First essay for uni and I don't have a clue where to start

[MiaWallace]

I have to write a 2000 word essay on the following -

?What are the main social, economic, political and intellectual factors which shape current research either in education or in childhood and youth studies? Discuss with reference to examples of published research.?

I have no idea where to start and it's making me very stressed and upset.

If anyone could give me any advice I would be very grateful.

I'm no expert but 'Every Child Matters' agenda will figure highly

Start by splitting it down adn making a plan.

2000 words isn't a lot when you break it down into seperate sections.

250 words for intro and same for conclusion (both written at end) knocks off 500 to start with.

You need to find 4-5 subject headings/topics to cover (so 300-400 words each - including opening sentances and concluding lines = not as much as you might think).

So (bearing in mind mine was a history degree) what about splitting factors up so they become seperate sections and tehn writing down one main point for each and a piece of research to provide as evidence. Just got it down on piece of paper.

HTH

sorry just realised you want advice on 'how' to go about writing it, you must already know what needs to go in it!

To be honest rosealbie I'm stuck on both how to go about it and the what to put in it.

I will start with 'Every Child Matters'. The tutor has admitted that she has thrown us in the deep end to see how we do. At the moment I'm sinkng fast.

Armadillo, thanks for the advice. When it's broken down it seems quite as scary. Just need to figure what to put into it.

If anyone else can offer an other advice I'd be more than grateful. I need all the help that I can get.

have you made notes from reading or lectures or anything?

this is what i do.

go through notes and pull out some themes - these become sections.

Write out this as a loose plan with approx 3-4 sections.

go through papers, lecture notes adn assign any interesting and releveant points to your sections - review sections if need be.

write an intro saying what you are going to say

write a conclusion saying what you have said

flesh out the sections inbetween.

best of luck!

There is a really good video on Every child matters on teachers T.V much easier to understand than the green paper.

I would look at split it into 6 sections - intro, social, economic, political, intellectual,conclusion.

Find examples of research for each of the main themes and give basic description of them (no more than 2/3 sentances. Try to find a common theme running through each, ie, social might be asbos/youth offenders and summarise each section with a few sentances about it.

I did a psych degree and the way i got good grades was to reference, every other line was a quote from a piece of research. You can basically say what you like in the essay as long as you can back it up with research. Don't forget to keep note of all the sources you use as you will need them for references at the end, and it's a nightmare trying to find them again afterwards!!

HTH

One more thing, if you find published papers hard going, which I did, you can get away with only reading the abstract, and maybe a bit of the conclusion, at least in your first year.

Thank you. Some great advice there. I should have said that for my module I have to focus on education research rather than research on childhood and youth.

As far as lecture notes are concerned we haven't covered anything relevant to the essay. The tutor wants us to do it all from scratch. We haven't been given any guidelines, examples or suggestions. It's a nightmare.

I'm going to use everyones advice and I'll hopefully will be able to pull something together. I have till Friday to complete it, so running out of time fast.

I know nothing about your subject (big caveat , but looking at the title, I would do two things, first find out what current research is available in your area (not all of it obviously, but the 'biggest', most recent stuff) and then see if you can find some published, say, 20-25 years ago, (during a Conservative government) and compare them to see what has changed and why it has changed - what are the social, political, economical, intellectual factors that you feel have influenced these changes.

Hope this helps and I'm not just talking out of my bottom!

Thanks for the suggestion Santa. Unfortunately we are restricted to using research from the last five years.

I think I will focus on literacy in the classroom and see how the four factors have influenced research in this field

What do people think of this suggestion? Do you think it could work?

yes i think that would work if you state you are using literacy as an example and occasionally allude to other areas.

do you use google scholar? I find that very helpful. Also do you have access to an online journal archive through your uni - that can be good too.

social: i would include the media in this and their influence in reserach

economic: how is research funded, if research indicates very expensive outcomes are required it won't happen, best value research

political: agenda - like cameron said recently about how he is planniong some reading scheme - was all sound bites - a ref to a newspaper would be good here and you then hint back to the media in the social section (acknowledge the cross over between sections - mention economic links to political etc)

intelletucal - straight forward - the movement of reserach - forums for sharing etc.

good luck. It will be fine. They want you to do well and s/he has acknow;ledged that you are dropped in it somewhat.

Thank you so much BBBee. That's fantastic advice. I really appreciate it.

Read 'The three educational ideologies of the British Labour Party, 1997-2001' by L Patterson. It's in the Oxford Review of Education 2003, Vol 29, No 2.

I found this piece really useful for a similar essay. You should be able to find it in your Uni library electronic resources section.

It really helped me to understand what factors influenced research and gives you a chance to show some critical thinking. Have you looked at EPPE or REPPE yet in your lectures?

Actually, just look at afew other reports and articles and look at how the first paragraphs tend to be formulaic....This essay is going to discuss 'x'. I intend to show that 'x' is influenced by 'y and z' and I will conclude by summarising my findings to support this assertation. (Include definitions of key words.)

What course are you on?

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely look at the Patterson article.

We haven't looked at EPPE or REPPE in our lectures. Are they worth looking into for the essay?

I'm studying for a BA in education studies. 8 weeks in and I'm already doubting whether I have the aptitude for it

oh mia don't worry - you are so cut out for it - you can do this fine. This issues you are talking about are (IMO) above BA 8weeks in level - you really are talking in a very mature way and highlighting issues that are very relevant.

Also at thsi stage they are very aware that you are out there on your own. This will be the most stressful essay you will write all course.

Stop worrying, you are thinking along the right lines.

edina.ac.uk/learning/

ferl.qia.org.uk/

www.tcrecord.org/

Hope these links help.

I'm doing a BATQFE but if you google PEDAGOGICAL research you'll get lots.

Do you have a discussion forum on your Uni website? You could ask others for their input.
It is a nightmare and I wish you luck - I am ploughing through my disserattion at the moment and I know exactly how you feel.

xx

Thanks for your kind words. I've been so stressed about this essay I have even contempleted quitting the course.

With all the advice I've been given I'm feeling far more confident about it now.

As long as I have something to hand in on Friday I'll be happy.

We were taught that the Intro = 5% of the lenght of the essay and should tell the reader how you will answer the question.
This is taken from some of my course material:

Then the Body of the essay should equal 90% of the lenght.
Answer the question in a chain of paragraphs that build and present the "case"
Each paragraph should include:
-1 big idea
-Introduce
-Define
-Offer argument
-Offer evidence and discuss
-make the fina; point

Imagine teh reader is asking following questions:
-What is the paragraph about?
-What exactly is that?
-What is your argument on this, in relation to your question?
-What is your evidence and what does it mean?
-What is the final point in relation to the question?

The Conclusion equals 5% of the lenght
-restate your arguments
-restate the points
-no new evidence
-you could make recommendation
-it should prove that you answered the whole question.

Bibliography: Harvard System

This is from another workpack:
Intro:as before

Main Body of Essay
->First paragraph
-First sentence introduces the main idea/issue you will be discussing in that paragraph.
The following sencentes should develop the idea, possibly giving relevant examples, providing evidence, details.etc.

->Second paragraph
-First sentence should do 2 things, it should provide a link to teh previous paragraph and introduce the next main idea you are going to discuss.
The following sentence follw the same line as the first paragraphs.

-> subsequent paragraphs
follow the established pattern

conclusion: as mentioned before

References/Bibliography be clear which one you need for your essay.

I am taken a great course right now, it's an Academic study skills course, and it's so helpful with this kind of thing.
Find out of you have a CfAP at your University, they will have workpacks etc....!
the website from teh CfAP I am going to, so, you cna have a browse

That's a brilliant essay plan. Thanks very much for posting it. I've printed it off and will keep it for future essays too.

I'd be happy to copy some material and send it to you, if you like.

We have got some great workpacks for referencing and Quoting work, etc...!

Thanks for the offer that's really nice of you.

Think I will be ok though because I took your suggestion and checked what the University had to offer.

I went to the study skills office today and was given loads of material.

Don't forget to look in the TES (Times Education Supplement) - online or paper version.

I did Education Studies for the first year of my degree - the tutors were in love with the TES!