The major essay requires students to identify a topic of interest within the three modules covered in the course(international security/international organization/international financial), and write their own essay question. The word limit for this task is 2,000 words. You will need to complete the following steps. 

First, you need to clarify the topic and purpose of your paper. 

The overall aim is for you to demonstrate that you can grasp and formulate an argument in relation to some of the key conceptual ideas and political debates associated with contemporary issues in IR. Show that you can use/address some of the ideas from the key paradigms in IR and critically apply them to understand an issue of your choice. 

Second, we want students to formulate their own question. You need to try to make your research question as evaluative as possible: dont just pick something that will lead to a narrative or description of the topic so, not a what or when question; rather, have a why or to what extent question. Pick something that will foster critical evaluation of the issue, the debates around the issue, different conceptual perspectives etc in other words, pick something where you can to take a position and defend it. 

Pick a question that will allow you to critically interrogate how one or more of the paradigms in IR are applicable to the topic. This doesnt mean necessarily adopt a realist or liberal position, for instance (though you obviously can), but show how such paradigms may or may not be useful to actually understanding the issue by critically interrogating some of the positions adopted by other authors why/not useful? Assumptions? In other words, in your essays show that you can engage in some of the key debates in IR about their chosen issue and take a position in relation to them. 

You should consult with your tutor on your choice of question.

Thirdly, draw on material from a variety of mediums, with an emphasis on scholarly sources. 

Fourthly, show that you can construct a coherent and cogent argument over a sustained piece of writing. So, we’d like to see a formal essay format (intro, body, conclusion) replete with correct in-text referencing and bibliography