Hello! In this article you will see a number of essays written for the maximum score according to all criteria of this year’s Unified State Exam. If you want to learn how to write an essay on society, I have written an article for you that reveals all aspects of doing this work
Political Science Essay
“Silent citizens are ideal subjects for an authoritarian ruler and a disaster for democracy” (Roald Dahl)
In his statement, Roald Dahl touches on the problem of the dependence of the level of political participation of citizens on the current regime in the state. Undoubtedly, this statement does not lose its relevance to this day, because the activity with which people take part in the life of the country is directly related to its basic foundations and laws. Moreover, this issue can be considered based on both the realities of a democratic society and an authoritarian one.
Theoretical argument
The meaning of Dahl's words is that the lack of developed civic consciousness plays into the hands of rulers within an authoritarian regime, but has a negative impact on the state, where the main power is concentrated in the hands of society. I completely share the point of view of the author of the statement, because we can always find examples of this both in the past and at the present time. And in order to prove the significance of Dahl’s statement, it is worth first considering it from a theoretical point of view.
In itself, political participation is nothing more than a set of actions taken by ordinary members of the political system in relation to its “top” in order to influence the latter. These actions can be expressed both in the usual reactions of citizens to any changes, in people’s speeches on various channels, websites, radio stations and other media, the creation of various social movements, and in participation in ongoing elections and referendums. In addition, political participation can be classified according to the number of people involved (individual and collective), compliance with laws (legitimate and illegitimate), activity of participants (active and passive), etc.
Civil society receives the greatest freedom within the framework of a democratic regime, the main characteristic of which is the concentration of all power in the hands of the people. The freedoms of citizens are significantly limited in the realities of an authoritarian society due to the constant government surveillance of citizens. A completely civil society is controlled by the state within the framework of totalitarianism.
As a first example confirming Dahl’s point of view, we can cite a well-known historical fact. During the so-called “Thaw”, the Soviet Union under the leadership of N.S. Khrushchev moved from Stalin's totalitarian regime to an authoritarian one. Undoubtedly, the dominance of one party continued to exist, but at the same time freedom of speech was significantly expanded, many repressed people were returned to their homeland. The state relied on the support of the population, partially increasing the range of its rights and opportunities. This directly illustrates the interaction between civil society and the state apparatus under an authoritarian regime.
The next example confirming Dahl’s position could be the event that was widely covered two years ago in the media – the annexation of Crimea to Russia. As you know, a referendum was held on the peninsula (the highest opportunity for the expression of the will of the people within the framework of democracy), which showed the desire of the Crimeans to join the Russian Federation. Residents of the peninsula expressed their opinions as representatives of civil society, thus influencing the future policies of the democratic state.
To summarize, I want to say that Roald Dahl incredibly accurately reflected in his statement the relationship between civil society and the state.
In addition, before reading this article, I further recommend that you familiarize yourself with the video tutorial, which reveals all aspects of the mistakes and difficulties of applicants in the second part of the Unified State Exam.
Essay on Sociology
“A citizen who has a share of power should act not for personal gain, but for the common good.” (B.N. Chicherin)
In his statement B.N. Chicherin touches on the problem of the essence of power and the ways of its influence on society. Without a doubt, this issue remains relevant to this day, because since time immemorial there have been relationships between those in power and ordinary people. This problem can be considered from two sides: influencing the authorities for the sake of one’s personal benefit, or for the benefit of many people.
Theoretical argument
The meaning of Chicherin’s words is that people with power should use it to solve the problems of society, and not to achieve some personal needs. Without a doubt, I fully share the author's point of view, since we can find many examples of it, both in the past and at the present time. However, before this we should understand the theoretical component of Chicherin’s words.
What is power? This is the ability of one person or group of people to impose their opinion on others, to force them to obey. Within the state, political power is one of its main elements, capable of imposing certain opinions and laws on citizens through legal and political norms. One of the key features of power is the so-called “legality” - the legality of its existence and the actions it carries out.
What can be the source of power? Firstly, this is authority - recognition by the people of the ruler, and secondly, charisma. Also, power can be based both on certain knowledge that its representatives have, and on their wealth. There are cases when people come to power using brute force. This often happens through the violent overthrow of the current government.
Examples for revealing criterion K3
As a first example illustrating Chicherin’s point of view, we can cite the work of A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter". In this book we can clearly observe how Emelyan Pugachev, despite his position, does not refuse help to all members of his army. The false Peter III frees all his supporters from serfdom, grants them freedom, thus using his power to support many people.
In order to give the following example, it is enough to turn to the history of Russia in the 18th century. Alexander Menshikov, an associate of Emperor Peter I, used his high position for personal enrichment. He used government money to achieve his personal needs, which had nothing to do with solving the pressing problems of an ordinary resident of Russia at that time.
Thus, this example clearly illustrates the use of power by a person not to help society, but to fulfill his own desires.
To summarize, I want to say that B.N. Chicherin incredibly accurately reflected in his statement two contradictory ways in which a person uses his power, the essence of the latter and its methods of influencing society.
Second work in political science
“Politics is essentially power: the ability to achieve a desired result by any means” (E. Heywood)
In his statement, E. Heywood touches on the problem of the true essence of power within politics. Undoubtedly, the relevance of the author’s words is not lost to this day, because one of the main features of power is its ability to use any means to achieve a goal. This statement can be considered both from the point of view of the cruel methods of carrying out the government’s plans, and from the side of more democratic methods.
Theoretical argument
Heywood's point is that political power has an unlimited range of ways in which it can impose its opinions on other people. I completely share the author’s point of view, since you can find many different examples that serve as proof of his words. However, first it is worth understanding the theoretical component of Heywood’s statement.
What is power? This is the ability to influence people, to impose your opinion on them. Political power, characteristic exclusively of the institution of the state, is capable of exercising this influence with the help of legal and state methods. The so-called “legality”, i.e. the legitimacy of power is one of its main criteria. There are three types of legitimacy: charismatic (people's trust in a certain person or group of people), traditional (people following the authorities based on traditions and customs) and democratic (based on the compliance of the elected government with the principles and foundations of democracy).
The main sources of power can be: charisma, authority, strength, wealth or knowledge, which is possessed by the ruler or a group of people in power. That is why only the state, due to the concentration of political power, has a monopoly on the use of force. This contributes not only to the fight against lawbreakers, but also as a way of imposing a certain opinion on citizens.
Examples for revealing criterion K3
As the first example illustrating the process of political power achieving its goals within the history of Russia, we can cite the period of the reign of I.V. Stalin. It was at this time that the USSR was characterized by mass repressions, the purpose of which was to strengthen the authority of the authorities and suppress anti-Soviet sentiments in society. In this case, the authorities used the most brutal methods to achieve what they needed. Thus, we see that the authorities did not skimp on methods for achieving their goals.
The next example is a situation that is now widely covered in the world media. During the presidential race in the United States, candidates try to win over voters to their side without using force. They attend numerous television programs, speak in public, and conduct special campaigns. Thus, presidential candidates also use the full power available to them, trying to win the US population to their side.
To summarize, I want to say that E. Heywood’s statement is incredibly accurate and clearly reflects the essence of power as such, revealing all its main aspects.
Essay on political science for maximum score
“Government is like fire—a dangerous servant and a monstrous master.” (D. Washington)
In his statement, George Washington touched upon the issue of the relationship between civil society and the state. Undoubtedly, his words are relevant to this day, because in any state there is a constant dialogue between its “top” and citizens. This issue can be considered both from the point of view of a positive dialogue between the government and the people, and from a negative point of view.
Theoretical argument
The meaning of Washington's words is that the state reacts completely differently to certain social unrest, in some cases trying to resolve them peacefully, and in other cases using force to do this. I completely share the point of view of the first president of the United States, since confirmation of his words can be found both by turning to history and by looking at the current situation in the world. In order to prove the significance of Washington's words, it is first worth considering them from a theoretical point of view.
What is civil society? This is the sphere of the state, not directly under its control and consisting of the inhabitants of the country. Elements of civil society can be found in many areas of society. For example, within the social sphere, such elements will be the family and non-state media. In the political sphere, the main element of civil society is political parties and movements that express the opinion of the people.
If the residents of the state want to influence the government, they try to influence it in one way or another. This process is called political participation. Within its framework, people can express their thoughts directly by contacting special government bodies, or indirectly by participating in rallies or public speeches. And it is precisely such manifestations of civil sentiment that force the state to respond.
Examples for revealing criterion K3
The first example that can clearly illustrate the reluctance of the state to listen to the population of the country is the era of the reign of I.V. Stalin in the Soviet Union. It was at this time that the authorities began to carry out mass repressions designed to almost completely suppress any activity of civil society. Everyone who expressed disagreement with the current course of development of the country, or spoke unflatteringly about its “top”, were repressed. Thus, the state represented by I.V. Stalin ignored the manifestations of the will of the people, establishing his total control over the latter.
The next example is a situation typical of modern political science. We will, of course, talk about the annexation of the Crimea peninsula to the Russian Federation. As you know, during a general referendum - the highest way to express the will of the people in democratic countries - it was decided to return the peninsula to the Russian Federation. Thus, civil society influenced the further policy of the state, which in turn did not turn away from the people, but began to act based on their decision.
Thus, I want to say that the words of D. Washington incredibly accurately and clearly reflect the whole essence of the relationship between the state and the actions of civil society.
Essay on social studies for 5 points: sociology
“To make people good citizens, they must be given the opportunity to exercise their rights as citizens and perform their duties as citizens.” (S. Smaile)
In his statement, S. Smaile touches on the problem of people realizing their rights and responsibilities. Undoubtedly, his words remain relevant to this day, because it is in a modern society, within the framework of a democratic regime, that people can fully realize their rights and responsibilities. This statement can be considered both from the point of view of the level of freedoms of citizens within the framework of a rule of law state, and within a totalitarian state.
The meaning of S. Smaile’s words is that the level of legal consciousness of citizens, just like the level of peace in the country itself, directly depends on what rights and freedoms are granted to the people. I fully share the author’s point of view, since for the successful development of a state it really needs to rely on the support of the population. However, in order to confirm the relevance of Smaile’s statement, it is first worth considering it from a theoretical point of view.
Theoretical argument
So, what is the rule of law? This is a country in which the rights and freedoms of its inhabitants are of the highest value. It is within the framework of such a state that civic consciousness is most developed, and the attitude of citizens towards the authorities is mostly positive. But who are the citizens? These are individuals who are connected to the state through certain mutual rights and obligations that they are both obliged to fulfill to each other. The main duties and rights of citizens that they must observe are written in the Constitution - the highest legal act that sets the foundations for the life of the entire country.
Within a democratic regime, the rights and freedoms of citizens are most highly respected, since they are nothing other than the main source of power in countries with such a regime. This is a unique feature of democratic countries, the analogues of which cannot be found not in totalitarian regimes (where all power strictly controls other spheres of society), not in authoritarian ones (where power is concentrated in the hands of one person or party, despite even a certain presence of civil liberties and rights in people).
Examples for revealing criterion K3
A well-known fact from world political science can serve as a first example that can clearly demonstrate the authorities’ lack of desire to listen to the citizens of the country. Augusto Pinochet, a Chilean politician, came to power as a result of a military coup and established his totalitarian rule in the state. Thus, he did not listen to the opinions of citizens, limiting their rights and freedoms through force. Soon this policy bore fruit, leading the country to a state of crisis. This clearly demonstrates the impact of the lack of political rights and freedoms of people on the effectiveness of their activities.
The next example that will clearly demonstrate the desire of the authorities to make contact with citizens and take into account their rights and responsibilities will be our country. As you know, the Russian Federation is a legal state, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the country. Moreover, it is the Constitution of the Russian Federation that specifies all fundamental human rights and freedoms, which under no circumstances are subject to limitation. Ideological pluralism, coupled with the positioning of human rights and freedoms as the highest values, perfectly illustrates a state that is ready to listen to the opinions of its citizens and treats them with respect.
To summarize, I want to say that S. Smail incredibly clearly reflected in his statement the essence of the relationship between the state and its citizens
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Essay or composition? What is the correct name for task 29 of the Unified State Exam in social studies? It would seem, what's the difference? But no, the meaning also depends on the name, so I suggest you think a little about this topic and give an example!
Essay or composition?
We have already discussed with you the features of the genre. In general, it is a relatively short independent essay that requires the graduate to fulfill the assessment criteria from (task 29).
To begin with, let us recall what they want to see from a graduate as a result of writing an essay:
At the same time, this task must be completed as concisely as possible, in line with approximately the following recommendations:
1. Write as briefly as possible ✍
2. The examples are not illustrative, they only suggest a new thought;
3. The terms that we reveal are taken directly from the quote;
4. At the same time, we continue to apply information from the theory and terms (even without revealing them) further in the text;
5. We use all possible sources of information for examples on K3;
6. We try to see and reflect as many different aspects (views) as possible on the problem raised by the author;
7. And, for starters, just to see her...
Why short? Let me give you an example from real work on the Unified State Exam 2017, when a graduate certainly aspires to the maximum (5 out of 5 possible points) for this assignment, I just... didn’t have time to completely rewrite the work into a clean copy. The time (and this is 3 hours 55 minutes!!!) is up... At the same time, by this moment the first two criteria had been fulfilled with maximum scores, it was still necessary to write the actual argument.
Let's look at this essay. At the same time, we note that, perhaps, the graduate might not have enough for admission.
And here is the essay itself... On two sheets, and this is only its logical middle...
Optimal essay
Now let’s publish our essay, which, on the one hand, seems optimal in light of meeting the FIPI criteria, but, on the other hand, has raised questions among the competent. It is dedicated to the current topic of the Unified State Examination codifier “Threats of the 21st Century.” You can, first of all, familiarize yourself with a complete analysis of this important topic!
And now an essay on this topic:
29.1 “Nature is a human workshop.” (I. Turgenev).
In his statement from the work “Fathers and Sons,” Russian writer Ivan Turgenev says that nature creates man and then gives him resources for further development.
From the social studies course we remember that man is a biosocial being with developed thinking and intelligence. People, uniting with their own kind, create society, humanity. At the same time, a person lives in nature, is born as an animal (individual). Nature is a part of the material world, existing according to its own laws, the natural habitat of humanity.
In my opinion, the author raises the problem of ecology and the interaction of nature and society with each other. On the one hand, man cannot live without the resources and raw materials that nature gives us. For example, since the 1970s, huge incomes have been brought to our country (USSR, Russian Federation) by “petrodollars” - the sale of oil and gas abroad through the Druzhba, North and South Stream gas and oil pipelines...
On the other hand, since the development of industrial society, problems related to ecology have become very relevant - the exhaustibility of resources, pollution of the atmosphere and ocean waters. For example, from a geography course we know that today the problem of pollution of the Pacific Ocean with oil products and garbage is very important. And, of course, everyone remembers the tragedy of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which destroyed the ecosystem of Eastern Europe in 1986.
Concluding my thoughts, I would like to recall the story of the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury “And a Sound of Thunder.” Just one change in the natural chain, the balance in the ecosystem, can lead to a global catastrophe, and humans will bear responsibility for this. In pursuit of the development of the economy and technology, we must not forget that nature is the “cradle” of humanity, and we cannot destroy it to suit our needs.
On the one hand, of course, all the criteria have been met, briefly, concisely, but with reserve. Eg, by criterion 3 there is data from geography, as required by the verification criteria!
However, I receive this offensive message from an expert I know:
Very often, graduates preparing for the Unified State Exam in social studies choose this strategy - they write all the quotes on the issues of one science out of the five offered in. This does not seem to be the right way to prepare! Without regularly working with quotes on other topics, you narrow your choice in the exam, do not repeat the material in essay form, and risk that on the Unified State Exam you will come across a quote that you cannot explain.
A more effective way to prepare for writing an essay in social studies is to combine knowledge of several writing templates with regular completion of a large number of tasks 29 on different topics. We have already presented you with one of the most and Today - an example of a polemical essay template.
What is a polemical essay?
In most cases, we immediately agree with the author of the quote, adapt to his thought and justify it with arguments. The majority of those taking the Unified State Exam in social studies consider this to be correct, if only because they are “afraid” to argue with the wise. However, sometimes a thought is so all-encompassing that it is seen differently. Let's give an example of how to write a polemical essay, expressing a thought that corresponds to the author's thoughts. Let's take the following quote:
29.2 Economics.
Gary Becker is a distinguished American economist, winner of the 1992 Nobel Prize in Economics for his fundamental research in economic behavior. This thought sounds quite logical from his lips.
Becker G. Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics.
However, it is immediately clear that this thought reduces all human behavior to one thing - the satisfaction of material needs. What about spiritual ones? So let's try to argue!
We do it right away K1(“the meaning of the statement is revealed, understood”).
The author of this statement claims that any action of people is explained by simple economic feasibility. But then how can we tell our children what love, happiness, self-sacrifice and patriotism are? I fundamentally disagree with Becker's opinion.
We express our opinion here. We do this in the most convincing way: “... to our children”! We continue to argue, show intelligence and knowledge of related sciences - philosophy, history. This is criterion 3 (K3).
I remember the famous quote from the great Russian writer and philosopher F.M. Dostoevsky that “all the happiness of mankind is not worth one tear of one child.” It was to happiness and revenge that A. Hitler led his people, freeing up “living space” for the Germans in the East. Everyone remembers what this led to. One hundred million dead and a sea of shed tears are living proof of this.
A social studies essay can look beautiful and literary. We use the statements of other famous people, we use the effects: “a tear of one child”, “a sea of shed tears”. Now you need to fulfill criterion 2 (K2), apply terms, theoretical provisions (the quote refers to the science of economics, let me remind you).
The period of initial accumulation of capital, as is known from the course of economics, precedes the formation of capitalism and the market. Entrepreneurs strive to obtain start-up capital at any cost for further business development. However, from the point of view of morality, humanism, and universal human values, these periods in history look like “dark pages.” This includes the robbery of colonies, the destruction of entire peoples (North American Indians, for example), and the “criminal nineties” in Russia.
Terms used capital, initial accumulation, entrepreneurship. Confirmed with examples from social practice. We draw a conclusion, formulate our own point of view (if you criticize, suggest)! We show our life experience and continue to use terms.
To paraphrase the author, we can say that “happiness is in money.” But it seems to me that it is in the smile of relatives, physical and spiritual health, usefulness to society. Therefore, I believe that any human behavior is not justified by the desire for material wealth. They are important, but not paramount!
To summarize, here is our essay:
29.2 Economics.
I have come to the conviction that the economic approach is comprehensive, it is applicable to all human behavior" (G. Becker)
The author of this statement claims that any action of people is explained by simple economic feasibility. But then how can we tell our children what love, happiness, self-sacrifice and patriotism are? I fundamentally disagree with Becker's opinion.
I remember the famous quote from the great Russian writer and philosopher F.M. Dostoevsky that “all the happiness of mankind is not worth one tear of one child.” It was to happiness and revenge that A. Hitler led his people, freeing up “living space” for the Germans in the East. Everyone remembers what this led to. One hundred million dead and a sea of shed tears are living proof of this.
The period of initial accumulation of capital, as is known from the course of economics, precedes the formation of capitalism and the market. Entrepreneurs strive to obtain start-up capital at any cost for further business development. However, from the point of view of morality, humanism, and universal human values, these periods in history look like “dark pages.” This includes the robbery of colonies, the destruction of entire peoples (North American Indians, for example), and the “criminal nineties” in Russia.
To paraphrase the author, we can say that “happiness is in money.” But it seems to me that it is in the smile of relatives, physical and spiritual health, usefulness to society. Therefore, I believe that any human behavior is not justified by the desire for material wealth. They are important, but not paramount!
Short rules for writing an essay:
We continue to comply with the writing of Unified State Exam essays in social studies in any template:
1. Our essay is as short and specific as possible!
2. We immediately reveal the meaning of the quote and perform K1.
3. We apply the terms of the science to which the quote relates, we perform K1!
4. We present facts from other sciences, show our horizons, and perform K3.
5. We show intelligence, tie facts and conclusions to the topic.
6. We defend our point of view correctly, but confidently!
Good luck writing social studies essays regularly!
Here is another example for you to practice a polemical essay from the Unified State Exam 2016, try writing it, we will discuss it in the comments, as well as in our group
In this article you will learn how to write an essay on social studies. Examples are attached.
First of all, it is necessary to understand that in order to learn how to write an essay in social studies, it takes quite a long time. Without preliminary preparation, it is impossible to write an essay that would be rated high by experts. Sustainable skills and good results appear after 2-3 months of work (about 15-20 essays written). It is systematic training and determination that bring high results. You need to hone your skills in practice with the direct help and careful supervision of a teacher.
Video - how to write an essay on social studies
If you haven't tried essay writing yet, watch the video.
Unlike an essay on literature or the Russian language, where the minimum amount of work is clearly specified and general reflection is allowed (“philosophizing” without specification), in an essay on social science the volume is not limited, but its structure and content are fundamentally different. A social studies essay is actually an answer to the question: “Do I agree with this statement and why?” That is why an essay on social science must contain strict argumentation, scientificity and specificity. At the same time, it should be noted that very paradoxical, unusual statements that require imaginative thinking and a non-standard approach to revealing the problem are often used as the topic of an essay. This inevitably leaves its mark on the essay writing style and requires maximum concentration of effort and attention.
I would also like to add that the exam essay is assessed by specific people. In order for an expert, who checks from 50 to 80 papers a day, to mark an essay as worthy of attention, this essay must not only meet all the requirements set out below, but also be distinguished by a certain originality, originality and originality - this is implied by the genre of the essay itself. Therefore, it is necessary not only to present scientific and factual material on the topic, but also to pleasantly surprise you with the originality and flexibility of your thinking.
Algorithm for writing essays during the Unified State Exam
- First of all, during the exam you need to properly manage your time. Practice shows that writing an essay requires spending at least 1-1.5 hours out of the 3.5 hours allotted for the Unified State Exam in Social Studies. It is most advisable to start writing an essay after all other KIM tasks have been completed, because This type of work requires maximum concentration of the graduate’s efforts.
- Carefully read all the topics offered to choose from.
- Select topics that are understandable, i.e. – the student must clearly understand what this statement is about, what the author wanted to say with this phrase. In order to remove doubts about whether he understands the topic correctly, the graduate must restate the phrase in his own words, defining the main idea. The student can do this orally or in a draft.
- From the selected understandable statements, it is necessary to choose one topic - the one that the student knows best. It is necessary to note the fact that examinees often choose topics that are easy, in their opinion, but which turn out to be difficult when covering the topic due to the limited scientific and factual material on this issue (in other words, the phrase itself says everything, nothing can be added). In such cases, the essay is reduced to a simple statement of the meaning of the statement in different versions and is rated low by experts due to poor evidence base. Therefore, you need to choose the topic of the essay so that the student, when writing it, can fully demonstrate the completeness of his knowledge and the depth of his thoughts (i.e., the topic must be winning).
- When choosing a topic for an essay, you must also pay attention to what social science this statement belongs to. Practice shows that a number of phrases can refer to several sciences at once. For example, I. Goethe’s statement “Man is determined not only by natural qualities, but also by acquired ones” may belong to philosophy, social psychology, and sociology. Accordingly, the content of the essay should vary depending on this, i.e. must be consistent with said basic science.
- There is no need to write the entire essay as a draft. Firstly, due to limited time, and secondly, due to the fact that at the time of writing an essay some thoughts come, and at the time of rewriting - others, and redoing a finished text is much more difficult than creating a new one. In the draft, the graduate makes only an outline of his essay, approximate short sketches of the meaning of the phrase, his argumentation, the points of view of scientists, concepts and theoretical positions that he is going to present in his work, as well as the approximate order of their arrangement one after another, taking into account the semantic logic of the essay.
- Without fail, the student must express his personal attitude to the chosen topic in a clearly defined formulation (“I agree”, “I disagree”, “I don’t completely agree”, “I agree, but partially” or phrases that are similar in meaning and meaning) . The presence of a personal attitude is one of the criteria on the basis of which experts evaluate an essay.
- Without fail, the graduate must state his understanding of the meaning of the statement. Those. The high school student explains in his own words what the author wanted to say with this phrase. It is more advisable to do this at the very beginning of the essay. And if you combine the requirements of this paragraph with the provisions of the previous one, then this is what, for example, the beginning of an essay on philosophy “Before talking about the benefit of satisfying needs, you need to decide what needs constitute the benefit” will look like: “I completely agree with the statement of the great Russian writer of the second halfXIX– beginningXXcenturies L.N. Tolstoy, in which he talks about real and imaginary needs."
- You need to be very careful in selecting arguments to support your point of view. Arguments must be convincing and justified. Data from relevant sciences, historical facts, and facts from social life are used as arguments. Arguments of a personal nature (examples from personal life) are rated the lowest, so their use as evidence is undesirable. It should be remembered that any personal example can easily be “transformed” into an example from public life, from social practice, if you write about it in a third person (for example, not “The saleswoman in the store was rude to me, thereby violating my consumer rights”, A “Let’s say that the saleswoman was rude to citizen S. Thus, she violated his rights as a consumer.” The number of arguments in an essay is not limited, but 3-5 arguments are most optimal for revealing the topic. It should also be remembered that examples from history are most relevant in political science, partly in legal and sociological topics, as well as in philosophical topics related to the theory of social progress. Examples from social practice (public life) - in sociological, economic, legal topics. Data from the relevant sciences must be used when choosing any of the topics.
- The use of terms, concepts, and definitions in an essay must be competent and appropriate in relation to the chosen topic and science. The essay should not be overloaded with terminology, especially if these concepts are not related to the chosen problem. Unfortunately, some graduates try to insert as many terms as possible into their work, violating the principle of expediency and reasonable sufficiency. Thus, they show that they have not learned to correctly use scientific terminology. The term should be mentioned appropriately; such a mention should indicate its correct understanding.
- It is very welcome if a graduate in his essay indicates the points of view of other researchers on the issues under consideration, provides a link to different interpretations of the problem and different ways to solve it (if possible). Indication of other points of view can be direct (for example: “Lenin thought this way:..., and Trotsky thought differently:..., and Stalin did not agree with both of them:...”), but can be indirect, non-specific, non-personalized: “A number of researchers think this way:..., others think differently:..., and some suggest something completely different:....”
- It is very welcome if the essay indicates who the author of this statement was. The indication should be brief but precise (see example in paragraph 8). If, when arguing your position on this issue, it is appropriate to mention the views of the author of the phrase, this must be done.
- Arguments must be presented in strict sequence, the internal logic of presentation in the essay must be clearly visible. The student should not jump from one to another and return to the first again without explanation and internal connection, connecting the individual provisions of his work.
- The essay must end with a conclusion that briefly summarizes the thoughts and reasoning: “Thus, based on all of the above, it can be argued that the author was right in his statement.”
Essay Examples on the topic of:
Philosophy “Revolution is a barbaric way of progress” (J. Jaures)
For the highest score
I completely agree with the statement of the famous French socialist, historian and political figure of the first half of the twentieth century, Jean Jaurès, in which he speaks about the features of the revolutionary path of social progress, about the distinctive features of the revolution. Indeed, revolution is one of the ways of progress, movement forward towards better and more complex forms of organizing the social order. But since a revolution is a radical disruption of the entire existing system, a transformation of all or most aspects of social life, occurring in a short period of time, this form of progress is always accompanied by a large number of victims and violence.
If we remember the revolutionary year of 1917 in Russia, we will see that both revolutions entailed the most severe confrontation in society and the country, which resulted in a terrible Civil War, accompanied by unprecedented bitterness, millions of dead and injured, unprecedented devastation in the national economy.
If we remember the Great French Revolution, we will also see the rampant Jacobin terror, the guillotine, “working” seven days a week, and a series of incessant revolutionary wars.
If we remember the English bourgeois revolution, we will also see a civil war and repressions against dissidents.
And when we look at the history of the United States, we will see that both bourgeois revolutions that took place in this country took the form of war: first, the War of Independence, and then the Civil War.
The list of examples from history can go on and on, but wherever a revolution occurs - in China, Iran, the Netherlands, etc. – everywhere it was accompanied by violence, i.e. barbarism from the perspective of a civilized person.
And even though other thinkers exalted revolution (like, for example, Karl Marx, who argued that revolutions are the locomotives of history), even though reactionaries and conservatives denied the role of revolutions in social progress, the point of view of J. Jaurès is closer to me: yes, revolution is a way of progress, a movement for the better, but carried out using barbaric methods, that is, using cruelty, blood and violence. Happiness cannot be created through violence!
For a small point
In his quote, the author talks about revolution and progress. Revolution is a way of transforming reality in a short time, and progress is moving forward. Revolution is not progress. After all, progress is reform. It cannot be said that the revolution does not produce positive results - for example, the Russian revolution allowed workers and peasants to get rid of a difficult situation. But by definition, revolution is not progress, because progress is all that is good, and revolution is all that is bad. I disagree with the author who classifies revolution as progress.
Essay outline
Introduction
1) A clear indication of the problem of the statement:
“The statement I have chosen concerns the problem...”
“The problem with this statement is...”
2) Explanation of the choice of topic (what is the significance or relevance of this topic)
“Everyone is concerned about the question...”
“The RELEVANCE of this topic lies in...”
3) Reveal the meaning of the statement from the point of view of social science, 1-2 sentences
4) Introduction of the author and his point of view
“The author argued (said, thought) from such a point of view...”
5) Your own interpretation of this phrase, YOUR OWN POINT OF VIEW (DO YOU AGREE OR NOT)
“I think...” “I agree with the author of the statement...”
6) Expressing your position, moving on to the main part of the essay
P.S. It would be a plus if in the introduction you provide information about the author of the statement and insert a definition of the chosen field of the essay (philosophy, politics, economics, law, etc.)
Argumentation:
1) Theoretical argumentation of the problem. At least 3 aspects of the theoretical discussion of the topic must be presented.
For example: reveal the concept itself, give examples, analyze features, functions, classifications, properties.
2) Practical argument or example from public life
Every year FIPI reforms the demo version of the Unified State Exam in social studies. This time the requirements and essay assessment system (tasks 29) have changed somewhat. I suggest you understand the innovations!
Changes in social studies essay 2018
Here's what the task looked like in 2017.
What has changed in the assignment text?
Let's figure it out.
- Form: mini-essay, no changes.
- The word problem (which the author of the quote raises) has been replaced by idea. It is fundamentally? I think not anyway this is those thoughts that arise when comprehending the author’s quote!
- The requirement to write several ideas is more clearly formulated (in 2017 - if necessary...).
- They are also asked to rely on facts and examples from public life and personal social experience, examples from other academic subjects.
- Also assessed two examples from various sources.
- The requirement is more strictly formulated detailed example and its obvious connection with the idea.
That is, in essence, volume requirement changes (examples need to be expanded, you need to see several ideas!) and let's just say that the essay really moves away from the genre of an easy and transparent essay, when it is not necessary to meticulously write out an example, it is enough to voice the idea. To a cumbersome essay, where all thoughts are ponderous, extremely clear and voiced. Probably next year we will come to a word limit, as in other subjects, unfortunately
How is an essay checked now?
First of all, the number of criteria has changed. There are more of them 4 instead of the previous three.
Criteria for checking task 29 essays for the Unified State Exam 2017
Let us remind you that in general you could get 5 points (1-2-2) for a mini-essay. now this 6 The value of the essay continues to increase, learning to write it in order to get the most important Unified State Exam points is a must!
Let's look at the new changed criteria!
Essentially, it has not changed; this is also a disclosure of the meaning of the author’s quote. And also, for non-disclosure you will receive a 0 not only for this criterion, but for the entire essay.
So, you need to find in the quote an idea (? problem?) related to the course and highlight a thesis (your complete thought on this statement), which you will further substantiate with information from the course and examples from social practice.
To be honest, I don’t see anything new. Instead of the meaning of the author’s quote, you write...
Essentially the same, criterion 2. Theoretical justification of the idea (problem) from the standpoint of scientific social science. terms, concepts, theories, scientific conclusions on this idea
So, let's break it down new criteria...
“The defense of rights is the defense of the greatest social value.”
(P.A. Sorokin)
Criterion 1. Its disclosure is played here by:
The author addresses the problem protection of rights, especially relevant in modern society.
In his opinion protection of rights is very important for society.
I can’t help but agree with the author’s opinion, because Law plays an important role in the life of any state, society and every person.
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