School of Political Science and Sociology
Second-Year Seminars 2015-16, Semester 2
As in Semester 1 you must take a total of three modules in Semester 2: two compulsory
modules and one elective module.
The compulsory modules are:
SP 215.II Modern Political Thought
Gerry Fitzpatrick
Wednesday 12.00 -1.00 (AM250)
Friday 12.00 -1.00 (AM250)
SP 220 Methods for Social and Political Sciences
Bernadine Brady & Mike Hynes
Monday 2.00 - 3.00 (O’Flaherty)
Tuesday 12.00 - 1.00 (O’Flaherty)
You must CHOOSE your third module from the following two elective modules:
SP 219 Political Sociology
Niall O Dochartaigh
Monday 12.00 -1.00 (Eng. G017) & Tuesday 2.00-3.00 (AM200)
OR
SP 235 Social Issues and Policy Responses
Caroline Mc Gregor & Colleagues
Tuesday 2.00-3.00 (Darcy Thompson) & Wednesday 6.00 -7.00 (Tyndall Theatre)
All courses are supported by WEEKLY SEMINARS which are COMPULSORY– that is,
you are expected to attend all.
You must also write a total of three essays (1,500 words each), one for each module. Each
module offers two essay topics, from which you choose only one to write the essay on.
REMEMBER, ONE ESSAY ONLY per MODULE and THREE IN TOTAL. All Essays
must be submitted on the due dates via Turnitin and a full Turnitin Report also handed in
at your seminar. Essay Marks and Feedback will be given by your tutor by arrangement, and
usually via the Seminar. 20% of your grade in each course comes from your essay, and 10%
from your participation in seminars. You are also expected to prepare for each week’s
seminar by reading the material relevant to the Essay/Discussion Topic in advance. (All
Essay/Discussion Topics are set out below).
Reading packs with all the readings can be obtained either from your tutor or from the
School Secretary, Kay Donohue.
Remember, the essays, attendance & participation are all essential parts of the
course, and account for 30% of your Final Mark in ALL MODULES. So, if
you don’t attend seminars or don’t do your essays then you are needlessly
throwing away marks!
Seminar 1 beginning January 25th
Introduction to the semester’s work and essay-feedback session.
Seminar 2 beginning February 1st
Reading (1) for SP215 (Modern Political Thought):
Moore, S., (2012) ‘Ideals and realities: Renaissance state communication in Machiavelli’s
The Prince and More’s Utopia.’ In Public Relations Review 38, pp383-89.
Discussion Topic:
Consider whether Machiavelli’s argument that politics concerns mainly the articulation of
power is much more plausible than More’s analysis which focuses political agency on the
elucidation of justice. Why and how do Machiavelli and More differ in how they present their
essential ideas?
Essay Question:
‘A definition of hypocrisy is that it is the tribute that vice pays to virtue: this is why More’s
Utopia is frequently praised whilst Machiavelli’s The Prince is normally condemned.’
Discuss whether ‘idealism’ as against ‘realism’ truly explains why Thomas More and Niccolo
Machiavelli hold such contrasting views on human nature and political possibility?
(For the essay it is expected that you will have read and will use the texts of both Utopia and
The Prince – as well as the Seminar reading.)
Seminar 3 beginning February 8th
Reading (1) for SP 235 (Social Issues and Policy Responses)
McGregor, C (2014), ‘Why is history important at moments of transition? The case of
“transformation” of Irish child welfare via the new Child and Family Agency’,
European Journal of Social Work 17:5, pp771-783.
Essay and Discussion Topic:
From a reading of McGregor’s article, what can you learn about the importance of history in
understanding developments in social policy?
Seminar 4 beginning February 15th (DUE DATE FOR FIRST ESSAY)
Reading (1) for SP 220 (Methods)
Kennan, D., Fives, A., Canavan, J., (2012) ‘Accessing a hard to reach population: reflections
on research with young carers in Ireland’, Child and Family Social Work 17, pp275-283.
Essay and Discussion topic:
Ethical and methodological challenges can arise when conducting qualitative research,
particularly where the target population is ‘hard to reach’. Discuss this statement with
reference to the study of young carers in the Irish population described by Kennan, Fives and
Canavan (2012).
Seminar 5 beginning February 22nd
Reading (1) for SP 219 (Political Sociology)
Short extracts from three key books: Gellner, E., (2006 [1983]), Nations and Nationalism,
Oxford: Blackwell. / Hobsbawm, E. J., (1990), Nations and Nationalism since 1780:
Programme, myth, reality, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. / Smith, A.D., (2008),
The Cultural Foundations of Nations, Oxford: Blackwell.
Essay and Discussion Topic:
Is nationalism modern or ancient? Contrast the modernist perspectives of Gellner and
Hobsbawm with the ‘ethno-symbolist’ analysis of Anthony Smith.
Your essay should also draw on the longer readings by all three authors that are available on
Blackboard.
Seminar 6 beginning February 29th
Reading (2) for SP215 (Modern Political Thought):
Keens-Soper, M., (1988), ‘Jean-Jacques Rousseau: The Social Contract’ in M. Forsyth, and
M. Keens-Soper, (eds) The Political Classics, A Guide to the Essential Texts from Plato to
Rousseau. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp171-202.
Essay and Discussion Topic
Does Rousseau’s Du Contrat Social signal the advent of modern democratic republicanism?
Or does it represent a dangerous recipe for the suppression of individual human freedom?
Seminar 7 beginning March 7th
Reading (2) for SP 235 (Social Issues)
Burns, K & Buckley, H (2015), ‘Child Protection and Welfare in Ireland: Déjà Vu All Over
Again’ in Christie, A et al., Social Work in Ireland: Continuity and Change. Palgrave
London, pp51-65.
Essay and discussion topic:
From the reading, outline and discuss the reasons why policy and practice change in Ireland
relating to child welfare has been so protracted. What can we learn from this to inform our
understanding of how social issues are addressed through social policy?
Seminar 8 beginning March 14th (DUE DATE FOR SECOND ESSAY: for March 17th
seminars, this class shall be conjoined to the last seminar in April: however, ESSAYS MUST
BE SUBMITTED TO YOUR TUTOR ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY MARCH 18TH)
Reading (2) for SP220 (Methods)
Wilkinson, R. and Pickett, K. (2010) The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost
Always Do Better. London: Penguin, pp. 15-30 (chapter 2).
Question:
Wilkinson and Pickett (2010) argue that ‘economic growth and increases in average incomes
have ceased to contribute much to wellbeing in the rich countries’ (p.15). Does their
comparative analysis of large-scale indicators of income, income inequality and health and
social problems across 23 rich countries support their argument?
NOTE:
In your essay discuss the difference between income and income inequality and reflect on the
methodological consequences of focusing on income differences (rather than per capita
income). In your opinion, did Wilkinson and Pickett choose a suitable quantitative measure
of income inequality for their cross-national comparative study? Please base your answer on
a rigorous and critical analysis of the recommended reading (chapter 2 in The Spirit Level).
Seminar 9 beginning APRIL 4th (DUE DATE FOR THIRD AND FINAL ESSAY)
Reading (2) for SP 219 (Political Sociology)
Marsh, D., Smith, N. & Hothi, N. (2005) ‘Globalization and the State’. In Hay, C., Lister,
M. & Marsh, D. (Eds) The state: theories and issues. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.
172-189
Essay and Discussion Topic:
To what extent does economic and political globalization erode the power of the nation-state?
Your essay should also draw on one or both of the following readings (available on
Blackboard):
Holton, R. J. (2011) ‘Is the Nation State finished?’ In Globalization and the nation-state.
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Mann, M. (1997) ‘Has Globalization ended the rise and rise of the nation-state?’ Review of
International Political Economy, 4 (3) 472-496.
Essay Guidelines
The study of political science and sociology is based on coherent assessment of evidence,
arguments and different positions, identifying gaps, insights and weaknesses and bringing
critical thought to bear. The following five points should help towards this:
1. Begin each essay by carefully assessing exactly what you are being asked to do in the
question posed. Questions never require a ‘write all you know’ response.
2. Plan your essay in advance. Think about how you will begin, what the body of your essay
will be and how you will end. (It’s often a good idea to say what you’re going to do, do it in
the middle section, and in your conclusion, say what you’ve done). Think about the
conflicting arguments relating to the topic. What assumptions are they based on? What values
and preferences do they embody? What evidence is offered to illustrate any argument? What
readings do you need to bring to bear?
3. Ensure clear presentation. Organise your essay in a logical way that is obvious, for
instance, use sub-headings. Argue coherently. Correct punctuation and spelling matter.
4. Your conclusion is important. It allows you bring the entire essay together and make some
strong points based on its content. You can re-phrase your support for a particular position, a
combination of positions, or none. Show that you have answered the question.
5. All essay must be fully referenced and include a bilbiography (see below)
Essay delivery:
Please submit your essays first via TURNITIN on the SP216.i Blackboard site, then deliver a
full TURNITIN Report containing your essay to your tutor in class on the submission date,
together with your signed essay submission form. Extensions require permission from the
Second-Year Course Coordinator, otherwise, late submissions are penalised by a 2%
reduction per late day - up to a limit of 4 days late.
In the case of a late essay you are fully responsible to ensure it has been received. Email your
seminar leader as to time and date of submission. Seminar leaders are not responsible for
their arrival.
Please ensure to keep an electronic copy of each for yourself.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism (the presentation of someone else’s work as your own) is theft and fraud, is
completely contrary to academic standards and is penalised. Plagiarism includes paraphrasing
text very closely, cobbling together a text from numerous sources taken in whole or in part
and presenting ideas from other authors without a citation. As your essay derives largely from
other sources you will be citing them throughout (see below).
Internet sources are traceable by staff members who will notice differences between your
usual style and that of academic websites. Moreover, a standardised e-system for identifying
plagiarism now exists and is used by staff.
If you have problems, don’t copy: ask your tutor for help.
You must ensure that your work has every source clearly marked and referenced. Essays
must be accompanied by signed forms confirming that your work is your own.
Citation/Referencing
The School uses the Harvard citation system. This contains two components: an in-text
citation and a bibliography.
A. IN-TEXT CITATION: you acknowledge the author in the text by giving his or her name,
the year of the publication, and the page(s) in question.
Here is an example:
“Populations who seem to share broad cultural attitudes towards the environment can
actually act very disparately under different political circumstances (Rootes 1997: 14).
Yet, as Fengler and Fengler point out (1988: 72), the ‘complex patterns of their daily
political experience’ remain largely unexplored.”
If the quote is less than a line and a half, insert in your own sentence. Otherwise, indent.
B. BIBLIOGRAPHY: every in-text citation has a matching full reference in the bibliography.
This includes the author’s or authors’ name(s), and the date, title, place of publication and
publisher of the work. If the work is an article or chapter, you give the name of the journal, or
the name of the collection and its editors’ names.
If an author has written more than one item in a single year and you are citing these,
differentiate them as ‘2001a’, ‘2001b’ and so on.
Titles of articles should be in single inverted commas, names of books or journals in italics.
You must also cite any websites or other online sources you have used, giving exact
information for recovering them.
Sample Bibliography
Jasinski, James (1997) ‘Instrumentalism, Contextualism, and Interpretation in Rhetorical
Criticism’, in Alan Gross and William Keith (eds), Rhetorical Hermeneutics: Invention and
Interpretation in the Age of Science. Albany: State University of New York Press: 195-224.
John, I.D. (1992) ‘Statistics as rhetoric in psychology’, Australian Psychologist, Vol. 27: 449.
Kennedy, George A. (1998) Comparative Rhetoric: An Historical and Cross-Cultural
Introduction. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Leff, Michael (1978) ‘In search of Ariadne’s thread: A review of the recent literature on
rhetorical theory’, Central States Speech Journal Vol. 29: 73-91.
Locke, John (1690/1979) An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Oxford: Clarendon
Press.
Murrain, P. (1968) Medieval Social Structures and the Crisis of European Tolerance
[Internet]. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Available from: net Library
<http://www.netLibrary.com/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=1&bookid=22981> [Accessed 6
March 2006].
IMPORTANT NOTE ON ESSAYS/DEADLINES –
1. Where under particular circumstances an Extension is sought, you must first
contact the 2 BA Coordinator (socpol2ba@nuigalway.ie) in advance of the
deadline. Essay Extensions may be sought in very exceptional circumstances
only (valid and certified personal, family grounds or serious medical illness at
the time of submission).
2. If handed in late, essays must be accompanied by an email to this effect or a
signed acceptance from the seminar leader, which you keep as a record.
3. If an essay is submitted late without a valid medical certificate and essay
deadline Extension, it shall incur a Late Submission Penalty of 2% off the
essay mark per day late up to and including 4 days late. Work submitted more
than 4 days late (without a valid Extension) will normally not be accepted.
4. Where relevant, deadlines will be set for second sitting submission of written
components for each module and notified through Blackboard. No extensions
will be provided beyond these deadlines. Students are responsible for meeting
these deadlines following this notification.
5. No written work will be accepted under any circumstances beyond these
dates for the second sitting submission. This is the official policy of the School.
Essay Entry Form
- Semester 2 (2BA Political Science and Sociology, Academic Year 2015/16)
Essay submission: hand in a hard copy of your Essay to your Seminar Leader at the due date for
each essay. Also electronically submit VIA Turnitin.
This form MUST be signed by the essay entrant and must accompany each essay as a
cover page. We cannot under any circumstances accept essays without this form
attached.
ESSAYS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR MARKING UNTIL AN ENTRY FORM IS
SIGNED AND SUBMITTED.
Name:
_________________________________________________
ID number:
_________________________________________________
Module Code (e.g. SP215):
__________
Title of the Module:
_________________________________________________
Essay title:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Number of pages:
__________
Bibliography attached?
q Yes
q No
I hereby certify that I understand what plagiarism is and that this essay is entirely my
own work. Neither the paper in its entirety nor parts thereof have been published
elsewhere in either paper or electronic form unless indicated through referencing. . I
understand that this work may be entered on a database to enable detection of
similarities and I give my consent to this.
______________________________
Signature
___________________________
Date