2nd year politics exams

Mr.Nice Guy

OK the 2nd year politics exam is tomorrow and there's one again on Thurday. Anyone have any tips on what to go over? Anything that's worth looking over for those who have left things to the last minute? (ahem)

The similar thread on history really helped me out so hopefully someone out there has some nuggets of wisdom to impart!

I'm looking at you beanyb cos I know you do politics.

beanyb

Ok, I hope I can help! So much pressure!

For tomorrow I've covered Machiavelli and Locke. If you're doing Machiavelli know the corruption stuff pretty well, because every year there seems to be a question that can be twisted to corruption if it's not on corruption specifically.

With Locke I just read through loads of it and it's pretty easy really. If you're really screwed read his section of the power of the legislative and it should get you through, hopefully!!

For IR, I've covered neo-realism, dem peace theory and interdependence. DPT and interdependence are really easy. Dont just learn neo-realism because he kind of told us that it wasnt going to be on it. I just learnt it because I'd done my essay on it and it's good for criticisms of the other theories.

Thursday, though it's a horrible subject the exam should be fairly ok because he told us what was coming up. Ontology, epistemology and methodology for the 3 main schools, though personally I'm staying away from that one! I did an essay on anti-naturalism vs naturalism and he said that'd be there too. Other things were structure vs agency and institutions vs ideas. I think that was all anyway.

For the second section he pretty much told us the question. Is the distinction between qualitative and quantitative a false dichotomy? There's a section in the book on it and it's fairly easy. If it doesnt come up I'm screwed!

Zephead

Theory
Freedom or corruption for Macheavelli

Hobbes- State of Nature or the social contract

IR
Democratic Peace Theory
Theories of Aggression
Integration Theories

Research
Naturalism vs Anti Naturalism
Structure vs. Agency
Qual vs. Quant
Research Design

Comparative
Cleavages
Families of Parties
Parliament


Best of luck with the exams!

Mr.Nice Guy

Thanks beanyb but just one question - I'm pretty good when it comes to Hobbes so I'd prefer to focus on him. Is he going to be on the exam for definite?

beanyb

Oh yeah, there's 2 questions on every theorist.

Mr.Nice Guy

Thanks again.

jazzy_jeff

Does anyone have any ideas on what would be good to study for the Post communist Russia and the non democratic regimes papers?? I keep telling myself i work better under pressure...

beanyb

Yeah those courses are really annoying alright, not to mention power, discourse and political action! Really wish I hadnt picked that one...

For non-dem regimes I've so far done totalitarianism and authoritarianism. I might do the future of non-dem regimes too but I'm not sure yet.

For Russia I really dont know, I might email him and ask because I'm totally confused about it, even though it's such an easy course!

arbeitsscheuer

Really off-topic, but here's my courses/results from 2nd Politics, Autumn 2005:
Political Theory and International Relations = 59%
Political Research = 48%
Comparative Politics = 53%
Democratic Theory = 5%
Power, Discourse, Political Action = 45%
British Politics = 56%
Tutorials = 27%

---

Overall Grade = 44% PASS

Anyway, without basking to much in the glow of gettin just 5% in an exam and somehow passing the year, this is what I crammed - I mean, studied.

Political Theory:
Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau

IR:
Neorealism

Political Research:
Naturalism vs Anti-Naturalism
Structure vs Agency
Qualitative vs Quantitative

Comparative:
Lipset&Rokkan
Electoral Systems
Party Systems

Democratic Theory:
You wouldn't take the advice of someone who got 5% in this, would you?:D

tintinr35

seem to have covered the same stuff as u Beanyb....ugggghhhhh im still kinda ****ed tho..its goin to be a long night ill tell ya that!! if i dont see u tomorrow best of luck!!!

GusherING

I was under the impression that Tobias would have a question comparing/contrasting DPT and Neo-Realism. Neo-Realism definitely won't be on its own though.

beanyb

Yeah, that's what I meant when I said it'd be useful for criticisms. Hopefully he does because that would be the world's sweetest question!

tintinr35

ya he mentioned it about 4 times in the last lecture alright, if it doesnt come up im screwed cause its all im doin!!

Mr.Nice Guy

I thought today's exam was grand. I was delighted with how I did. Beforehand I was worried about not coming up with anything to write but then I saw me oul' mate Tommy Hobbes on the paper and I was away. I was surprised at the range of choice offered this year too.

That neorealism question was handy eh?

I'm dreading Thursday though. :eek:

Jonny Arson

^ eh that's two exams in a row you've done well in Mr. ''I'm going to fail all of my exams'' Guy.... you're not living up to your reputation!

Mr.Nice Guy

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

^ eh that's two exams in a row you've done well in Mr. ''I'm going to fail all of my exams'' Guy.... you're not living up to your reputation!

I'm trying to not get too excited about things because I'm sure I'm going to be marked badly for attendance, essays etc. but I must say I'm surprised at how I've done in the actual exams. The advice given on here has been most helpful. If I am to fail at least I will have went down fighting.

tintinr35

ya that was a really fair exam everything i had preped came up....could have done really wellhad i studied more.....story of my life!!!

jazzy_jeff

Does anybody know what layout the research paper on thursday will be? is it going to be like last year with 1 long question from section A and 3 short from section B? Or like previous years with one long question on each section?

GusherING

Two sections. Answer 1 from each. Section A is on the theory, eg. ontology, epistemeology, methodology, the different paradigms (eg. Rational Choice, Structuralism etc.), Strcucture-Agency etc.

Section B is on methods: quantitative and qualitiative, triangulation, false dichotomy etc.

Todays exam was grand. I had Neo-Realism well prepared but I thought the Political Economy Essay was just too easy and tempting so I aced it!! So glad I covered it.

beanyb

It's 2 essays, one from each section. There are sample questions on blackboard.

Today's exam was pretty good alright! I did the neo-realism one, was pretty good!

Mr.Nice Guy

What can I say? I'm delighted with how today went. Chuffed to bits. I studied Structure vs Agency and quantitative versus qualitative and both were there. I just kept writing and writing.

I'm trying not to get too carried away with things as I know I left myself with an uphill batle through my lack of essays and tutorial attendance but I feel like I'm still in with a chance of avoiding failure with these exams.

Thanks again to the people on this thread for their tips, particularly beanyb.

Keep hope alive!

beanyb

Wasnt it a great paper? I was so afraid before we got it because it could have gone so badly wrong, but it went brilliantly!!

tintinr35

ya i mean i had two things studied the naturalism/anti naturalism debate and the quants and qual thing!!

they have been really fair so far no complaints anyway!!

jazzy_jeff

So... any hints for paper 3 anyone?

tintinr35

Electoral System
Votor Volatility and Voter Alignment
Clevage structures and electoral change (lipset and rokkan etc)

Mr.Nice Guy

How hard was that exam today? Janey Mac. :eek:

tintinr35

really, everything i said in my previous post came up!!! i heard a load of people say it was really hard but i didnt think it was that bad!!

what u all doin for P4??

beanyb

Yeah I didnt think it was that bad either. It's pretty much the same paper every year. My answers were pretty waffly at times though.

I'm absolutely dreading paper 4. Have no idea what to study for Post-Communist Russia even though the course was so easy. He gave no real info on what the hell kind of things he'd be asking. I even emailed him looking for a bit of help, but he was just as unhelpful! Most of Power, Discourse and Political Action went totally over my head too, so I'm kinda lost on that front too. ARGH!!

Mr.Nice Guy

Can you get notes for P4 in the Student Union? I'm thinking of going in to UCD tomorrow so I might see what I can get. I too am dreading P4.

tintinr35

in the Post communists Russia one im going to do somthing about presidential power and the constitution cause he spent ages on that one!!

Democratic theory haven a clue

Non democratic Regimes: Military dictatorships, authoritarinism vs totalinarism

im kinda ****ed too tho as ive an exam today and saturday so dnt really have time to study for it!!

Stargal

Sorry to drop in in the middle of this, but it is true that there's a 75% failure rate for 2nd year politics? My boyfriend's little brother is doing it, and he's been studying his ass off cos he's so worried about not passing it.

GusherING

stargal wrote:

Sorry to drop in in the middle of this, but it is true that there's a 75% failure rate for 2nd year politics? My boyfriend's little brother is doing it, and he's been studying his ass off cos he's so worried about not passing it.

No there isn't. Thats just stupid. That figure came from last years repeat exams, in a particular course. Of the 70 odd people who did last years Human Rights Course (or maybe it was Democratic Theory, can't really remember), about half the class failed and had to repeat in August. So we are down to 35 odd people. Of this 35 people, something like 75% failed, which amounts to 27 people alltogether. 2nd Politics has over 200 people in it. A 10% failure rate isn't especially high in my opinion. If you actually attend lectures on a regular basis and do some work, you can pass easily. But isn't that the same with any course you do in life??

tintinr35

GusherING wrote:

No there isn't. Thats just stupid. That figure came from last years repeat exams, in a particular course. Of the 70 odd people who did last years Human Rights Course (or maybe it was Democratic Theory, can't really remember), about half the class failed and had to repeat in August. So we are down to 35 odd people. Of this 35 people, something like 75% failed, which amounts to 27 people alltogether. 2nd Politics has over 200 people in it. A 10% failure rate isn't especially high in my opinion. If you actually attend lectures on a regular basis and do some work, you can pass easily. But isn't that the same with any course you do in life??

ya i agree with there, but i have been to 95% of my lectures this year and ive gotten a 2.2 in all my essays but i think that there is too much emphasis on the final exam, i really think im going to end up having to repeat in august but its not like ive been sitting on my hole doing nothing all year!!!

Chakar

Horizons pretty much solves the "emphasis" on the final exam what with modularisation and semesterisation as I'm sure you're aware.

beanyb

I'm dreading tomorrow. Help.

tintinr35

well i went over to the library to get the books yesterday and guess what......none there....so im ****ed!!! im pretty much goin to have to rely on internet stuff!!

beanyb

Yeah I cant get the non democratic regimes book. I was so desperate on friday that I bought the russia one... there's €19 I'll never see again...

Chakar

At least you won't have to repeat!!

tintinr35

id say it will be grand tho, im just goin to go wikipedia stuff and google etc cause there should be a substantial amount on the net about non dem regimes and the russia one, did u do democratic theory??

jazzy_jeff

Democratic Theory is horrible, im looking over the criticisms but cant make head nor tale of it. is there anything else I should try to cover here?

What you guys thinkin bout for Russia? and What kinda stuff can we ecpect on non democratic regimes?

Chakar

Looks like I'm gonna have to put a lot of work into Democratic Theory in 2nd year.Gonna have to concentrate on that one because a lot of people have complained about that specific course.

Mr.Nice Guy

Those who are worried should use Blackboard.

tintinr35

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Those who are worried should use Blackboard.

`there is **** all on blackboard tho

Mr.Nice Guy

tintinr35 wrote:

`there is **** all on blackboard tho

There's useful stuff under Course Documents for Dem. theory.

beanyb

I'm getting very pissed off studying for these. Power, Discourse and Political Action is ridiculously complicated, it's making my brain hurt. But what's annoying me most is that I just dont know what to do for Russia because he didnt tell us what sort of questions he'd ask. It's an easy course which is making this even more annoying!

tintinr35

do somthing on the constitution and ul be fine id say cause he spent F*UCKING ages on that,
this democratic theory is a lotta cock

tintinr35

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

There's useful stuff under Course Documents for Dem. theory.

they are only the lecture notes???

Mr.Nice Guy

tintinr35 wrote:

they are only the lecture notes???

So? If you haven't been to a lecture like myself then they're very handy.

tintinr35

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

So? If you haven't been to a lecture like myself then they're very handy.

MNG, i know who u are by the way and, dont be talking scrap, uve been to the lectures!!!

beanyb

You know who MNG is???? :eek:

jazzy_jeff

Beanyb have a look over perestroika too... it seems easy enough, thats what ive decided to do... look it up on wikipedia coz theres very little in the lecture presentations