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The Internship Programme
Programme of Studies

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Essay Writing Guidelines

Essay Requirements

When submitting course work students are encouraged to present typed essays that include a cover page listing the course, title of essay, name of students and date. Pages within the essay should be numbered. Essays should be written in clear concise English, with attention to correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. Essays should contain an introduction to the topic, an original analysis of the research material and a conclusion summarising the main points of the essay. It is important to engage with the relevant literature on any chosen topic – web sources need to be treated with caution! Course lecturers are available for advice on essay structure and research. If in doubt please consult a member of the teaching team. Please submit two copies of your essay and please note that late submission will result in lower marks.

References and Bibliographies

Essays must confirm to acknowledged academic referencing and bibliographic style. References to ideas that are not the author’s own must be acknowledged within the text, either with a parenthetical reference listing the original author’s name, date of publication and page number, or with an endnote or footnote. All works referenced within the essay must be included in a bibliography at the end of the essay. All ideas that are not the student’s own must be referenced. Failure to do so results in plagiarism, which is treated as a serious academic offence by the University.

Research Bibliography

When researching for courses or for the internship report, students may consult a number of resources contained within the major libraries in Edinburgh. The journal Scottish Affairs, published by the Institute of Governance (and of which a full set is available in the interns' offices in Chisholm House), is a useful starting point. Students may also wish to consult copies of The Economist, New Statesman, Spectator and Prospect and early copies of the Scottish Government Yearbook for background information. The following academic journals may also provide useful information:

British Journal of Political Science
Parliamentary Affairs
British Journal of Sociology
Political Studies
Ethnic and Racial Studies
Regional and Federal Studies
Nations and Nationalism
Scottish Review of Books

The British Social Attitudes series is also a useful source of information on changing attitudes and values within Britain.

Select Bibliography

The following books - some of them already mentioned in this course handbook - may provide help for students when researching essay topics. (download select bibliography - Word format)

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Resources

Libraries

University of Edinburgh Main Library, George Sq
National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge
Parliamentary Library, George IV Bridge
Edinburgh City (Central) Library, George IV Bridge

Web Links

(Consult course outlines for specific course-related links)

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party – www.scottish.tory.org.uk
Scottish Labour Party – www.scottish.labour.co.uk
Scottish Liberal Democrats – www.scotlibdems.org.uk
Scottish National Party – www.snp.org.uk
Scottish Green Party – www.scottishgreens.org.uk
Scottish Socialist Party – www.scottishsocialistparty.org
Scottish Parliament – www.scottish.parliament.uk
Scottish Executive – www.scotland.gov.uk

Westminster – www.parliament.uk
Welsh Assembly – www.wales.gov.uk/index.html
Northern Ireland Assembly – www.ni-assembly.gov.uk
European Union – www.europa.eu.int

Centre for Research into Electoral and Social Trends (CREST)
www.strath.ac.uk/other/CREST

Scotland Europa – www.scotlandeuropa.com/private

Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament
www.lg-scot-commission.gov.uk
Scottish Affairs – www.scottishaffairs.org

Parliamentary elections since 1983 – www.qmw.ac.uk/~laws/election/home.html
Scottish Civic Forum – www.civicforum.org.uk
BBC Scotland – www.bbc.co.uk/scotland
Scottish Politics Links – www.netmedia.co.uk/links/default.html

Scottish Media – http://www.pr-scotland.com/national.htm

Think Tanks

The Institute of Governance
Chisholm House
1 Surgeon Square
High School Yards
Edinburgh

Scottish Council Foundation
23 Chester Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7ET

Centre for Scottish Public Policy
Chisholm House
High School Yards
Edinburgh EH1 1LZ

The Policy Institute
65 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4NA

Newspapers

Most newspapers are published six times per week. Separate Sunday papers are published by the same organisation but retain different editorial staff and journalists. Past issues of the following newspapers, and major English and international papers may be found in the University Main Library in George Square.
Scotsman (Edinburgh)
Scotland on Sunday
Herald (Glasgow)
Sunday Herald
Press and Journal (Aberdeen)
Daily Record (Glasgow)
Sunday Mail

Other Primary Resource Sources

In addition to sources related directly to the research report, students may wish to consult the following sources. Address and phone numbers are located in the phone book or at the web site:

 

University Resources

  • Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) - Bistro Square: For clubs, associations, student government, student services
  • Accommodation Service - Pollock Halls: Manages student housing
  • International Students’ Centre - Buccleuch Place: Runs day trips, coffee groups for international students
  • International Office - George Square: University administration of international students
  • University operator - 650 1000

 

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Activities Programme

Spring 2007

Internship tutor: Eme Tarim
E-mail: emreve@hotmail.co.uk

Your activities tutor is Emre Tarim, who is working as a PhD student in Politics.

Most of the activities take place in the afternoon and following activities have been scheduled:

  • Tutorial at the University Library
  • Tour of the National Library of Scotland
  • Visit to the Scottish Parliament
  • Attending a Parliamentary Committee Meeting
  • Visit to Edinburgh City Chambers and meeting with Parliamentary Liaison Officer Councillor Kate Moulin
  • Video night (with wine and cheese) at Chisholm House, watching British political satire.
  • Meeting with a Scottish journalist Mr Kenny Kemp
  • Meeting with Ms Elizabeth Holt, Head of the European Commission Office in Scotland, and Mr John Edward, Head of the European Parliament Office in Scotland
  • Meeting with the Media Relations Officer of the Scottish Parliament
  • Meeting with a Scottish MP

Emre will distribute the full activities programme (including time and places to meet) at our first meeting. Attendance is compulsory and forms a required part of your internship programme.

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Weekly Media Review

You are required to undertake a weekly media review, and submit a one-page summary each Monday afternoon during the 5 week teaching course. This review will complement the lectures, and is intended to provide you with an insight into the role of the media in channelling news events and shaping public opinion in Scotland.

Each week, you should choose a single politically relevant topic in the news that week, and compare and contrast the reporting of this topic in two newspapers. In conducting the review, the primary focus should be on the manner in which the issue is reported (i.e. not so much on the details of the issue itself). You should seek to identify the editorial bias, the style adopted (e.g. sensationalist, serious, etc.), the prominence given to the topic, the intended audience, the sources of information, etc.

You should choose a different topic each week. In addition, you should also choose a different combination of newspapers each week in order to develop your understanding of the media in Scotland.

These assignments are compulsory.


NB! Weekly media reviews are due in the interns' pigeonhole in Chisholm House by Monday afternoon!

Alternatively, you can email them (preferably copied into the email itself and not as an attachment) to Emre at emreve@hotmail.co.uk

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