The essay gives you quite a wide scope to write you exam paper. “Essay”, however, does not mean that you can write an unstructured text about how you feel about this or that. The assignment must still be structured with a clear problem statement, an analysis based on well-defined theoretical concepts, and a conclusion summing up the analytical point developed and answering the problem statement. The broad framework is that you can choose whether to write a very empirical text or a more purely theoretical exercise.

An empirically founded essay looks at an empirical phenomenon or object. It applies theories and concepts from the literature to understand and explain the phenomenon. It is important that you find some kind of empirical material, where you can observe your object. Include pieces of the material in the form of quotes or images in your text. A theoretical essay discusses a theoretical concept of problem from different theoretical perspectives. Again it is important that you find a text that allows you to observe your concept or problem. Also make sure to quote from the text as you build your argument. The two genres of essays may also be combined for instance by analyzing an empirical phenomenon from different theoretical perspectives.

Your essay must include a substantial part of the literature covered in the course. You are, however, free to also include secondary literature.

When I read your essays I will be looking for your ability to identify and formulate a problem, which invokes some of the things, we have covered in the course. A good essay uses analytical perspectives from the course in order to spot problems, which may not otherwise be obvious or may break with conventional understandings.