Understanding the European Union
Section outline
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1.
Feb 20
Intro + Integration Milestones
Student Team Presentation Suggestions:
PRESENTATION TEAMS
2.
Feb 27
Institutions and Policy-Making
3.
Mar 6
The Single Market
Commission vs. Big Tech
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
4.
Mar 13
Agriculture (and Cohesion)
Farmers and the Green Deal
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
5.
Mar 20
Economic and Monetary Union
Greece after Eurozone Crisis
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
6.
Mar 27
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Fortress Europe, European Solidarity and Human Rights
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
7.
Apr 3
Foreign, Security and Defence Policies
EU Reacts to the Russian War against Ukraine
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
8.
Apr 10
Trade, Development, Enlargement
The Future of EU Enlargement
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
9.
Apr 17
Energy and Environment
Uncertain Fate of the Internal Combustion Engine
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
10.
April 24
Democratic Legitimacy and EU Citizens
Euroscepticism and the Rise of Far-right Parties
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
May 1
National Holiday – no class
May 8
National Holiday – no class
11.
May 15
EU and the Member States/Brexit
Brexit – 5 years on
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
12.
May 22
(optional)
European Identity
Who are the Europeans?
Student 1, Student 2, Student 3
Please email me - daniela.lences@fsv.cuni.cz - which topic you'd like to present on! It's a rough "umbrella" of a topic with wiggle room for specific cases; let's consult them in the run-up to the class.
All classes will take place in person, in Jinonice campus - room B 316 THURSDAYS 12:30-13:50
Consultation hours - after class from 11:30, room C 514 / online consults via Google Hangouts (by appointment)
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© Opinion Essay (2500 - 3000 words; excl. bibliography)
An opinion essay is a type of paper that defends – using argumentation – your opinion, your position on a topic, a policy issue or an existing dilemma.
To take a position and defend your opinion an EU-related topic and defend it requires:
· Background knowledge of how things work in the EU in general
Who does what aka EU institutions, and what powers they have aka decision-making process, what is the legal and/or strategic framework etc.
· Knowledge of your topic/issue in particular
Where does your topic fit in EU general context; is it even EU competence (background knowledge)?
What is your topic/issue all about, where’s the dilemma problem?
· Identification of multiple(!) existing positions on your topic/issue
There’s always more than one opinion, solution, position on any topic, review the spectrum and find your place
· CLEAR formulation of YOUR POSITION (opinion) in one sentence!!!
· Argumentation
Arguments in defence of your position
Arguments that refute the other positions identified above
Arguments that build on each other
Arguments that do not undermine each other
Arguments need to be supported by real-life, relevant evidence and sources
· Conclusion that wraps up your main points
· Bibliography / List of References
You can check a helpful “how to write” guide here: https://test-english.com/explanation/b1-writing-explanations/writing-an-opinion-essay/
Assessed area
Percentage
Structure
Make sure your essay has the following:
· Introduction - what’s the topic, what’s the range of positions
and your position statement – your opinion in one sentence
· Argumentation section – at least 6 arguments in support of your position & countering the others
· Conclusion – your position and summary of your support
· Bibliography / List of sources
5
Argument depth
MAX SCORE <- specific and detailed policy relevant information X very general common sensical arguments -> MIN SCORE
20
Logic of argumentation
MAX <- are your individual arguments building on each other to support a strong position together X are they undermining each other -> MIN
10
Consistency of your paper
MAX <- everything (intro, position, argument, conclusion) hangs together in support of your position X your sections go in different directions, argument is disparate -> MIN
15
Quality of supportive evidence
MAX <- work with primary EU sources, secondary EU analyses and alternatively academic books/journals (see links above) X derivate information, excessive reliance on news servers or social media information, hoaxes, fake news, dis- or misinformation, they are not based on AI hallucinations that cannot be verified -> MIN
AI answer does NOT count as a source of evidence!!!
10
Accuracy
MAX <- information you give corresponds to your source X information you give does not correspond to the information of your source -> MIN
And I will be checking your sources randomly: whether the information you give actually matches the reference 😉.
5
Creativity
MAX <- Working off of your topic review results, found evidence and adding your own thought is original work
Just rephrasing Wikipedia, EU think tank positions or AI key points is not creative, rephrasing is just that: rephrasing -> MIN
Any AI use needs to be acknowledged (in a footnote or endnote) write a note on how did you use the AI, what for, what tasks etc.; likewise, if you have not used AI, state so clearly
5
TOTAL
= 70%
Opinion essay suggestions; what is your position on:
· The Eurozone getting a common Eurobond?
· EU decarbonising its energy sector?
· Ukraine becoming a new EU member in a fast-tracked accession process?
· Member state solidarity in reformed asylum and migration policy?
· The EU making its defence policy supranational?
· Austerity as part of a solution to the Eurozone crisis?
· European Union’s activity in light of climate change?
· European co-dependency on NATO for its security?
· Brexit – 5 years on?
· New Pact on Migration and Asylum’s impact on Human Rights compliance in the Mediterranean?
· EU regulation of tech companies in the digital single market?
· The future of the European Union integration project?
But of course any other EU-related dilemma you come up with is OK (consult)!