How to do well in Economics — Essays

19 Jun How to do well in Economics — Essays

The Essay component is found in Paper 2 of the H2 A-Level Economics examination. As the name suggests, candidates are required to write their answers in essay style.

Section A of this component will focus mainly on microeconomics and questions while in Section B focuses on macroeconomics. Some of these questions may be based on real world economics context. Candidates are to answer a total of three essay questions, of which one must be from Section A, one from Section B and one from either Section A or B.

How is it different from Case Studies?

Case studies have data provided for you to support your questions. Essays on the other hand provide little to no data in the question. Essays require more reliance on your economic knowledge and concepts to apply them to the questions. While answers in case studies can be straightforward, essays usually demand for a balanced argument and judgement for your stand.

How do I know the requirements of the case studies question?

Similar to Case Studies, the requirements can be found in the question. Read the question carefully and look out for key command words such as “Discuss” or “Explain” as it would determine whether a balanced answer is needed for your argument.

You also need to know which economic topic the question is focusing on. There are many topics covered in both microeconomics and macroeconomics, so it is very important to know which one the question is looking at. Sometimes, candidates may misinterpret the question and use the wrong economic concepts from the wrong topic to answer the question.

How do I write a good economic essay?

Before you even start writing, plan and decide which questions to pick. This is a very crucial step as you have to be sure that your economic foundation for the topic tested in that question is strong. This ensures that you will have enough points and arguments to write for your essay.

Always start with an appropriate introduction. Summarise the economic situation in question and the points you will be touching on subsequently in your essay. Provide definitions for any economic terms or words. This gives a good picture to examiners on what your essay will be about and also a good gauge on whether you have understood the economic situation.

Structure your economics essay well and develop your arguments substantially. If the question requires for a balanced argument, make sure that you have both thesis and anti-thesis paragraphs. Your answers have to be well-structured so that there is a flow in your essay for the examiners to follow.

Analyse the issue on hand from a variety of perspectives. This will help you to craft substantial arguments with economic concepts applied appropriately, as you are able to explain your stand and the economic effects clearly.

Make reference to other real-world economic examples not mentioned in the question that are relevant to the argument or explanation. This will help support your points and give a better view of what you are arguing for. Remember to use relevant diagrams and contextualise your arguments if real world economic examples are involved.

End with an evaluation and a well-reasoned conclusion of why you chose your stand. This would show that you have applied and evaluated all the different economic perspectives consistently. A good evaluative comment displays a mature judgement in your essay.

To get more tips in mastering economics essay writing, join us at jceconomics.com