There is a certain assignment that every year causes ASS second years some 'consternation' (for consternation read FULL FAT, NO HOLDS BARRED TURMOIL), but I assure you it's not as bad you might think.
Think of it as a rites of passage.
Here's four suggestions to make the welfare systems assignment more manageable...
1. Don't get hung up on the phrase 'Welfare System'; if you use "Welfare State" in its place you'll probably find.some material too.
2. The 'Ebooks on Demand' project is still running. I sat with a student this week who rented two e-books for herself covering welfare, one on Nigeria and one on China and it's really helped.
3. You almost certainly WON'T find one single journal article covering the three countries you're looking for. So don't look for it. Instead do separate DISCOVER journal article searches for three countries and then compare them yourself afterwards. You'll write a better essay as a result.
4. Marketline is a database you probably won't have used before, but it has 'country profiles' which might be useful to obtain statistics on population and social provision. They're known as PEST reports which stands for Political, Economic, Social and Technological. Go here to see previous blog posts I've written about it. It's look has changed a little, however you can still search for individual countries via the geography option.
Finally, remember that 2000 words for this assignment is quite tight, so be precise in your analysis.
If you want to see me for some further support regarding this assignment be sure to contact me soon.
Showing posts with label welfare state. Show all posts
Showing posts with label welfare state. Show all posts
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Thursday, 28 June 2012
The Welfare State discussed on the Moral Maze this week
Hello.
First thing's first; in case you've never come across it before The Moral Maze is a discussion programme on Radio 4. The format is 3 or 4 people with opposing views discuss an issue and 'witnesses' are called during the debate to highlight specific issues. It's often quite 'lively'.
The programme last night was a discussion of what and who the welfare state is now for.
It's very good and covers many issues which I know you'll have discussed in lectures.
According to iplayer the link to the show is permanent, but I'd click here and have a listen soon-just in case!
First thing's first; in case you've never come across it before The Moral Maze is a discussion programme on Radio 4. The format is 3 or 4 people with opposing views discuss an issue and 'witnesses' are called during the debate to highlight specific issues. It's often quite 'lively'.
The programme last night was a discussion of what and who the welfare state is now for.
It's very good and covers many issues which I know you'll have discussed in lectures.
According to iplayer the link to the show is permanent, but I'd click here and have a listen soon-just in case!
Thursday, 23 February 2012
The much delayed welfare system post has arrived
There's a lot to read here but if you're looking for information on welfare systems stay with it-it'll help.
I've been getting a lot of enquiries about the welfare assignment, as I do every year.
So this post points you towards specific resources which may help you tackle what is a tricky assignment.
Firstly, a database that you probably won't have used before called Marketline offers very up to date social information (unemployment rates, economic forecasts, population distribution and social care statistics) on any country you can think of. I've blogged about how to use Marketline before so if you click here it'll take you to my previous instructions. Current statistics are invaluable in getting a good mark for this assignment. We know how fast the economic situation is changing in many countries at present and the research you'll find on Marketline is the most recent reliable data you can get. The reports are big (100 pages isn't unusual) so target the sections of the reports which are looking at social factors.
I also have two specific and quite new e-books I think are worth a recommendation.
The first of these is The Cameron-Clegg government: coalition politics in an age of austerity edited by Simon Lee and Matt Beech. It's from 2011. Chapter 7 is specifically looking at welfare reform so that's where I'd head first.
The second is The welfare state in post-industrial society: a global perspective by Jason Powell and Jon (Joe) Hendricks. It's from 2009. This book is split into two sections; the first half is looking at different issues relating to welfare (aging, immigration, healthcare...) and the second half is examining specific countries and how their welfare systems operate. Just bear in mind that things will have moved on in some countries in the last 2 and a bit years!
What I haven't mentioned yet is how to locate journal articles. From those training sessions I've done with individuals on this assignment, the most common problem is caused by students trying to find journals which compare two or three systems in one perfectly presented article. You're asking for too much! I think you need to separate out your searches and target individual countries (for example, search for "welfare state" or "welfare system" and Australia). Then your job is to compare the findings with whichever countries you decide to target.
I told you there was a lot to read! Hope it all makes things a bit clearer and at least gives you some new ideas.
I've been getting a lot of enquiries about the welfare assignment, as I do every year.
So this post points you towards specific resources which may help you tackle what is a tricky assignment.
Firstly, a database that you probably won't have used before called Marketline offers very up to date social information (unemployment rates, economic forecasts, population distribution and social care statistics) on any country you can think of. I've blogged about how to use Marketline before so if you click here it'll take you to my previous instructions. Current statistics are invaluable in getting a good mark for this assignment. We know how fast the economic situation is changing in many countries at present and the research you'll find on Marketline is the most recent reliable data you can get. The reports are big (100 pages isn't unusual) so target the sections of the reports which are looking at social factors.
I also have two specific and quite new e-books I think are worth a recommendation.
The first of these is The Cameron-Clegg government: coalition politics in an age of austerity edited by Simon Lee and Matt Beech. It's from 2011. Chapter 7 is specifically looking at welfare reform so that's where I'd head first.
The second is The welfare state in post-industrial society: a global perspective by Jason Powell and Jon (Joe) Hendricks. It's from 2009. This book is split into two sections; the first half is looking at different issues relating to welfare (aging, immigration, healthcare...) and the second half is examining specific countries and how their welfare systems operate. Just bear in mind that things will have moved on in some countries in the last 2 and a bit years!
What I haven't mentioned yet is how to locate journal articles. From those training sessions I've done with individuals on this assignment, the most common problem is caused by students trying to find journals which compare two or three systems in one perfectly presented article. You're asking for too much! I think you need to separate out your searches and target individual countries (for example, search for "welfare state" or "welfare system" and Australia). Then your job is to compare the findings with whichever countries you decide to target.
I told you there was a lot to read! Hope it all makes things a bit clearer and at least gives you some new ideas.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Researching the Welfare State question.
Occasionally when you're given assignments and projects to write it happens to coincide with the issue in question being particularly in the public eye. The welfare state is just such a topic at the moment. Whether you're currently studying the welfare state or not, I would like to recommend a couple of things which may help with getting to grips with what can be a tricky concept.
The first is a programme about the future of the welfare state being broadcast on BBC2 this Thursday (27th October) at 9pm. It's presented by John Humphreys, one of our more combative political journalists so it should be interesting TV. You can find a preview of the show on the BBC website.
Whilst you could reference a TV programme in an assignment if you wished, I would recommend reading a few books as well! We have a good selection of e-books that cover different aspects of the welfare state, but one in particular is well suited to an assignment asking you to compare welfare systems of different countries. 'Welfare States and the Future (2005) by Kurian and Vivekanandan is a good starting point for such an undertaking, although do bear in mind that it was written before the coalition government came to power. Click here to access the e-book login screen.
Let me know if you'd like more information on anything to do with getting the best from the e-books or referencing everything from a TV programme to a telephone conversation - I recently had to find out how to reference a Facebook update so now I know for certain that anything is possible!
The first is a programme about the future of the welfare state being broadcast on BBC2 this Thursday (27th October) at 9pm. It's presented by John Humphreys, one of our more combative political journalists so it should be interesting TV. You can find a preview of the show on the BBC website.
Whilst you could reference a TV programme in an assignment if you wished, I would recommend reading a few books as well! We have a good selection of e-books that cover different aspects of the welfare state, but one in particular is well suited to an assignment asking you to compare welfare systems of different countries. 'Welfare States and the Future (2005) by Kurian and Vivekanandan is a good starting point for such an undertaking, although do bear in mind that it was written before the coalition government came to power. Click here to access the e-book login screen.
Let me know if you'd like more information on anything to do with getting the best from the e-books or referencing everything from a TV programme to a telephone conversation - I recently had to find out how to reference a Facebook update so now I know for certain that anything is possible!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
