Security Studies (unit name: security in an age of risk)
Order Description
Topic Selection

Students must critically analyse and develop an argument in response to one out of the four statements below. The word count does not include the bibliography.
1) ‘Human security is too broad – if everything is prioritized, then, by definition, nothing is’.
2) ‘The rise of China will fundamentally change the way we think about energy
security’.
3) ‘HIV/AIDS is primarily an issue of human security’.
4) ‘Regional security institutions are less successful in Asia compared to Europe’.

Essay Guidelines
1. Define and discuss key concepts.
2. Keep in mind that there is not one ‘correct answer’. You are graded based on the
extent to which you can substantiate your conclusion .
3. Critical analysis: Recognise the limits of your argument and counter-arguments.
The objective is not to suggest that one answer is correct and the other wrong, but rather to argue that one of the answers/position may have more merit than the other. Demonstrate your capacity to consider and include competing perspectives by various scholars.

DEPARTMENT OF
Security Studies and Criminology
Faculty of Arts

4. Clearly structure your essay into introduction, body and conclusion.
a. The introduction should outline the broader topic and link it to the specific purpose of the essay. Signpost the structure, key arguments to be made, and provide a brief thesis statement.
b. The body of the essay should present the main arguments, which directly answers the essay question.
c. The conclusion should summarise your key findings, synthesize your thoughts, demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and enable you to have the last word on the essay question.
5. Referencing: Choose either Oxford or Harvard (see directions in links below).
The word count includes footnotes, but excludes bibliography. Words limit (which is 2000 words) can deviate 10% either more or under the stated figure. If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the world limit. The
percentage is taken of the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%)
and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).