Essay question: Drawing predominantly on course material from the first part of the course (Weeks 2 to 6), was the ‘development project’ a failure, and, in light of material covered in the second part of the course (Weeks 7 to 13), critically evaluate the statement ‘the idea of development stands like a ruin in the intellectual landscape [and]… the time is ripe to write its obituary”?
How to approach your synoptic essay: first part of the question
– Was the ‘development project’ a failure
•What was the aim of the development project?
•Spend roughly 4/10 of the synoptic essay on the first part of the question
•Focus predominantly on course material from Weeks 2 – 6
How to approach your synoptic essay: second part of the question
critically evaluate the statement that ‘the idea of development stands like a ruin in the intellectual landscape [and]… the time is ripe to write its obituary”
– Spend roughly 6/10 of the RM on the second part of the synoptic essay question.
– Roughly 2/3 of the course material since Week 7…weave in earlier material as it suits your argument
– While the first question is focused on the past (i.e. the ‘development project)…the second part is focused on the future of ‘development’
– What is ‘development’?
–You can treat this part of the question as
a) a description of what you think actually has happened; or
b) a more normative definition which describes what development should be
*Be original, but just make sure that…
–your choice of definition is covered by enough course material
–you are able to persuasively present your argument
