Politica Pshycology

Essay  Writing   Introductory  paragraph     The  task  is  simple,  but  the  execu2on  can  be  hard     •  Specify  the  mo2va2ng  ques2on;  highlight  the  key  theme  up  front  

•  Explain  how  the  issue  ma@ers—what  is  at  stake?  

•  Provide  some—but  not  too  much—context  

•  State  the  thesis  clearly  (“I  will  argue  …”)     Do  not  do  the  following:   •  Broad  generaliza2ons—e.g.,  ”all  blue-­‐skinned  doctors  are  …”   •  Trite,  sweeping  statements—e.g.,  ”since  the  dawn  of  2me  …”   •  Big  words  rather  than  simpler  ones  —e.g.,”evil,  not  maleficent”  

Essay  Writing   Introductory  paragraph     What   limits   should   there   be   on   the   exercise   of   power   by   government?   John   Stuart   Mill   offers   one   answer   to   this   important   ques2on.   He   argues   that   government   should   only   coerce  ci2zens  if  the  goal  is  to  prevent  them  from  commiTng   harm   against   others.   Accordingly,   government   cannot   use   its   power   to   force   ci2zens   into   performing   certain   du2es   or   accep2ng   certain   poli2cal   views.   This   so-­‐called   harm   principle   forms  the  founda2on  of  Mill’s  liberal  poli2cal  thought.  However,   I  will  argue  in  this  essay  that  this  view  is  problema2c  for  three   reasons:  Mill   leaves  the  concept  of  “harm”  undefined,  accepts   at   least   implicitly   that   certain   harms   are   acceptable,   and   overlooks  how  government  some2mes  must  violate  this  rule  for   the  greater  good.  

Essay  Writing   Clear  ques9on  and  theme  given  early     What   limits   should   there   be   on   the   exercise   of   power   by   government?   John   Stuart   Mill   offers   one   answer   to   this   important   ques2on.   He   argues   that   government   should   only   coerce  ci2zens  if  the  goal  is  to  prevent  them  from  commiTng   harm   against   others.   Accordingly,   government   cannot   use   its   power   to   force   ci2zens   into   performing   certain   du2es   or   accep2ng   certain   poli2cal   views.   This   so-­‐called   harm   principle   forms  the  founda2on  of  Mill’s  liberal  poli2cal  thought.  However,   I  will  argue  in  this  essay  that  this  view  is  problema2c  for  three   reasons:  Mill   leaves  the  concept  of  “harm”  undefined,  accepts   at   least   implicitly   that   certain   harms   are   acceptable,   and   overlooks  how  government  some2mes  must  violate  this  rule  for   the  greater  good.  

Essay  Writing   Some  context  provided     What   limits   should   there   be   on   the   exercise   of   power   by   government?   John   Stuart   Mill   offers   one   answer   to   this   important   ques2on.   He   argues   that   government   should   only   coerce  ci2zens  if  the  goal  is  to  prevent  them  from  commiTng   harm   against   others.   Accordingly,   government   cannot   use   its   power   to   force   ci2zens   into   performing   certain   du2es   or   accep2ng   certain   poli2cal   views.   This   so-­‐called   harm   principle   forms  the  founda2on  of  Mill’s  liberal  poli2cal  thought.  However,   I  will  argue  in  this  essay  that  this  view  is  problema2c  for  three   reasons:  Mill   leaves  the  concept  of  “harm”  undefined,  accepts   at   least   implicitly   that   certain   harms   are   acceptable,   and   overlooks  how  government  some2mes  must  violate  this  rule  for   the  greater  good.  

Essay  Writing   Statement  as  to  why  this  ma>ers     What   limits   should   there   be   on   the   exercise   of   power   by   government?   John   Stuart   Mill   offers   one   answer   to   this   important   ques2on.   He   argues   that   government   should   only   coerce  ci2zens  if  the  goal  is  to  prevent  them  from  commiTng   harm   against   others.   Accordingly,   government   cannot   use   its   power   to   force   ci2zens   into   performing   certain   du2es   or   accep2ng   certain   poli2cal   views.   This   so-­‐called   harm   principle   forms  the  founda2on  of  Mill’s  liberal  poli2cal  thought.  However,   I  will  argue  in  this  essay  that  this  view  is  problema2c  for  three   reasons:  Mill   leaves  the  concept  of  “harm”  undefined,  accepts   at   least   implicitly   that   certain   harms   are   acceptable,   and   overlooks  how  government  some2mes  must  violate  this  rule  for   the  greater  good.  

Essay  Writing   Clear  thesis  statement     What   limits   should   there   be   on   the   exercise   of   power   by   government?   John   Stuart   Mill   offers   one   answer   to   this   important   ques2on.   He   argues   that   government   should   only   coerce  ci2zens  if  the  goal  is  to  prevent  them  from  commiTng   harm   against   others.   Accordingly,   government   cannot   use   its   power   to   force   ci2zens   into   performing   certain   du2es   or   accep2ng   certain   poli2cal   views.   This   so-­‐called   harm   principle   forms  the  founda2on  of  Mill’s  liberal  poli2cal  thought.  However,   I  will  argue  in  this  essay  that  this  view  is  problema2c  for  three   reasons:  Mill   leaves  the  concept  of  “harm”  undefined,  accepts   at   least   implicitly   that   certain   harms   are   acceptable,   and   overlooks  how  government  some2mes  must  violate  this  rule  for   the  greater  good.  

Essay  Writing   Body  paragraphs     Define  key  terms  and  theories     Flesh  out  various  aspects  of  your  argument  (logical  or  empirical)     •  One  idea  per  paragraph  

•  The  idea  of  each  paragraph  should  be  clear  by  the  second  sentence  (at   the  very  latest  

•  The  last  sentence  should  transi2on  smoothly  and  logically  before  the   next  paragraph  

  Do  the  following:   •  Avoid  the  passive  voice—e.g,  “Jack  was  thrown  the  ball  by  Jill.”   •  Be  precise—don’t  waste  2me  making  a  point