Wednesday 28 December 2011

NEW web address: www.mradcock.com

Those of you with limited memories will be pleased to hear that i've bought the rights to www.mradcock.com so you no longer need to remember the old address (www.mradcock.blogspot.com).

You can fill the newly created memory space in your brain with some facts and figures which will help you gain your target grade!

Happy holidays.

Thursday 15 December 2011

13GP: Diagram of key Conservative thinkers

10Hi Christmas Homework

Read and annotate this article. Click HERE

13GP Christmas Homework


Read and annotate the Communist Manifesto and the articles i've given you on climate change. You will be tested on these in January. The communist manifesto is one of the most important political texts ever written so treat it with respect.

12Ec: Phillips Curve video

Click HERE for YouTube Phillips Curve video

12Ec: Christmas Homework: Read, annotate and summarise the 5 articles below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16186333
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14934728
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16173885
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16175309
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16154965

Tuesday 13 December 2011

13GP: These are the key questions that we discussed today for conservatism and poverty.

Conservatism discussion points
1. Why, and to what extent, have conservatives supported tradition?
2. Is conservatism a ‘disposition’ rather than a political ideology?
3. Why has conservatism been described as a philosophy of imperfection?
4. How does the conservative view of property differ from the liberal view?
5. How far do conservatives go in endorsing authority?
6. Is conservatism merely ruling class ideology?
7. What is the link between conservatism and paternalism?
8. how and why have conservatives of the new right criticised welfare?
9. To what extent are neoliberalism and neoconservatism compatible?

Poverty discussion points
1. Why does the difference between absolute and relative definitions of poverty matter?
2. Explain the orthodox approach to development
3. Explain the alternative view of development
4. “The north south divide is obsolete.” Discuss.
5. “Western governments should focus on reducing poverty rather than corruption.” Discuss.
6. IMF and World Bank: solution or problem?
7. “Recent attempts to alleviate poverty have failed.” Discuss.
8. Without debt relief, the poverty trap will never be broken.

12GP: How does PMQs reflect the functions of parliament? Does PMQs suggest that parliament is effective?

Watch any episode of PMQs and see how many functions you can spot. It shouldn't take long to notice scrutiny, deliberation and redress of grievances.

As an extension task, consider whether PMQs suggests that parliament is effective. Don't forget that PMQs is just one element of one part of parliament (House of Commons).

12&13GP: Examples of unintended consequences of centralised targets

New Labour was famous for its use of centrally imposed targets to improve public services e.g. no school in Britain should have less than 40% of students gaining %A*-C including English and Maths. Other examples include A&E waiting times of less than 4 hours and GP appointments within 48 hours. The problem is that when performance (and pay) of public servants (teachers, doctors etc) is based on meeting these targets, these public servants might respond in a way that is not in the intrests of the public (i.e. they are subject to perverse incentives).

An example of that would be a school entering all its students for English and Maths GCSE in January so that they can retake in June if they miss out on a C. The problem is that a student who might have got an A in June is forced to settle for a C in January. The school has met its target, but the student suffers. The same is true for A&E departments making ambulances wait outside with their patients so that they can hit the 4 hour target, GP surgeries only taking appointments on the day, and police forces failing to report crimes which don't suit thier figures.

Tuesday 6 December 2011

GP13: How conservative are the Conservative Party?

Click HERE to read Conservative manifesto 2010

GP13: Exam questions on Conservatism

15 mark questions
On what grounds have conservatives defended property? (15, sample paper)
To what extent do traditional conservatives and the New Right differ in their views of society? (15, Jan10)
How have conservatives justified private property? (15, June10)
On what grounds have conservatives supported tradition and continuity? (15, Jan11)

45 mark questions
‘Conservatism is ruling class ideology.’ Discuss. (45, sample paper)
‘Conservatives favour pragmatism over principle.’ Discuss. (45, Jan10)
To what extent do conservatives believe in tradition and continuity? (45, June10)

Thursday 1 December 2011

13GP: Exam questions on poverty

15 mark questions
Why is the divide between the North and the South still growing? (15, sample paper)
Explain the ‘orthodox’ (economic liberal) approach to development. (15, Jan10)
What is the North-South divide, and why is it sometimes said to be an outdated idea? (15, June10)
What was the ‘debt crisis’ of the 1980s, and how much progress has been made in resolving it? (15, June10)
What is neocolonialism, and how has it been used to explain global inequality? (15, Jan11)

45 mark questions
‘Corruption is the grease that lubricates the squeaky gate.’ Discuss the extent to which corruption hinders or promotes development (45, sample paper)
To what extent is international aid effective? (45, Jan10)
‘The IMF and the World Bank have failed the world’s poor.’ Discuss. (45, Jan11)

12Ec: HW 1st December, revise for mock: Inflation, unemployment and balance of payments.