How to Write a Political Science Essay

When writing a political science essay, it’s important to take a systematic and thoughtful approach. Be it the political theory, policy issue, or evaluating a historical event, you must put together a well-structured and well-backed argument.

That sounds like a tricky task, right? Not if you stick to the expert tips and tricks on writing a political science essay in this blog post. Let’s take a look!

Expert Guidelines About How to Start a Political Science Essay

To tell you about the importance of a political science essay, just know that it’s an in-depth analysis of a political issue concerning a plethora of people. Let’s move to how you can write one.

Carefully Understand the Requirements

Make sure you understand the essay prompt or question thoroughly. Look out for words that will give you an idea of what needs to be discussed in your essay. It will also guide you in your research.

For Example:

Discuss the impact of globalization on national sovereignty and provide examples from recent political events.

Perform a Good Research

Get material from scholarly journals, books, trustworthy websites, and other good sources. Look at both sides of the issue to make a justified argument. Thorough research is a good answer for how to start a political science essay! 

For Example:

Research how globalization is impacting countries’ independence.

Check out its both favorable and negative views.

Pull up examples like the European Union’s impact on how member states vote or others. 

Form a Clear and Concise Thesis Statement

Create a solid statement that explains your major point or opinion. Make sure it’s detailed, open to debate, and gives an idea of what you will talk about in your essay.

For Example:

No doubt globalization has connected the world, but recent political occurrences like Brexit shows people’s concerns about their countries’ autonomy. 

Work on an Outline

Create an easy-to-understand outline. Split it into parts like the start, the main part, and the ending. Each part should have a specific purpose. A good outline also shows the political science essay format. 

For Example: 

Introduce globalization and national sovereignty. 

Body Paragraphs:

• The positive aspects of globalization

• Examine the challenges of globalization

• The tension between globalization and national sovereignty

Conclusion:

Sum up the main points, restate the thesis, and enter insights into the ongoing debate on the subject (globalization).

Write Engaging Introductions

Start your essay with an attention-grabbing introduction that provides context and introduces the topic. Remember to include your thesis statement at the end of the introduction. 

For Example: 

Today there’s a lot of debate about how much globalization affects a country’s independence. People argue that it leads to collaboration and economic improvement. 

But Brexit is an excellent example of how vital national sovereignty is even when we are all so intertwined.

Develop Coherent Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph should have a point to make, backed up by evidence and analysis. Begin with a topic sentence introducing the main idea of the paragraph.

Example of a Body Paragraph (Extract)

Because of globalization, countries don’t have the same control they used to over how they regulate stuff. There are now all these international trade agreements that can override domestic regulations.

Use Evidence and Examples

Back up your opinions with reliable data, like statistics, sayings from specialists, and evidence from your examination. This will give your argument more validity and depth.

For Example:

A World Trade Organization study shows that almost nine out of ten international trades are now taking place due to regional or bilateral agreements. This signals that international organizations have a bigger and bigger role in how countries do business.

Provide In-depth Analysis

Once you’ve presented the facts, talk about what it all means and how it relates to your point. Show how the data backs up your main idea and how it fits in with the bigger picture.

For Example:

This data shows how much international trade deals have changed the world of global business. They are even forcing countries to juggle their own goals with the needs of global organizations.

Address Counterarguments

Be sure to consider different points of view when making your argument. Just to show how complicated the issue is. It will also make your argument stronger.

For Example:

Globalization can help out smaller economies by giving them access to bigger markets. However, it’s important to think about what could be sacrificed regarding regulations and laws in that country.

Craft a Conclusive Conclusion

Give a summary of the main points of your essay. Reiterate your thesis statement, and provide some thoughts on the bigger picture of your argument.

For Example:

To sum it up, the current struggle between globalizing and keeping a country’s independence is a hot topic in politics lately. Globalization has connected the world in many ways, but countries are still prioritizing the protection of their autonomy.

Edit and Revise

Go through your essay and ensure it’s clear and makes sense. Check that each section logically follows the one before it. Double-check that everything lines up and your argument has no conflicting ideas or holes.

Citations and References

You must give credit where it’s due. Cite your sources in the right style, like APA, MLA or Chicago, to make your essay look more professional and reliable.

Conclusion

For a successful political science essay, you must make a strong argument supported by facts, research, and analytical skills. Plus, you should stick to the fundamentals of essay writing. That’s what this article was about!

Hopefully, you now have a good understanding of how to approach your political science essay task.