Assignment 1 – Essay (30%)
Maximum length: 1,500 words (Including footnotes, but excluding references)
Typewritten with line spacing of 1.5, 12 point font size and margins no less than 2 cm, consistent formatting and referencing style.
TOPIC:
Integrating science and politics in development policy: challenges and innovations
With the above topic in consideration, you will need to formulate a clear and specific aim of your essay which gives you a specific angle in which you will craft your arguments. This will be followed by several sub-aims that reflect the aim of the essay. In developing an essay, for instance, you might like to employ one of the following strategies: a) identify specific problem area within the given essay topic drawing on materials from one or more seminars and discussion modules of the course; b) identify various conceptual aspects of the problem and locate relevant literature, c) undertake review of the literature; d) design 3-5 sections (plus brief introduction and conclusion sections) of the essay and prepare a draft for each of them; e) revise the essay and finalise.
The essay is about critical analysis of literature to develop arguments, and it should demonstrate your understanding and application of concepts and principles learnt in this course. It should involve critical analysis and application of material and not simply be a regurgitation of material provided in the readings. The readings in the course should be a starting point for further substantial research. This is an excellent opportunity for you to foster your own interest areas with substantial research within the above topic area. Some theoretical/conceptual literature that you review in this assignment can also be used as a foundation for the next assignment – policy case study report. It must be completely your own work. Ideas and material drawn from the work of others must be fully acknowledged.
