The Ultimate Thread for AQA A2 Government and Politics; Gov 5 and Gov 8

I only one wrote one counter-argument that said pressure groups were not getting too powerful in part 1c. The rest of the argument was me basically saying how they are getting too powerful.

for 1b i only wrote a couple of paragraphs about tactics and didn't even talk about the executive. For one bit i wrote about how they lobby judges decisions but the argument sucked as i couldn't think of the developments.

FFS.

They were both okay actually. The questions were fairly varied and quite straightforward - now I hope that translate into a good grade *fingers crossed*.

On Gov4 I did question 3, and on Gov7 I did question 4, what about you? How did you find it in general?

**** it, i'm doin participation and representation for gov 8. My teacher gave me some top brass notes for it.

**** it, i'm doin participation and representation for gov 8. My teacher gave me some top brass notes for it.

I need to type them out, bear with me, we're all agreed on doing participation and representation?

ok, what is this module basically about? It's been a long time since i thought about this so i want this to be clear. Is it basically applying theories and drawing on knowledge from 2 years of study to prove them?

Hi guys, sorry to go back to GOV5 but Van der Zak, if I could borrow your thoughts. I also did the same essay question as you. I tried to incorporate both discussion over the bit of the question that said 'all though both parties lack a coherent set of beliefs' and the 'dominance in politics of two main parties'. I wasn't sure where they wanted me to focus in the essay. So I hope I managed to do it without it appearing to be an erratic essay. It was like an extensive party strength and party weakness essay but .. not like one at all. Erm, not sure how to explain it. Essentially, how did you tackle the question is what I am asking .

I sensed the entire exam hall collectively **** themselves when we all read the word Initiative in 1a. 1b and 1c were good but I think I over did it and had to rush with mad writing skills to have enough time for the optional essay question! Like you Steve, I don't think I did enough counter arguments in 1c. I included a big chunk near the end where I critically analysed the power and influence they have and worded some sense of counter argument into my conclusion a little too. I don't think that's enough! Nor in 1b, but I am less bothered about 1b as it's a 12 marker and the demand to be unbiased never seemed as strong as the demand to knowledge.

Right! I am done moaning now. Haha!

Oh and for GOV8, I am definitely doing culture. I've ploughed too much time into culture over the past week or so not to do it now. I just feel much more comfortable with it.

Oh x2 - Does anyone know where I can find a sample of work of a GOV8 essay (ideally culture) so I can see the level of writing and critical analysis that really hits the top barrier? I started of confident and am now quite nervous about this exam.

Okay, I'm really done now :P.

Yeah, I need an overall A to get into Uni most likely unless by some magical fluke that will break the laws of maths and get me a B in Physics from more UMS than my summer exams.

edit: Thanks Van, I did pretty much the same as you but opted to include only half the third party stuff for lack of bad timing on my behalf, even though I knew all the examples you gave. I wish I didn't waffle so much in Section 1.

But, seeing as we talked about similar stuff, I'm a lot more reassured!

GOV8 here we come .

Here is stuff that we have to know for participation and representation:

Definitions of key terms including:
Democracy (direct and indirect)
Participation
Representation and representative government)
Delegate
Mandate

Theories of representation
Burkean
Microcosmic
Delegate
Advocate
Mandate
Virtual

Theories of participation:
Pluralist, Neo-Pluralist and Hyper-pluralist)
Liberal, Neo-Liberal and Liberal-democratic
Marxist and neo-Marxist




Thats the quick version, I've got a lot more i want to share. Come on, chip in.
I want to see an A grade answer, thats the top priority at the minute.

How about electoral reform? There is current discussion to adopt a PR system, will that increase participation and will that mean we as a people are better represented?

Talk about voting behaviour in the US and talk about there low turn out, could be due to 'democratic overload' or just difficulties in registering themselves.. talk about the methods that have been introduced to tackle this.