Take-Home Exam Essay
Please answer ONE of the following essay questions in 1200-1500 words (max):
1. Political institutions grow and develop over time in response to political, economic, and social
developments. Select a Canadian political institution addressed in the course and trace its
evolution and how it might develop in the future. Be sure to connect its development to 2-3 other
Canadian political institutions.
2. David E. Smith argues in The Invisible Crown that, despite the difficulty with observing the
Crown's participation in the everyday functioning of the Canadian political system, it is the 'first
principle of Canadian government.' Why is this the case? Explain the role of the Crown in
reference to 3 other political institutions/constitutional principles.
3. Public opinion surveys in Canada show declining trust in the country's political institutions
(comparable to other Western democracies). However, the Supreme Court often ranks higher than
the Parliament of Canada. Has Canadian politics been judicialized? Should this be a concern for
Canadian parliamentary democracy? Illustrate by examining how this debate has impacted 3-4
Canadian political institutions.
4. We often talk about the Americanization of Canadian politics or presidentialization of
parliamentary democracy with the increased focus on party leaders and the prime minister. But
one could make the case that regalisation is a more appropriate descriptor of developments in the
executive branch of government. Why? Explain your reasoning by relating the office to 3 other
political institutions.
Instructions:
The essay questions are designed to test material from across the entire course.
They ask you to think about how political institutions perpetuate, relate to each
other, and evolve over time. It is important to draw connections between different
political institutions (i.e., weeks) covered throughout the semester.
The essay should use a formal, argumentative essay format with an introduction,
body sections, and a conclusion. There must be a thesis that responds to the
selected question with 2-3 supporting arguments/justifications. These supporting
arguments should be defended and explained (including at least one concrete
example as an illustration) in the body sections. Remember to define and explain
the core concepts, terms, and/or institutions used, including the institution
referenced in the question.
When drafting your essay, refer to the 5 Critical Thinking skills components, namely:
Explanation – define the targeted/core institution addressed in the essay and
other key concepts needed to understand the main and supporting arguments
Evidence – provide evidence in an organized/synthesized format to back up
the thesis
Influence of Context/Assumptions – consider whether the evidence that the
essay draws on might be shaped by certain contexts/assumptions
Author’s Position – the thesis statement and supporting arguments, plus your
own possible assumptions or context that might affect your argument
Consequences/Implications – possible consequences of the thesis and
supporting argument for the targeted institution and others in the course.
Writing style (especially succinctness and avoiding passive language),
spelling and grammar will be evaluated. This includes the essay length.
Format
Follow a standard 5-paragraph essay format, including an introduction with a
thesis statement, 2 or 3 body sections for each of the key supporting points,
and a conclusion.
The thesis should include the main argument and outline the key supporting
arguments. It does not have to be all one sentence.
Be sure to use signposting sentences that guide the reader through different
sections.
Keep the introduction and conclusion short and sweet. Avoid opening with
general statements about the world that do not directly connect to the essay.
Synthesis/Organization of Evidence
To help synthesize and organize the evidence, keep to one main idea per
paragraph. This will mean shorter paragraphs (not a whole page), but it will
make it easier for the reader to pick up the key points in the essay.
Good synthesis does more than just list off research and data but finds a way
to compare across sources and utilize information when it is most relevant to
the argument.
Always directly connect the evidence to the paragraph’s central item or idea.
This ensures that it is relevant and used at the appropriate time rather than
going off on a tangent. Tangents distract from the argument and undermine
the organization and structure.
Citation
Cite anything that is not taken from course material (textbook or any
readings). Quotes must be cited, no matter where they come from.
Repetition
Avoid unnecessary repetition at all costs. However, repetition to remind the
reader of the thesis statement and including transition sentences is
encouraged as signposting.
Be sure to logically think through each of the supporting arguments to make
sure they are truly separate points rather than closely related arguments that
cannot stand on their own.
Quotes
Only quote if something cannot be said better. Otherwise avoid quotes as
they generally add unnecessary length. A good use of a quote requires
introducing it, inserting it, and then connecting it back to the idea discussed
in the paragraph.
Paraphrasing – putting content into your own words – shows greater
comprehension.
Quoting without citing the source is plagiarism. If the quote is from a source
with page numbers, the citation must include the page number.
