exam prep

1. Calculating your mark…
The exam is worth 60% of the module. The pass
mark for the module is 40%
Essay Mark Exam mark - To
pass (40%)
Exam mark -To
get a 2:2 (50%)
Exam mark- To
get a 2:1 (60%)
Exam mark -To
get a 1st (70%)
50 34 50 67 84
55 30 47 64 80
60 27 44 60 77
65 24 40 57 74
70 20 37 54 70
75 17 34 50 67

2. All questions are within the boundary of what
has been required of you in this module:
• Attend all lectures
• Participate in all seminars
• Do all required reading
• Participate in the Okinawa debate
… So what should I be looking at for revision?
Exam Prep 1: What do I need to know?

3. Areas for revision should reflect the requirements of the
module as a minimum:
• Attend all lectures  Understand the content of all the
lectures
• Participate in all seminars  Be able to answer all
seminar questions, use seminar slides to fill in gaps in
knowledge
• Do all required reading  Have read the required
reading for each week
• Participate in the Okinawa debate  Have done all the
research asked of you in the ‘Okinawa debate’
document on MOLE
Exam Prep 1: Areas for revision

4. The following are also recommended but are not
essential:
• Additional readings for each module found in the
course handbook
• Pursue further research around the topics, e.g
what is happening now?
• Practise using the past exam questions on MOLE
and the sample exam paper in the handbook /
create model answers
• Practice using the seminar questions / create
model answers
Exam Prep 1: Areas for revision

5. • The exam is three hours long
• There are nine questions, split into three sections
• You must answer one question from each section
SECTION A: contains three questions relating to Week 1-3. You
must answer one question from this section
SECTION B: contains three questions relating to Week 4-6. You
must answer one question from this section
SECTION C: contains three questions relating to Week 7-10.
You must answer one question from this section
Exam Prep 1: Exam format

6. Exam Prep 2: Answering the exam
questions: Planning
• When making a plan, you may find it useful to underline the key words in the
question, or to break down the main question into sub-questions.
For example:
In the post-Occupation period, Japan has played an indirect role in contributing to
security in East Asia through the US-Japan security treaty. What norms help to
explain the policies adopted? Illustrate your answer with examples.
Stay on topic!
Time period: Post- occupation
Pol/Sec/Econ: Security
Area: East Asia
Subquestions:
1. How has Japan played an indirect role in contributing to security in East Asia?
2. What is the role of the US-Japan security treaty in this?
3. What policies have been adopted?
4. What norms can help explain these policies?
5. What examples can I give?

7. • In your introduction show how you understand the question (e.g.
paraphrase) and outline how you will answer it
• Make one point, subpoint or argument per paragraph, give
evidence/examples and summarise to show how it answers the
question
• Shortish paragraphs with one or two pieces of evidence are
sufficient
• In your conclusion summarise the arguments you have made to
show that you have answered the question
• Don’t provide too much background, too much description, or
other things that the question hasn’t asked for… You have limited
time so keep a narrow focus and stay on topic.
Exam Prep 2: Answering the exam
questions: Writing your answer

8. Exam Prep 2: What is the marker
looking for?
As well as you demonstrating that you have answered the question, the exam tests
that you have met the learning outcomes of the module:
1) demonstrate knowledge of Japan's role in the world in the three dimensions of
politics, economics and security in two key sites of international activity, the
United States and East Asia
2) Apply conceptual tools to analyse how structure, agency and norms can be used
to explain Japan's international relations
3) Demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable skills,
including the ability to evaluate social scientific concepts and theories
4) Employ primary and secondary sources to present reasoned and effective
arguments in written (and oral) form
5) Pursue independent learning
6) Show critical judgement
For the best exam marks, you should demonstrate your ability to do all of these in
your answers

9. 1) demonstrate knowledge of Japan's role in the world in the three
dimensions of politics, economics and security in two key sites of
international activity, the United States and East Asia  Answer each
question using the appropriate knowledge
2) Apply conceptual tools to analyse how structure, agency and norms can
be used to explain Japan's international relations Use structure,
agency in norms in your answers whenever relevant (not just when the
question specifically asks you to)
3) Demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable
skills, including the ability to evaluate social scientific concepts and
theories form solid arguments in your questions, be aware of theories
4) Employ primary and secondary sources to present reasoned and
effective arguments in written (and oral) form  It is an exam, we
don’t expect too many sources… using a couple for each question (e.g.
Hook et al. 2012) should be doable, where you can use sources use
examples.
5) Pursue independent learning demonstrate through your answer that
you have an understanding of the relevant reading and maybe even
beyond – what is happening now?
6) Show critical judgement engage with the question, show flexibility of
thought

10. • Remember, we’re looking to see that you
understand what has been taught in this
module...
- If major aspects we have mentioned in class
are missing in a relevant question, it won’t go
unnoticed
- The main basis of this module is structure,
agency and norms, so remember to use these
where appropriate

11. Exam Prep 3: Expectations
• Introduction
– Grasp of the question
– Clear outline of scope of the essay
• Structure/Organization
– Coherence
– Development of logical argument
– Arrangement of ideas
• Conclusion
– Well-defined & recap of the important points made.
– Summary of analysis

12. Exam Prep 3: Expectations
• Use of relevant evidence
– Its an exam – don’t panic.
– Use of a couple of sources for a few statements if possible
• Critical analysis and originality
– Creative approach  imagination and flexibility of thought
– Critical engagement
• Prose/Grammar/Spelling/Syntax
– Clear and effective use of English

13. Exam Prep 3: Outstanding answers
also do this
1. Shows clear evidence of engagement with
issues and understanding of relevant reading
2. Develops a sophisticated and robust
argument
3. Shows excellent use and understanding of
relevant source materials (factual detail and
theoretical issues where necessary)

14. Recap - What is the question
asking/narrowing your focus
• When making a plan, you may find it useful to underline the key words in the question, or to break
down the main question into sub-questions.
For example:
In the post-Occupation period, Japan has played an indirect role in contributing to security in East Asia
through the US-Japan security treaty. What norms help to explain the policies adopted? Illustrate
your answer with examples.
Stay on topic!
Time period: Post- occupation
Pol/Sec/Econ: Security
Area: East Asia
Subquestions:
1. How has Japan played an indirect role in contributing to security in East Asia?
2. What is the role of the US-Japan security treaty in this?
3. What policies have been adopted?
4. What norms can help explain these policies?
5. What examples can I give?

15. Practical activity 1: Breaking down the
question
Using your chosen question:
1. Underline the key words or phrases
2. Identify the narrow focus (e.g. time period,
politics/security/economy, geographical area
etc)
3. Write down the sub-questions that you need
to answer in order to fully address the
question

16. Practical activity 1: Breaking down the
question
Outcomes
• Fully answering the question
• Staying on topic
• Narrowing focus
• Starting to make a plan
• Confidence!
You might not actually go through this process in writing
in the exam, but these are things that you should think
about.

17. Practical activity 2: Making a plan
Thinking about the previous activity:
1.
• Identify how you can answer the subquestions
• Identify your key arguments/points
• What examples (and sources) can you use?
2. Make a mini-plan which puts these in order

18. Practical activity 2: Making a plan
Outcomes:
• Getting your ideas out of your head and onto the paper
• Knowing how you will proceed with answering the
question
• Having a better idea of structure
• Developing a logical argument
Not everyone uses a plan in the exam, it is up to you
whether to do so. Remember to cross it through once you
are finished!

19. Practical activity 3: Writing an
introduction
Write a short introduction, including the
following:
1. Show that you understand the question (e.g.
paraphrase it)
2. Give us some sense of why the question is
important (this could be a brief description of
context)
3. Outline briefly how you will proceed with
answering the question

20. Practical activity 3: Writing an
introduction
Outcomes:
• Awareness of what we’re looking for in an
introduction
• Showing us that you understand the question
• Guiding us to what to expect from you answer
All exam questions should have a short introduction.
However, don’t spend too long on it, 5 minutes is
more than enough

21. Practical activity 4: structuring a
paragraph
Pick one of your arguments and construct a
main body paragraph including the following:
1. Make one or two points (and/or subpoints)
2. Give evidence/examples
3. Summarise to show how it answers the
question

22. Practical activity 4: constructing a main
body paragraph
Outcomes:
• Keeping your argument clear and concise
• Showing use of evidence
• Showing critical engagement
• Developing a logical argument
• Being on topic/answering the question
Don’t let paragraphs get too long or contain too
many points, and keep them relevant to the
question

23. Practical activity 5: Conclusion
Write a short conclusion. This should:
1. Summarise your key arguments
2. Show that you answered the question

24. Outcomes:
• Demonstrating that you answered the question
• Concluding your answer neatly
Be careful not to introduce new information in your
conclusion –this is better explored in the main body
of your essay
Don’t worry to much if you don’t have time to write
a conclusion, even a couple of sentences will suffice.
Practical activity 5: Conclusion

25. Good luck!