Understanding the European Union
Section outline
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1.
Oct 2
Intro / Integration Milestones
Student Team Presentation Suggestions:
PRESENTATION TEAMS
2.
Oct 9
Institutions and Policy-Making
3.
Oct 16
The Single Market
Commission vs. Big Tech
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
4.
Oct 23
Agriculture (and Cohesion)
Farmers and the Green Deal
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
5.
Oct 30
Economic and Monetary Union
Greece after Eurozone Crisis
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
6.
Nov 6
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Fortress Europe, European Solidarity and Human Rights
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
7.
Nov 13
Foreign, Security and Defence Policies
EU Reacts to the Russian War against Ukraine
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
8.
Nov 20
Trade, Development, Enlargement
The Future of EU Enlargement
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
9.
Nov 27
Brexit
Brexit - 5 Years On
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
10.
Dec 4
EU and the Member States
Hungary - The Outlier
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
11.
Dec 11
Democratic Legitimacy and EU Citizens
Euroscepticism and the Rise of Far-right Parties
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
12.
Dec 18
Future of EU Integration
Future (Dis-)integration Options
Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3
You can contact your team mates using the universal FSV addresses: name.surname@fsv.cuni.cz (Gmail will fill in automatically).
Please, see me after class or 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 C 122 THURSDAYS 15:00 - 16:20
Consultation hours: Thursdays 12:30 - 14:00, room C 514 or online consults via Google Hangouts (by appointment)
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FINAL POSITION PAPER DEADLINES here via Moodle assignment (scroll all the way down)
5 January 23:59 (everyone going to the February state exams in need of a grade by 9th January)
...you can keep uploading your papers anytime in-between, I'll be grading them in bulks intermittently
8 February 23:59 (last chance)
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This session is a make-up for the 1st and 8th May public holidays (where we lost a session) ... all make-up classes were supposed to be held in the 19-23 May week per Academic Calendar, but this had been supposedly cancelled due to an international ECPR conference taking place on Jinonice campus.
Long story short: because we have one last presentation scheduled, we're moving online: meet.google.com/oiu-obxc-gny
The presenters obviously have to join, attendance is optional for the rest of the class, if you're looking how to procrastinate during exams seasion, join us!
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© Position paper (2500 - 3000 words; excl. bibliography)
…Imagine you’re in a DEBATE on an EU topic. A position paper is a type of paper that defends – using argumentation and evidence – your position on a controversial topic, a policy issue or an existing dilemma.
To take a position on an EU-related problem and defend it requires the following skills: (FYI this is NOT the suggested structure of your paper; see below)
· Background knowledge of how things work in the EU in general
Who does what aka EU institutions, and what powers they have in the policy of your choice, 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/controversy? Why?
· 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 position.
· CLEAR formulation of YOUR POSITION!!!
· Argumentation
Your arguments defend your position against other positions
Your arguments refute the other positions identified above
Your arguments build on each other
Your arguments do not undermine each other
Your arguments are supported by real-life, relevant evidence and sources
You can check a helpful “how to write” guide here:
https://people.cs.rutgers.edu/~rmartin/teaching/fall17/Writing_a_Position_Paper.pdf
GRADING RUBRIC Percentage
Structure:
Make sure your paper has the following structure:
· Introduction
- what’s the topic/issue, briefly
- overview of debate: including counter positions (what will you be arguing against later)
- clear statement of your position – in one sentence: “In this paper, I will argue that XYZ…”
· Argumentation section
- at least 6 arguments in support of your position & countering the others (see skills above)
- supported with references / evidence
· 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
Consistency and logic of argumentation
MAX <- everything (intro, position, arguments, conclusion) hangs together in support of your position, your arguments build on each other logically X your sections go in different directions, arguments are disparate, one argument undermines another -> MIN
20
Quality of supportive evidence
MAX <- work with primary EU sources, secondary EU analyses and alternatively academic books/journals (see think-tank links above) X derivate information, excessive reliance on news servers or social media information, hoaxes, fake news, disinformation, AI hallucinations that cannot be verified -> MIN
Evidence needs to be referred to in text. How and why to cite: https://citace.fsv.cuni.cz/CITFSVEN-1.html
AI answers do 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 or not 😉.
10
Creativity
MAX <- Working off of your topic review results, found evidence and adding your own thought is original work X 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%