure. People with issues do suffer in the army and this is true, but in most countries, the period is limited and after all, military service is considered character building.

The Conclusion: One thing the conclusion is not is a carbon copy of the introduction. While the function of the introduction is to narrow the topic down to the issue being discussed, the function of the conclusion is to move away from it and provide an opportunity to round off the topic in a general way. The conclusion can be written in various ways so long as this rule is adhered to: a restatement, a summary, a reference to the future, generalizations  are all possible. The misconception that the main points must be copy pasted into the conclusion from the introduction usually comes from the inability to write a restatement. The rule one needs to remember is that the conclusion is a paragraph in its own right and deserves individual attention. It is the last paragraph of a piece of writing and the last words a teacher reads before grading the essay. Let us consider the following example:

In conclusion, armies will exist so long as conflicts or peace keeping missions exist.  Although some benefit from their experience in the army, others do suffer yet overall, the institution works to the benefit of society. The changing role of the army with deployment in peace keeping or humanitarian missions should help deal with ethical concerns some people have and redefine the role of armies putting them on a par with similar humanitarian organizations.

Let us look at a complete example before put another misconception to rest:

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HOSTING THE OLYMPICS

The Olympics are the single oldest international organization of completely amateur sport in the world with the first games dating back to the ancient Greek city states of Athens and Sparta. The winners were famously only rewarded with a wreath; there were no riches or money; only honor and glory. This tradition endures in the present day as well with two differences: the wreath has been replaced with medals and the games are held in different countries all over the globe. Many countries consider it a great honor to host the Olympics and rivalry and negotiations are fierce until the announcement is finally made and one country emerges victorious. However, is hosting the Olympics all that it is cracked up to be and does the endeavor involve some disadvantages as well? The answer to this question is undoubtedly affirmative.

It is universally agreed that hosting an international organization on such a grand scale has various advantages. The most obvious one is all the facilities and amenities that are provided for the games which later benefit the locals of the area. Stadiums are built or revamped, infrastructure is updated and any problems are ironed out, accommodation is arranged; in short, there is a general clean up ahead of the guests. Any international organization of this sort means tourists, which means potential customers, which means local businesses can look to making a tidy profit. It is a wonderful opportunity to advertise the country in all its glory, which in turn means future profits. In short, at first glance, it looks like a brilliant business opportunity so why are the Brazilians out in the streets protesting en masse the fact that the country is preparing to host a very similar international event, the world cup?

There are various disadvantages of hosting any organization on such a large scale which may not be obvious at first sight. If there are vast differences in quality of life and standard of living between various segments of society in the country as in the case of Brazil, the lower classes may see all the money being poured into the building of stadiums and the like to be a total waste of money and misuse of valuable resources. They may prefer these millions to be spent on welfare projects, housing, schools and roads not on some fancy playing fields they are not going to be able to get into. It must be agreed these people do have a point. Then there is a very real danger of not being able to recoup the money invested, which may be the case if not enough tickets are sold for the games or people just prefer to watch the games in the comfort of their living rooms. This has been the case in London but luckily, Britain is a developed country which can afford this. Can the same be said for developing countries and is the risk worth taking?

To sum up, hosting the Olympics does bring glory, free showcasing of the attractions of the country and revenue but whether this revenue will cover the costs and provide a healthy profit and whether public opinion will back the government of the host country is up for debate. Governments should consider the pros and cons very hard before taking on such a venture.

The Misconception: an essay can focus on just advantages or just disadvantages as well; there is no rule that says both have to exist in each essay. Let us consider the two examples below; both based on reading tasks posted on this blog:

THE DISADVANTAGES OF EXECUTIVE BONUSES

Reading related advantages disadvantages essay: “No more executive bonuses”; Level ** reading tasks

It has long been assumed that the individual who seeks to take the rudder and sail the ship shoulders the most responsibility, takes the biggest risks upon himself, feels overwhelmed by all those depending on him and thus requires some additional compensation. The intrepid sailor being referred to is the CEO and the ship he is steering through the stormy seas is the company. The result in the second half of the previous century and the current one has been the custom of executive bonuses. Far from guaranteeing the future of the company and the welfare of all concerned, this system has produced a lot of disadvantages.

The most important disadvantages concern the chief executives themselves. Knowing that they get bonuses if they fail, in the form of golden parachutes, and if they only appear to succeed like in the case of mergers, the executives shift their attention away from what is good for the company to lining their own pockets. The average idealist is hardly going to get involved in such a racket so the rakes, the crooks and the sleazy businessmen take on the position. It is very hard to blame these executives for taking unnecessary risks as they get paid whatever they do but with the wrong man in charge, the company is doomed to suffer in the long run.

The second group of disadvantages concerns the rest of the staff of the company; those who don’t get the bonuses and look on. This silent majority, Nietzsche’s herd, watch ‘the rulers’ and quickly lose any loyalty they feel for them and the company. This kind of an attitude bodes ill for a company as very little can be achieved in business without cooperative team work. It is working together, sharing ideas and discussing them which produce innovative thoughts. With the passion gone, the workers go about their daily jobs and probably cut corners while working. The class structure created in the company is, therefore, very bad for business.

To sum up, although executive bonuses were created to further companies and get real, engaged leaders to head the companies, the system has backfired. The current system has done quite the reverse and brought the wrong people to leadership positions and undermined the staff. Future success for companies can only be guaranteed with managers with leaders with leadership potential.

Let us now consider another example; this time focusing on only advantages:

THE ADVANTAGES OF PEER PRESSURE

Reading related writing activity: “Peer Pressure for Teens Paves the Way to Adulthood” Level ** reading tasks

It is in the nature adolescents to wish to explore their more extended environment, seek out new experiences which they can enjoy and form a wider social circle. In the meantime their brains are still in the process of completing their developments; a process that goes on into their twenties. Everything is exciting, new and fun and must be fully enjoyed and it is with these feelings churning around inside them that teenagers immerse themselves in all the new experiences. They are not alone on this journey; they are with their peer group which can exert some beneficial influences on them.

Contrary to popular belief, not all peer groups are bad; in fact some can be very useful.  They encourage the teenager to learn to take part in useful activities like playing sports. There are some wonderful team games that build solidarity, teach cooperation and build a team spirit. Working towards a common goal of say beating the team from the neighbouring school can be very rewarding. Fears and phobias can be overcome during camping trips or on visits to the sea side for instance where the fear of the sea can be eliminated.  There are all kinds of people in a peer group but the group identity does gain tremendous influence with kids even dressing similarly. So long as the influence is a good one such as being coaxed into adopting good habits, the influence of the peer group can be very positive.

There is a long term advantage of peer groups and the pressure they exert, and that is the growth of self reliance. According to research, the influence exerted by peer pressure peaks at around 15 and then starts dropping, tailing off at about 18. During this period, teenagers sometimes go along with group decisions but also learn to resist it gradually becoming more self reliant. Given that human beings live in highly developed, complex societies, this initial learning opportunity is invaluable. The social learning that takes place as well as the psychological development that inevitably occurs both help the teenager in all his future relationships.

To sum up, peer groups and the pressure they exert can be very beneficial to the all round development of an individual. Learning how to interact with group member, how to work and enjoy things together as well as how to resist pressure when the need arises from some of the corner stones of growing up.

HOW TO PLAN AND WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

THE PURPOSE

 The first thing one needs to keep in mind when setting about writing an argumentative essay is the purpose which is to convince people of your opinion and refute all counter arguments that they may throw at you. I suggest you imagine you have an audience waiting to pounce on every word as you write. You want people to put down the essay you have written having completely changed their opinion and come round to yours.

PLANNING

 The above being the case, your essay has to include your own arguments and support for them and also the counter arguments and their rebuttal. After all, you don’t want someone to turn round and say “But there is always…” and slap you down with a counter argument. You need to prove that the counter argument doesn’t make sense before anyone else does. With this in mind, how is one to organize such an essay? The answer is as follows: it doesn’t really matter so long as you stick to the basic principle; however, there are two accepted ways of organizing argumentative essays in the US and the UK and they are as follows: the first has an introduction which is followed by two or three paragraphs of supporting arguments. What comes next is the counter argument which is neatly refuted and the whole essay is rounded off with a conclusion. The second  starts off with an introduction and is followed by a development in which every paragraph starts with a counter argument which is refuted in the same paragraph. The whole thing is wrapped up in the conclusion. But I would like to reiterate that these are not hard and fast rules and so long as you defend your own point of view and refute counter arguments, i.e. stick to the raison d’être, it doesn’t matter how you organize the essay. The French have a completely different approach to argumentative essays for instance: they have the writer’s main thesis in the first paragraph of the development, the antithesis in the second and a synthesis in the next. What’s more, there are plenty of great French essayists!

The Introduction: one thing you need to remember about essays is that you have to have a rational argument which you follow through to the end. Surprises are a definite no – no; people need to be able to predict what is coming. The introduction which sets the tone of the essay, clearly points out where you stand and what you don’t agree with as well as a hint at the line of argument you are going to take.

The Tone of the Introduction: this type of essay is called an “argumentative essay” not “a civilized discussion”, which means some aggression and a sharper tone is acceptable. Consider the two examples bellow:

MILITARY SERVICE

Unfortunately, war has been a fact of life since ancient times in human societies, which are the only species along with ants that fight their own species and destroy them. War means weapons and the trained manpower to use them, which brings us to armies; the institution that trains, usually the men, to fight for their country in times of need. The need for an army cannot be denied but should conscription actually exist? The draft is understandable though not acceptable in times of war when the situation is truly desperate but does this have to be done on a regular basis in peacetime also? The answer is no; conscription should leave its place to professional armies.

SPORTS

People need to work to earn a living and maintain a certain quality of life; this is a fact of life  in the modern world. Not everyone is fortunate enough to find their dream jobs; a considerable number of people end up in some dead end office job which they dislike while some find their true vocations. These fortunate individuals do a job they love and consider worthwhile and what’s more, get paid for it: doctors for instance. Sportsmen also fall into the latter category but unlike doctors, they contribute nothing to society yet receive exorbitant sums of money throughout their short careers. Should people who kick a ball around a field or hit a ball with a racket for hours get paid millions while researchers can’t find grants to complete valuable studies? Most certainly not.

In both these introductions there is not a shade of doubt concerning where the writer stands. In the first, there is the grudging acceptance of wars as a fact of life but the desire is expressed that civilians should be left out of it all to lead their lives in peace. In the second, disgust for the amount of money professional sportsmen earn is clearly expressed by contrasting them with deserving individuals who need funds but don’t get any.

A Misconception: there is the belief that all the points that are going to be used in the development need to be listed in the introduction. This is just not true. What needs to be made clear is where the writer stands in relation to the argument. So let me reiterate: the points do not need to be listed in the introduction but the writer’s opinion most certainly does.

The Development: the development of the essay is the main body and where you leave no stone unturned to defend your own view and provide a rebuttal for any counter argument. You need to remember that this is the kind of essay where you take sides and have a firmly fixed opinion. Let us consider the example below:

SCHOOL UNIFORMS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED

Uniforms, specialized clothing for various groups of people in life, have been around for hundreds and thousands of years especially in some sectors. Some people wear uniforms for recognition and identification like the army, clerics and the police, some do so for protection like firemen and riot police, others do so for hygiene like doctors and nurses. Yet students in many countries are made to wear uniforms as well and one is at a loss to understand why. It is time for students to shed their uniforms and flourish freely.

Soldiers, clerics, the police and those in the service sector wear uniforms for recognition and it is claimed students would do well to follow their example for identification and to maintain discipline. Yet whereas adults in the said professions do need to be distinguished from other adults, the same can’t be said for children as education is compulsory: children between certain ages are all in school. Why, in that case, do we need to introduce children to the drab trappings of the adult world so early on? Once they have entered the job market they will find their wardrobes confined to suits any way; they should be allowed some freedom and leniency in their formative years. What is more, if discipline cannot be maintained unless children are dressed in identical garb Maoist China fashion, the schools have a much more serious problem.

One of the main arguments in favor of putting children in skirts or trousers, shirts, jackets and ties like miniature white collar workers is price and practicality. Practical for whom one might enquire; certainly not for the children who would be far happier in track suits and sneakers. Then there are those dratted white shirts that are a devil to get clean never mind how funny kids look dolled up in the outfit described above. Life would be a lot easier if children didn’t grow so fast but they do, which means they out-grow uniforms annoyingly fast. Then of course there are the effects of the playground: things get torn and mislaid. The issue of price can be dealt with very easily by not introducing children to designer labels until they can pay for them themselves. In short, uniforms are neither practical nor cheap; in any case, not really much cheaper than an average pair of jeans or track suit. Given the choice, there is very little doubt what the students would prefer.

Children are very likely going to be wearing uniforms of one sort or another when they establish themselves on their individual hamster wheels so it would be much kinder to allow them develop freely and not don the shackles so early in life. Adults of my generation will retort that uniforms never did them any discernible harm but are they really in a position to know? After all they have never known anything else. Personality development requires freedom so let us give it to our kids.

On reading this introduction and development, it is easy to see that the one and only rule of defending your own point of view and refuting counter arguments has been adhered to. Notice also that whereas the counter argument is presented at the beginning of paragraphs two and three it comes in the middle of the next paragraph; this is fine and perfectly alright. You will find a complete version of the essay task above under “Writing Exercises” where uniforms are defended.

The Conclusion: the conclusion to an argumentative essay should be obvious from a mile away; surprises are for detective stories not for essays. But there is one very important point that needs to be mentioned: the conclusion should never be a repetition of the introduction where all the points are listed once again; it should be a restatement. A restatement covers the main ideas that have been mentioned and in this case, has a tone of “you see, I told you so” about it. However, the language is different and there is no repetition of any other part of the essay. Let us consider the following example:

UNIFORMS MAKE PERFECT SENSE

Uniforms, specialized clothing for various groups of people in life, have been around for hundreds and thousands of years especially in some sectors. Some people wear uniforms for recognition and identification like the army, clerics and the police, some do so for protection like firemen and riot police, others do so for hygiene like doctors and nurses. Yet students in many countries are made to wear uniforms as well and with good reason. Some may wonder why but school uniforms should be the norm in developing and underdeveloped countries.

First developmental paragraph: Financial arguments

·         Poverty and limited means: one uniform cheaper than lots of regular clothes

·         Equality: the distinctions between more well to do less well-off students blurred

Second developmental paragraph: Practical arguments

·         Identification: young people identified as students

·         Discipline: uniforms, due to their connotations, make keeping order easier

·         Pride: a sense of pride due to being a student at a certain school

Third developmental paragraph: Individuality versus the system

·         Counter argument: uniforms restrict personality development

·         Rebuttal: generations of people have grown up with school uniforms; no data to link lack of individuality to uniforms

In conclusion, uniforms have done hundreds and thousands of people of past generations no discernible harm and in no way prevented them from flourishing. This being the case, burdening overstretched parents with the added expense of a wardrobe for their offspring seems illogical. The alternative, a uniform and a spare, is both cheaper and more practical. This does not mean to say uniforms can’t be more child-friendly and comfortable. In fact efforts should be made to achieve this to put a stop to the argument for once and for all.

If the introduction and the conclusion are studied carefully, it will become obvious that there is no repetition but the ideas covered in the essay have all been touched upon. Let us look at one more complete example where there is one basic supporting argument which is carried on to the end with no repetition:

12 YEARS OF BASIC EDUCATION: AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

The importance given to education has risen in tandem with development. Whereas schooling was not considered such a priority in the 19^th century now it is compulsory for children up to a certain age. This is 16 in the UK and 14 currently in Turkey. Ideally, the period of compulsory education should include college as well; obviously the better educated the youth are, the better prepared for life they are and the more useful they are for society. Yet is Turkey ready for such an undertaking? The answer is most certainly not. Therefore, the idea of extending compulsory education to include high school as well should be postponed to a later date due mainly to practical considerations.

Politicians who are concerned with votes and winning elections are trying to push through legislation with complete disregard for the fact that the infrastructure is not in place. 12 years compulsory education looks good on paper but what about school buildings? Let us imagine for the sake of argument that some businessman built the school; things don’t stop there: what about white boards, computers, modern facilities, furniture? In a poor country with a soaring budget deficit, can the ministry of education really claim to be able to provide all this by September in every village? It doesn’t seem likely.

Secondly, assuming that all the practical requirements have been met, there is the small problem of teaching staff. Teachers don’t grow on trees; what is more Turkey refuses to employ existing graduates of teacher training colleges. How does the government propose to man schools under these circumstances? Obviously, no one wants a mediocre teacher or teachers fresh out of college; they want the good ones. Under these conditions how can equality be provided? Some people will get a good education while others may not even be able to read properly.

Thirdly, in a developing country where the pressure to enter the job market is high do we need to keep everyone in school until they are 18? Most people would prefer to learn job skills or go to a vocational school; they may think trigonometry and modern physics are unnecessary for them and they can’t really be blamed. 14 is a much more realistic stopping place; besides, we haven’ managed to apply this rule properly yet.

Some may claim that keeping children in school until they are 18 might enable the government to instill good moral values and sound general principles. Reaching for the stars is all very well but one has to be realistic: Turkey is unable to deal with the existing inequalities in opportunity; would it be wise to increase the problem ten-fold? At the end of Ibsen’s play, The Doll’s House, the young hero looks longingly out of the window and tells his horrified mother he wants the sun. It would be wise to remember this and other similar examples.

In conclusion, Turkey is not ready to extend schooling to include high school and they will not be ready for a long time. Progress should come step by step the current one being providing students in every part of the country with equal opportunities for a first class modern education. That alone is a formidable feet so as Jesus so aptly said “Sufficient the problems of today”.

SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS: A TABOO OR A REQUIREMENT? ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

The spread of AIDS, hepatitis 3 and other sexually transmitted diseases coupled with the ignorance which is rife in many areas of the world is leading many to think that sex education should be a part of school curriculums so students can acquire the facts from experts in the correct way rather than ill-informed friends behind the sheds in the playground. Do you agree or should this be left to parents? Do your research and write an argumentative essay.
Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

Power point

·         “Sex education: should it be taught in school?” http://www.slideshare.net/omerahussien/sex-education-in-schools

·         “Sex education: should it be taught in school?” http://www.slideshare.net/guestf77ed/sex-education-presentation (This is different from the first one)

·         “Opportunity in crisis: preventing HIV from early adolescence to young adulthood” http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:SFc7HBT8m3oJ:www.unicef.org/aids/files/Webinar_presentationv2.pptx+&cd=3&hl=tr&ct=clnk&gl=tr

Reading material to annotate

·         “Effective sex education” http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications450

·         “Implementing sex education” http://www.plannedparenthood.org/resources/implementing-sex-education-23516.htm

·         “11 facts about sex education in schools in the US” https://www.dosomething.org/actnow/tipsandtools/facts-about-sex-education-us-0

·         “History of sex education” http://connection.ebscohost.com/education/sex-education-schools/history-sex-education

Read and listen

·         “Sex education in schools: pros and cons” http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sex-education-in-schools-pros-and-cons.html

GEORGE FRIEDMAN AND ROBERT D. KAPLAN ON THE EVOLUTION OF WAR; LISTENING INTO WRITING ACTIVITY

Access the video the link to which is provided below to view a discussion between George Friedman and Robert Kaplan, analysts for Stratfor, on the evolution of war. Listen carefully or listen and follow from the tape script, make notes and use your notes to write an essay on how warfare is changing.

http://www.stratfor.com/video/george-friedman-and-robert-d-kaplan-evolution-war

“SIX YEAR OLD AFGHAN GIRL SAVED FROM MARRIAGE TO COVER FATHER’S DEBT” REACTION OR RESPONSE ESSAY”

This horrific story highlights a continuing problem in the country: child marriage. Read the text, watch the video and write a reaction or response essay.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/08/world/asia/afghanistan-child-bride/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

“THE KEY” BY GRANT MORRISON AND RIAN HUGHES; FREEDOM 2014 REACTION OR RESPONSE ESSAY WITH A TWIST

“An exclusive comic created by graphic artists Grant Morrison and Rian Hughes for the BBC's freedom2014 season. The award-winning artists tell a story of freedom, which, apart from the title, has no words” Access the story by clicking on the link below and look through it carefully:

·         http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26730067

Now access the following article: “Grant Morrison and Rian Hughes: the story behind The Key”

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26784218

ELECTORAL FRAUD: DEFINITION AND PROBLEM SOLUTION ESSAY

Electoral fraud or electoral corruption has plagued both fledgling democracies and established ones worldwide. What does electoral fraud involve? How can it be prevented? Do your research and write an essay where you set out the problems and discuss solutions.

Powerpoint presentation:

• “Protecting the people’s vote” http://pcij.org/blog/wp-docs/sadain_elections.pdf

Reading material to annotate:

·         “Electoral Fraud” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fraud

·         “Electoral Corruption” http://www.idcr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/05_11.pdf

·         “Shaping democratic practice and the causes of electoral fraud” http://files.wcfia.harvard.edu/ziblatt_shaping.pdf

·         “Easy things you can do to prevent voter fraud” http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2012/04/28/easy_things_you_can_do_to_prevent_voter_fraud

·         “Preventing vote fraud pamphlet” http://www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformation/pdf/votefraud.pdf

·         “Politics and government” http://www.transparency.org/topic/detail/politics_and_government

Videos and documentaries

I had difficulty finding general videos for you to watch; there are, however, plenty of specific examples of electoral fraud in specific countries from which you can draw conclusions. I therefore leave the choice to you.

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/