AQA Unit 1 exam technique - Political Parties

In Unit 1, you must answer questions on 2 out of 4 topics: voter behaviour, electoral systems, political parties and pressure groups.


I have analysed the questions asked on the 'Political Parties' topic since the new specification was launched. A few key themes emerge. I have also looked at how to answer the 3 types of question they ask. Here are the questions they ask:

Jan 09

5 marks: Explain ‘ideology’

10 marks: Consider whether Labour / Conservative policies getting closer?

25 marks: Discuss the role of the party membership

Jun 09

5 marks: Explain ‘constituency parties’

10 marks: Outline the different roles of party conference

25 marks: Assess the view that individual members have no power

Jan 10

5 marks: Explain ‘nationalist’ parties

10 marks: Consider role of minority parties

25 marks: Discuss whether major UK parties all moving to the centre?

Jun 10

5 marks: Explain term ‘catch-all’ parties

10 marks: Outline how Conservative policy has changed since the 1990s

25 marks: Evaluate role of political parties in UK political system

The key themes that emerge are:

• Are the major parties becoming less ideological, converging on the centre – ‘catch-all’ parties
• Rise of minority / nationalist parties (as major parties converge on similar policies)
• Increasing power of leadership
• Key policies since 1990 – Lab and Con
• Role of different party elements – conference, constituency parties
• And finally, party funding – not asked about yet, but topical!

To get full marks, you are required to show 3 skills (or "assessment objectives") in your answers. These skills are knowledge of the topic; ability to analyse / evaluate the topic; and ability to communicate. The marks are awarded differently depending on the type of question - whether it's worth 5 marks, 10 marks or 25 marks - as follows:

So what do you need to do to answer these questions effectively?

•Explain – AO1

–Define the political key term

–Refer to the extract!!!! “… according to the extract…”

–Other relevant examples for 5 marks (differences between parties?)

•Outline / consider – AO1, AO2, AO3

–The above plus …

–Uses political concepts to give both sides of the issue

–Accurate use of paragraphs, grammar and spelling; conclusion flows logically from answer

•Discuss / assess / evaluate – AO1, AO2, AO3

–The above, plus …

–Gives positive and negative aspects of the issue

–considers similarities / differences

–makes connections

–causes / consequences

–Comes to a balanced conclusion

I attach some thoughts on some of the topics below.

Finally, this website is really helpful in revising Politics: http://www.tutor2u.com/

Hope this helps!

Mr North

Clever canvassing tactics by the SNP

In class, we will read and discuss this excellent article about how the SNP are using modern technology to increase the effectiveness of their canvassing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/26/alex-salmond-secret-apps-chutzpah?INTCMP=SRCH

Some classic encounters at Prime Minister's Questions

Prime minister's questions, or PMQs, is a high point of the parliamentary week. Each week, at noon on Wednesday the prime minister must come to the House of Commons to answer oral questions for half an hour.

MPs are not obliged to give the prime minister prior notice of the subjects that they are going to raise. This element of surprise allows opposition MPs in particular to try to catch the prime minister out with an awkward question. The prime minister must respond without delay, thinking on his or her feet - but he or she is guaranteed the last word in any exchange.

Government backbenchers can normally be relied upon to ask "helpful" questions, often planted by the Whips, which will allow the prime minister to tell the House about successful government policies. The relative performance of each of the main party leaders is closely watched and each is under great pressure to get the better of their opponent.

This BBC webpage collects videos of some of the great encounters of the past - enjoy ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/comment/newsid_9617000/9617609.stm

Coalition 'Pledge Tracker'

The Guardian website has an interactive feature tracking which of the Coalition's manifesto pledges have been kept. Great resource for learning about their manifesto pledges. Look at it here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/interactive/2010/aug/12/coalition-pledge-tracker

The Conservative Party

Aim:
For this week's task, you must create a report on how the Conservative Party compares to the Labour Party - what are the similarities, what are the difference - to be emailed to Mr North at pjnorth@crownwoods.org.uk before Monday 17th October.







Task:

1. How are the different origins of the Labour and Conservative parties reflected in their organisation?
2. What is ‘Conservatism’ as an ideology?
3. How has it changed over the years?
4. How does it compare to Labour ideology? (which Labour ideology?)
5. What are David Cameron’s top priorities?
6. How does the role of the leader in the Conservative party compare to Labour?
7. What are the differences in the way Conservatives choose their leader, compared to Labour?
8. How does the Conservative Party select its candidates for parliament?
9. Why does Central Office want so much control?
10. What are the main differences between the funding of Labour and the Conservatives?

Resources:
In addition to the textbook (pages 78-82, 97, 99-100), Mr North's presentation on the student area, and your class notes, there are plenty of online resources (remember, all online sources of information MUST be treated with care - who's writing it? what bias is there? is it up to date?)

http://www.conservatives.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/guides/default.stm
http://www.tutor2u.com/
http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk.htm

A-Z of political terms!

See this useful guide from the BBC to political terminology:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/guides/newsid_8208000/8208327.stm

And to the different instiutions that make up our political system:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/guides/default.stm

History of the Labour Party - task and resources

Aim:

For this task, you must create a report on the Labour Party, to be emailed to Mr North at pjnorth@crownwoods.org.uk before Monday 10th October.

Task:

Your report must cover:

• Why was the Labour Party founded, and by whom?
• What was a 'sacred cow' of the Labour Movement for many years?
• Why did the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and the dominance of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, pose a problem for left-wingers?
• What are the key achievements of the Labour Party in office before 1997?
• How did Tony Blair's 'New Labour' differ from 'Old Labour'?
• Why did Labour lose the 2010 General Election?
• What is the role of the Leader?
• What is the role of the Conference?
• What is the role of the PLP and the Whips?
• What is the role of the NEC?
• What is the role of the NPF?
• What is the role of the Unions?
• What is the role of the CLPs?
• Labour party financing
• What are their key policy differences with the Conservatives? 

Resources:

In addition to the textbook (pages 78-82, 97, 99-100), Mr North's presentation on the student area (and included below), and your class notes, here are some resources ...

Although Wikipedia needs to be treated with care because it is written by users rather than experts (although the users generally are also experts), it can be useful...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)#Post-war_victory_under_Attlee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_Labour_Party
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Executive_Committee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_general_election,_2010

Also ...
http://www.labour.org.uk/ (official Labour Party website)
http://www.labour-party.org.uk/ (unofficial site!)
http://labour-uncut.co.uk/ (an insiders' view)

The key pages from my class presentation are attached below: