For 9 mark questions
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For essays (25 mark questions)
| Paragraph | Point | Explain and Example | Analysis | Evaluative Link |
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Example
Question: ‘Social class remains the most important factor in determining the results of general elections.’ Analyse and evaluate this statement.
| Paragraph | Point | Explain and Example | Analysis | Evaluative Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (because) Social class has been an important factor in predicting voting behaviour, known as class alignment. | ABC1 voters have traditionally voted Conservative whereas C2DE voters have traditionally voted Labour. Between 1974 - 2010, these groups were consistently won by one of the major parties. | This has been caused by the policies of the major parties appealing to the rational self-interest of voters, with ABC1 voters preferring lower taxes as promised by the Conservatives, whereas C2DE prefer higher public spending. | (therefore) There is strong evidence that class is the best predictor of voting behaviour. |
| 2 | The C2 skilled working class has often been the key to winning elections. | Typically, the party which has won the C2 class has won the election. In 1983, the Conservative party clearly won the C2 vote 40% to 32%, whilst winning a landslide. %%C2 voters have traditionally been targeted by both Labour and Conservative due to the party audience overlap, being sensitive to both higher taxes and also reduced government spending.%% | This is because C2 workers are appealed to both public services, particularly the NHS, but also the promise of lower taxation as they earn reasonably high wages. %% This is caused by C2 workers find appealing as they will often use public services heavily, particularly the NHS, however they also have find the promise of lower taxation by the conservatives appealing as they earn reasonably high wages.%% | Therefore, the C2 class are very important in determining elections due to being floating voters who often determine who wins an election. |
| 3 | (because) In recent elections, the link between class and voting haws been broken by class dealignment. | In 2024, Labour won the most votes with 36% of ABC1 voters, and the Conservatives winning 25%. | This has been caused by change in society, with larger numbers of people now having higher levels of education, and traditional working class jobs have disappeared. Therefore, Labour has made a significant attempt to appeal to middle class voters, especially those that work in education and the NHS. | (therefore) Therefore class is no longer the most important factor as a result of class dealignment, because of the changes to society. %% There is strong evidence that class is no-longer the best predictor of voting behaviour due to changes in society resulting in class-dealignment.%% |
| 4 | Issues rather than class have dominated some elections in recent years. | 2019 In 2019, the Conservatives won primarily because of their policies on “Get Brexit Done”, ushering through on the huge Brexit divide. personal | Why was this? This was because of how notable of a change Brexit was, being highly split, furthered by parliament not willing to pass Brexit, and rather leaving it as a considerable issue. personal | Link back to question. In 2019, the outcome of the election was dominated by the electorate’s view on Brexit rather than social class. |
The level of analysis is done to a much more in-depth level due to the amount of marks awarded for it.
Conclusion: (for) Traditionally in British politics, class has been a very strong predictor. Both major parties have had strong support in either the middle class or working classes, and competed for the C2 vote which was often crucial in winning elections. (against) However, recently has become less important due to class dealignment and the increasing importance of issues such as Brexit. (judgement - against) Therefore, class has become less important and has been replaced by issues and recent events. Therefore, class is not the most important factor in determining the result of a general argument
A good conclusion sums up both sides of the argument.
The ‘Because’ Test
If ‘because’ makes logical sense before your point, it is not a point.
See your point as a conclusive reason.
The ‘Therefore’ Test
If ‘therefore’ does not make logical sense before your evaluative link, it indicates that you are not working towards a somewhat-logical reasoning.