Question 1
Question: ‘Media support is crucial for achieving success in general elections.’ Analyse and evaluate this statement.
| Paragraph | Point | Explain and Example | Analysis | Evaluative Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Provides legitimacy for a policy or issue | Scottish Independence – 84% turnout – 45% Yes / 55% No | Significance: high turnout provides legitimacy, showing people approve or reject change clearly. | Referendums do enhance democracy – legitimacy resolves issues long-term and reflects public will. |
| 2 | Increases participation | Good Friday Agreement – 80% turnout / Brexit – 72% turnout | Important issues drive enthusiasm and participation, giving people a say beyond elections. | Referendums do enhance democracy – encourage engagement, enthusiasm, and higher turnout. |
| 3 | Oversimplifies complex issues | Brexit – Leave/Remain | Voters may not understand complexities – binary choice oversimplifies – can polarise and divide. | Referendums do not enhance democracy – lack of understanding undermines legitimacy and creates division. |
| 4 | Tyranny of the majority | Brexit – 52/48, major effect | Narrow result means almost half disagree – major national change on small margin. | Referendums do not enhance democracy – majority can dominate minority views, leading to instability. |
Class Version
| Paragraph | Point | Explain and Example | Analysis | Evaluative Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Presentation of poltical leaders | 1997 Blair (young and Telegenic) | Significance - elections become more presidential, focus on Leader and how they present where | Focus on individual makes media presentation more important |
| 2 | Campaigns and advertising have a huge impact | 1983 Thatcher had support of Sun consistent on Labour (“looney left”) | Major parties benefit from coverage Media backing can be supportive of a party - biasing/influencing voters | Media is not neutral It can influence and persuade voters |
| 3 | Decline of traditional media | Newspapers and TV Sun readership This is a good one; at its peak, the Sun had approx. 4m readers daily, now it has approx. 2m | Fewer voters see coverage so they have lesser influence Social media | The role of traditional media is declining |
| 4 | Issues | 2019 Brexit | Voters vote in their self-interest and rational choice | Other factors such as issues or primacy are more significant |
Minimum Conclusion Requirements:
- A sentence summarising one side
- A sentence summarising the other side
- A sentence giving a clear reason for why one argument is more convincing
- Avoid making it personal/‘directed’ from the first-person
- A sentence making a judgement (RTQ)
Conclusion: The media is still important because elections are more presidential than they were in their nature, and the parties rely on media coverage to boost their campaigns and persuade voters. Decline, other factors such as issues - people acting further in their own self-interests (rational choice). The media remains crucial because of how much it still influences people - despite the decline in traditional media, there has been a steep incline in social media, which traditional media feeds into - being much more accessible and free to access.
Other against: the media is becoming less crucial due to fewer voters viewing traditional media, resulting in lesser influence.*
Question 2
Question: ‘Voting at elections should only be seen as one way of measuring political participation.’ Analyse and evaluate this statement.
| Paragraph | Point | Explain and Example | Analysis | Evaluative Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Referendums increase legitimacy | Shows participation and public backing for democratic decisions | High engagement reinforces trust in political system | Referendums do enhance democracy – higher participation = stronger legitimacy |
| 2 | Other forms of participation exist | Petitions, protests, party membership | Provides different ways for citizens to engage, not just through referendums | Referendums aren’t the only way to enhance democracy – alternative participation can be equally valuable |
| 3 | Elections remain key democratic participation | Regular, formal and decisive - directly elect representatives | Elections provide accountability and representation beyond single issues | Referendums do not replace democracy through elections – both necessary for balance |
| 4 | Online participation (e-petitions) increases awareness | E.g. Revoke Article 50 – 8 million signatures | Raises awareness and discussion, even if not legally binding | Referendums partly enhance democracy – awareness doesn’t always translate into action |
Class Version
| Paragraph | Point | Explain and Example | Analysis | Evaluative Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voting legitimacy | |||
| 2 | Purest form (directly effects government) | |||
| 3 | Social media can affect voting | |||
| 4 | Party membership |
Conclusion: Voting is the only valid form of participation as it is critical to legitimating decisions made in representative democracies, and can affect the outcome of elections. Other forms of participation have an impact … (i.e., party membership, must include) as parties cannot function without members and social media can engage who otherwise would not think about politics. %%Not the only form as others have an impact on legitimacy, not just given at elections as citizens should participate regularly.%%
%% Other forms of participation are not as effective, as they do not directly affect government. However, social media and party membership can influence voting behaviour. Overall, voting remains the most important form of political participation as it is the only way to directly affect government. %%
Question 3
Question: ‘Party policies and manifestos are of decisive importance in the winning or losing of general elections.’ Analyse and evaluate this statement.
| Paragraph | Point | Explain and Example | Analysis | Evaluative Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Class alignment influences voting more than manifestos | ABC1 voters tend to vote Conservative; DE voters tend to vote Labour | Long-term social alignment remains significant in determining election outcomes | Party manifestos are not always decisive - class-based loyalties still strongly influence voting patterns |
| 2 | Tactical voting shows manifestos can have a negative impact | Voters may vote against a manifesto they dislike rather than for one they agree with | Highlights how manifestos can alienate voters and shift outcomes indirectly | Party manifestos can influence results, but often through opposition rather than support |
| 3 | Party leadership can outweigh manifesto content | E.g. Tony Blair (Labour) – popular, 43% vote; John Major (Conservative) – unpopular, 30% | Charismatic leadership and personality often matter more to voters than specific policies | Party manifestos are less decisive than leadership image in determining electoral success |
| 4 | Rational choice theory – voters choose based on self-interest | People support parties whose manifestos best suit their personal needs | Reflects short-term, issue-based voting where manifestos guide decisions | Party manifestos can be decisive when voters engage rationally with policy content |