essay prep

1. Essay Preparation
• Why are we writing this essay?
• What are the requirements?
• How is it assessed?
• How should I answer the questions?

2. Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module you will be able to
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.

3. Essay Requirements
The deadline for the essay is 15:00 on Tuesday 26th April 2016. It is worth
40% of your grade
Requirements Checklist:
 2500 words (+/- 10%)
 In-text references
 Proper footnotes (where appropriate)
 Bibliography
 Use cover sheet (available on MOLE)
 Cover sheet/first page must show: Module name and title, your
registration number (not your name), essay title, word count
 Student registration number must be on every page
 Electronic copy submitted via Turnitin
 Paper copy submitted to SEAS office
**Submission details can be found in the module handbook**
SEAS ask that you use http://library.lincoln.ac.uk/learning-teaching/referencing/
As a guide for referencing

4. Assessment
• Introduction
• Conclusion
• Use of Relevant Evidence
• Critical Analysis and Originality
• Structure and Organization
• Style, Grammar, Spelling, Syntax
• Referencing (includes Bibliography)

5. First
70-
II.1
60-69
II.2
50-59
Third
45-49
Pass
40-44
Fail
0-39
Introduction
Conclusion
Use of Relevant Evidence
Critical Analysis & Originality
Structure and Organization
Style, Grammar, Spelling, Syntax
Referencing
Summary Assessment
On the basis of the above criteria, the strengths of this work are…
Areas for improvement are…

6. Approaching the Questions
• What is the question asking?
• Identify the main topic and discussion areas
• Is the question broad? Do you need choose a specific area
to address in detail?
• Do you need a case study? Do you need more than one
case study to illustrate difference?
• Identify the points and arguments that you can make
• Read the required and suggested reading and beyond this
• Has anything changed since what is in the reading?
• Can you find anything (figures etc) that are more recent?
• Be careful to keep it academic rather than journalistic
• Make a plan – we’re happy to look over it for you!

7. 1. Why have the metaphors of Japan as an economic giant
but military pigmy been used to characterize Japan?
2. What is the utility of structure, agency and norms for
understanding Japan’s international relations?
3. How has Japan’s economic policy towards the United
States changed in the postwar period?
4. Why did trade conflicts arise between Japan and the
United States?
5. How can structure, agency and norms be used to explain
Japan’s security relations with the United States?
Choose one essay title…

8. 6. How can structure, agency and norms be used to explain
Japan’s economic relations with East Asia?
7. How can structure, agency and norms be used to explain
Japan’s political relations with China?
8. How should Japan deal with the increasing challenges of
balancing between the US and China?
9. To what extent can Japan’s response to the War against
Terrorism be seen as a fundamental shift in Japan’s foreign
policy?
10. What are the implications for Japanese security policy of
the current Abe Shinzō administration?