Give extensive answers to the questions. Use the following expressions to present your answers:

Ø On second thought I should admit that...

Ø Though I can't say for sure I think...

Ø I may be wrong but I think...

Ø To cut a long story short, …

Ø As far as I know...

1. What are the defining features of politics as an activity?

2. In what way is politics linked to the phenomena of conflict and cooperation?

3. How is politics defined?

4. What does the ability of studying politics mean?

5. How does the essence of the words 'power' and 'authority' differ?

6. Where is politics usually practised?

7. What does a social science discipline deal with?

8. With which fields does political science intersect?

9. Which subdisciplines commonly constitute political science? Expand your answer.

10. What approaches to the study of political science as an academic discipline have been adopted?

11. What matters and factors do political scientists examine?

12. What roles do political scientists play in political analysis?

 

 

Scanning^*

Scan the text to determine whether these statements are true (T) or false (F). With a partner, discuss why.

e.g. In my opinion it is true that / I’m afraid it is false that..., because...

1.	Politics is an essentially social activity through which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under which they live.
2.	The only way politics can be defined is the making of collective decisions.
3.	Politics takes place within a system of social organization focused on the machinery of government.
4.	Political science deals extensively with the analysis of political systems and political behavior but never with the practice of politics.
5.   6.   7.   8.   9.   10.	Political science has no ancient roots as it was codified in the 19th century when all the social sciences were established. Three distinct sub disciplines constitute political science as a social science discipline. Not being one of the social sciences, political science does not appropriate any methods originating in social research. Political scientists do not see themselves engaged in revealing the relationships underlying political events and conditions. The allocation and transfer of power in decision making is one of the matters political scientists study. There are lots of social spheres in which political scientists may be involved or even run for office as politicians themselves.

1.4.3 Write a paragraph on:

 a) the defining features of politics as a social activity;

 b) the approaches to the study of politics as an academic discipline.

PRACTICE

Skills focus

1.5. 1 Read the extract and fill in prepositions wherever necessary. Give the text the appropriate heading. Discuss the text.

                   

___________________________

Concepts, models and theories are the tools... political analysis. However, as with most things... politics, the analytical tools must be used with care. First, let us consider concepts. A concept is a general idea... something, usually expressed... a single word or a short phrase.

It is no exaggeration to say that our knowledge... the political world is built... through developing and refining concepts that help us make sense of that world. Concepts, in that sense, are the building blocks... human knowledge.

  Models and theories are broader than concepts; they comprise a range... ideas rather than a single idea. A model ^[3] is usually thought... as a representation of something, usually... a smaller scale, as... the case of a doll's house or a toy airplane. In this sense, the purpose of the model is to resemble the original object as faithfully as possible. A paradigm is,... a general sense, a pattern or model that highlights relevant features... a particular phenomenon, rather than the manner of an ideal type.

 The terms theory ^[4] and model are often used interchangeably... politics. Theories and models are both conceptual constructs used as tools... political analysis. However, strictly speaking, a theory is a proposition. It offers a systematic explanation... a body of empirical data. In contrast, a model is merely an explanatory device; it is more like a hypothesis that has yet to be tested. In that sense, in politics, while theories can be said to be more or less 'true', models can only be said to be more or less 'useful'. Clearly, however, theories and models are often interlinked: broad political theories may be explained... terms of a series of models. For example, the theory... pluralism encompasses a model of the state, a model of electoral

competition, a model of group politics, and so on.

 

1.9 GRAMMAR BACK UP

PRACTICE WITH NOUNS & THEIR DETERMINERS

Practice with Nouns

Ask yourself these questions when checking nouns.