The Uses of Social Science

The Open University. Level: Degree, Year 2 Words: 2000 Part 1 Synthesis essay (word limit: 2000 words; 60 per cent of marks)

Write an essay showing the importance of the concept of enactment in the context of the DUE framework. i.Illustrate your answer with examples from a minimum of two blocks; ii.find one new piece of information to extend your discussion of one or more of your chosen examples.

The purpose of Part 1 is to show Your understanding of the importance of the concept of ‘enactment’, and how it connects dynamically to ‘description’ and ‘understanding. How enactment works by choosing appropriate examples from the module materials (case studies, topics or illustrations) You can carry out your own independent search to extend your discussion of your chosen example(s). The essay asks you to show understanding of the whole DUE (Description, Understanding and Enactment) model and the dynamic interconnections between each of the elements, but to focus on Enactment. This means you will want to think about how enactment is shaped by description and understanding and how enactments shape new descriptions or understandings.

Please bear in mind the following points to guide you:

To illustrate your chosen interconnections, you must draw on examples (that is, particular pieces of research, theories, case studies, or topics) from at least two blocks.

You are free to use examples from more than three blocks if you so wish but you will not get extra marks just for doing that.

Whichever examples you choose to support your argument, it is important to use them to show how enactment is not simply a ‘standalone’ process but is closely interrelated to understanding and description in different ways.

You need to undertake an internet search for further information to extend and inform your discussion of one (or more, if you wish) of your chosen module examples. This can be a newspaper article, policy document, video clip, academic article or even a discussion you have found on Twitter. You should use what you find to provide new insight into the example(s) you choose from the module material, to bolster your argument about enactment and its relationship to description and understanding. Whatever item of information you choose, you will need to make a judgement about its suitability, provenance (authorship, expertise) and what evidence it provides. You should also make sure you provide a source for it in your bibliography.