Higher Modern Studies analysis help

Hi! I'm currently a higher modern studies student and would really appreciate advice on analysis.
I enjoy modern studies, love it, and find politics and social issues really interesting (wanting to study LLB law at uni), but the way the exam is set out is really taking the fun out of it. I know I'm far from the first person to scrutinise the SQA for having odd exam requirements.
I am fine at revising knowledge, facts, evidence, statistics, but when I ask people or my teacher for advice on analysis, I often just get told- 'you should know how. Just think about the why!' I already consistently think about 'the why', what impacts issues will have, how a factor links to a question, is it significant, did it have success, and so on. However, sometimes, when I do this, I can end up writing a whole 5-line paragraph size analysis section, and not get a single mark from my teacher. This worries me a LOT for my exam. I can't tell if those points would actually get analysis, and if my teacher is just a really strict marker (however she is an SQA marker), or if I'm falling short, for some reason.
To add further struggle, I'm a high-functioning autistic person that is often described as direct and to the point. Not exactly the best type of person for in-depth analysing societal issues, but I try my hardest. But I feel like there is just something about analysing that I am just not getting despite sometimes feeling really good about what I write.
I would really appreciate it if anyone has any ideas or has found successful methods for developing, and particularly, revising analysis. I already write PEEAAEL structure paragraphs and break them down into bullet points, and then I put those onto flashcards to try and remember the key components of my analysis, like key words, the overall point, and just generally a smaller version of what I want to say. But sometimes this feels tedious and like my head is about to burst. I am totally lost for analysis and feel like I am getting nowhere.
Could anyone suggest methods for creating and revising analysis that have worked for them?

Reply 1

jasmineva3128

Hi. I'm also taking Higher Modern Studies this year, and I've been getting full marks in my essays, so hopefully I can help.

I'm going to give an example of point, evidence, analysis just because I feel like that will be easiest in order to make it make sense. At my school we use the PEAPEAC structure (point, evidence, analysis, point (which is often a however), evidence, analysis, conclusion).

P: One way that US citizens can participate in the democratic process is through voting in elections, such as county and federal elections.
K: For example, in the 2024 US presidential election, around 72 million US citizens voted for Harris whilst approximately 77 million US citizens voted for Trump.
A: This shows that US citizens have the ability to vote if they wish to and exercise this right, even if many US citizens choose not to vote in elections as they have the ability to.

If you would like another example then feel free to ask me.

I'm also autistic and I struggle with not having clear feedback or next-steps, so I understand your frustration.

I hope this helps, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask me. 😊

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