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How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

Published on January 2, 2023 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 11, 2023.

What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation topic .

There are five key steps to writing a literature review:

Search for relevant literature
Evaluate sources
Identify themes, debates, and gaps
Outline the structure
Write your literature review

A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources—it analyzes, synthesizes , and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

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What is the purpose of a literature review, examples of literature reviews, step 1 – search for relevant literature, step 2 – evaluate and select sources, step 3 – identify themes, debates, and gaps, step 4 – outline your literature review’s structure, step 5 – write your literature review, free lecture slides, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions, introduction.

Quick Run-through
Step 1 & 2

When you write a thesis , dissertation , or research paper , you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to:

Demonstrate your familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context
Develop a theoretical framework and methodology for your research
Position your work in relation to other researchers and theorists
Show how your research addresses a gap or contributes to a debate
Evaluate the current state of research and demonstrate your knowledge of the scholarly debates around your topic.

Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below.

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Writing literature reviews can be quite challenging! A good starting point could be to look at some examples, depending on what kind of literature review you’d like to write.

Example literature review #1: “Why Do People Migrate? A Review of the Theoretical Literature” ( Theoretical literature review about the development of economic migration theory from the 1950s to today.)
Example literature review #2: “Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines” ( Methodological literature review about interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition and production.)
Example literature review #3: “The Use of Technology in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Thematic literature review about the effects of technology on language acquisition.)
Example literature review #4: “Learners’ Listening Comprehension Difficulties in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Chronological literature review about how the concept of listening skills has changed over time.)

You can also check out our templates with literature review examples and sample outlines at the links below.

Download Word doc Download Google doc

Before you begin searching for literature, you need a clearly defined topic .

If you are writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, you will search for literature related to your research problem and questions .

Make a list of keywords

Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. Include each of the key concepts or variables you’re interested in, and list any synonyms and related terms. You can add to this list as you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search.

Social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok
Body image, self-perception, self-esteem, mental health
Generation Z, teenagers, adolescents, youth

Search for relevant sources

Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include:

Your university’s library catalogue
Google Scholar
Project Muse (humanities and social sciences)
Medline (life sciences and biomedicine)
EconLit (economics)
Inspec (physics, engineering and computer science)

You can also use boolean operators to help narrow down your search.

Make sure to read the abstract to find out whether an article is relevant to your question. When you find a useful book or article, you can check the bibliography to find other relevant sources.

You likely won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on your topic, so it will be necessary to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your research question.

For each publication, ask yourself:

What question or problem is the author addressing?
What are the key concepts and how are they defined?
What are the key theories, models, and methods?
Does the research use established frameworks or take an innovative approach?
What are the results and conclusions of the study?
How does the publication relate to other literature in the field? Does it confirm, add to, or challenge established knowledge?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?

Make sure the sources you use are credible , and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research.

You can use our template to summarize and evaluate sources you’re thinking about using. Click on either button below to download.

Take notes and cite your sources

As you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review.

It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism . It can be helpful to make an annotated bibliography , where you compile full citation information and write a paragraph of summary and analysis for each source. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

To begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure, be sure you understand the connections and relationships between the sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look for:

Trends and patterns (in theory, method or results): do certain approaches become more or less popular over time?
Themes: what questions or concepts recur across the literature?
Debates, conflicts and contradictions: where do sources disagree?
Pivotal publications: are there any influential theories or studies that changed the direction of the field?
Gaps: what is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that need to be addressed?

This step will help you work out the structure of your literature review and (if applicable) show how your own research will contribute to existing knowledge.

Most research has focused on young women.
There is an increasing interest in the visual aspects of social media.
But there is still a lack of robust research on highly visual platforms like Instagram and Snapchat—this is a gap that you could address in your own research.

There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature review. Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).

Chronological

The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order.

Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred.

If you have found some recurring central themes, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic.

For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal status, and economic access.

Methodological

If you draw your sources from different disciplines or fields that use a variety of research methods , you might want to compare the results and conclusions that emerge from different approaches. For example:

Look at what results have emerged in qualitative versus quantitative research
Discuss how the topic has been approached by empirical versus theoretical scholarship
Divide the literature into sociological, historical, and cultural sources

Theoretical

A literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical framework . You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts.

You might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a framework for your research.

Like any other academic text , your literature review should have an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion . What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review.

The introduction should clearly establish the focus and purpose of the literature review.

Depending on the length of your literature review, you might want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading for each theme, time period, or methodological approach.

As you write, you can follow these tips:

Summarize and synthesize: give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
Analyze and interpret: don’t just paraphrase other researchers — add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
Critically evaluate: mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
Write in well-structured paragraphs: use transition words and topic sentences to draw connections, comparisons and contrasts

In the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance.

When you’ve finished writing and revising your literature review, don’t forget to proofread thoroughly before submitting. Not a language expert? Check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services !

This article has been adapted into lecture slides that you can use to teach your students about writing a literature review.

Scribbr slides are free to use, customize, and distribute for educational purposes.

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If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Sampling methods
Simple random sampling
Stratified sampling
Cluster sampling
Likert scales
Reproducibility

Statistics

Null hypothesis
Statistical power
Probability distribution
Effect size
Poisson distribution

Research bias

Optimism bias
Cognitive bias
Implicit bias
Hawthorne effect
Anchoring bias
Explicit bias

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

There are several reasons to conduct a literature review at the beginning of a research project:

To familiarize yourself with the current state of knowledge on your topic
To ensure that you’re not just repeating what others have already done
To identify gaps in knowledge and unresolved problems that your research can address
To develop your theoretical framework and methodology
To provide an overview of the key findings and debates on the topic

Writing the literature review shows your reader how your work relates to existing research and what new insights it will contribute.

The literature review usually comes near the beginning of your thesis or dissertation . After the introduction , it grounds your research in a scholarly field and leads directly to your theoretical framework or methodology .

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An annotated bibliography is a list of source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a paper .

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Research proposal, thesis, exegesis, and journal article writing for business, social science and humanities (BSSH) research degree candidates

Topic outline, introduction and research justification.

Introduction and research justification, business, social sciences, humanities

Introduction.

Signalling the topic in the first sentence
The research justification or 'problem' statement
The 'field' of literature
Summary of contrasting areas of research
Summary of the 'gap' in the literature
Research aims and objectives

Summary of the research design

Example research proposal introductions.

This topic outlines the steps in the introduction of the research proposal. As discussed in the first topic in this series of web resources, there are three key elements or conceptual steps within the main body of the research proposal. In this resource, these elements are referred to as the research justification, the literature review and the research design. These three steps also structure, typically, but not always in this order, the proposal introduction which contains an outline of the proposed research.

These steps pertain to the key questions of reviewers:

What problem or issue does the research address? (research justification)
How will the research contribute to existing knowledge? (the 'gap' in the literature, sometimes referred to as the research 'significance')
How will the research achieve its stated objectives? (the research design)

Reviewers look to find a summary of the case for the research in the introduction, which, in essence, involves providing summary answers to each of the questions above.

The introduction of the research proposal usually includes the following content:

a research justification or statement of a problem (which also serves to introduce the topic)
a summary of the key point in the literature review (a summary of what is known and how the research aims to contribute to what is known)
the research aim or objective
a summary of the research design
concise definitions of any contested or specialised terms that will be used throughout the proposal (provided the first time the term is used).

This topic will consider how to write about each of these in turn.

Signaling the topic in the first sentence

The first task of the research proposal is to signal the area of the research or 'topic' so the reader knows what subject will be discussed in the proposal. This step is ideally accomplished in the opening sentence or the opening paragraph of the research proposal. It is also indicated in the title of the research proposal. It is important not to provide tangential information in the opening sentence or title because this may mislead the reader about the core subject of the proposal.

A ‘topic’ includes:

the context or properties of the subject (the particular aspect or properties of the subject that are of interest).

Questions to consider in helping to clarify the topic:

What is the focus of my research?
What do I want to understand?
What domain/s of activity does it pertain to?
What will I investigate in order to shed light on my focus?

The research justification or the ‘problem’ statement

The goal of the first step of the research proposal is to get your audience's attention; to show them why your research matters, and to make them want to know more about your research. The first step within the research proposal is sometimes referred to as the research justification or the statement of the 'problem'. This step involves providing the reader with critical background or contextual information that introduces the topic area, and indicates why the research is important. Research proposals often open by outlining a central concern, issue, question or conundrum to which the research relates.

The research justification should be provided in an accessible and direct manner in the introductory section of the research proposal. The number of words required to complete this first conceptual step will vary widely depending on the project.

Questions to help clarify the research problem:

The legitimacy of the research justification can be established in a number of ways:

Writing about the research justification, like writing about the literature and your research design, is a creative process involving careful decision making on your part. The research justification should lead up to the topic of your research and frame your research, and, when you write your thesis, exegesis or journal article conclusion, you will again return to the research justification to wrap up the implications of your research. That is to say, your conclusions will refer back to the problem and reflect on what the findings suggest about how we should treat the problem. For this reason, you may find the need to go back and reframe your research justification as your research and writing progresses.

The most common way of establishing the importance of the research is to refer to a real world problem. Research may aim to produce knowledge that will ultimately be used to:

advance national and organisational goals (health, clean environment, quality education),
improve policies and regulations,
manage risk,
contribute to economic development,
promote peace and prosperity,
promote democracy,
test assumptions (theoretical, popular, policy) about human behaviour, the economy, society,
understand human behaviour, the economy and social experience,
understand or critique social processes and values.

Examples of 'research problems' in opening sentences and paragraphs of research writing

Management The concept of meritocracy is one replicated and sustained in much discourse around organisational recruitment, retention and promotion. Women have a firm belief in the concept of merit, believing that hard work, education and talent will in the end be rewarded (McNamee and Miller, 2004). This belief in workplace meritocracy could in part be due to the advertising efforts of employers themselves, who, since the early 1990s, attempt to attract employees through intensive branding programs and aggressive advertising which emphasise equality of opportunity. The statistics, however, are less than convincing, with 2008 data from the Equal Employment for Women in the Workplace agency signalling that women are disproportionately represented in senior management levels compared to men, and that the numbers of women at Chief Executive Officer level in corporate Australia have actually decreased (Equal Opportunity for Women Agency, 2008). Women, it seems, are still unable to shatter the glass ceiling and are consistently overlooked at executive level.

Psychology Tension-type headache is extremely prevalent and is associated with significant personal and social costs.

Education One of the major challenges of higher education health programs is developing the cognitive abilities that will assist undergraduate students' clinical decision making. This is achieved by stimulating enquiry analysis, creating independent judgement and developing cognitive skills that are in line with graduate practice (Hollingworth and McLoughlin 2001; Bedard, 1996).

Visual arts In the East, the traditional idea of the body was not as something separate from the mind. In the West, however, the body is still perceived as separate, as a counterpart of the mind. The body is increasingly at the centre of the changing cultural environment, particularly the increasingly visual culture exemplified by the ubiquity of the image, the emergence of virtual reality, voyeurism and surveillance culture. Within the contemporary visual environment, the body's segregation from the mind has become more intense than ever, conferring upon the body a 'being watched' or 'manufacturable' status, further undermining the sense of the body as an integral part of our being.

Literature review summary

The next step following the research justification in the introduction is the literature review summary statement. This part of the introduction summarises the literature review section of the research proposal, providing a concise statement that signals the field of research and the rationale for the research question or aim.

It can be helpful to think about the literature review element as comprised of four parts. The first is a reference to the field or discipline the research will contribute to. The second is a summary of the main questions, approaches or accepted conclusions in your topic area in the field or discipline at present ('what is known'). This summary of existing research acts as a contrast to highlight the significance of the third part, your statement of a 'gap'. The fourth part rephrases this 'gap' in the form of a research question, aim, objective or hypothesis.

For example

Scholars writing about ... (the problem area) in the field of ... (discipline or sub-discipline, part one) have observed that ... ('what is known', part two). Others describe ... ('what is known', part two). A more recent perspective chronicles changes that, in broad outline, parallel those that have occurred in ... ('what is known', part two). This study differs from these approaches in that it considers ... ('gap', research focus, part three). This research draws on ... to consider ... (research objective, part four).

More information about writing these four parts of the literature review summary is provided below.

1. The 'field' of literature

The field of research is the academic discipline within which your research is situated, and to which it will contribute. Some fields grow out of a single discipline, others are multidisciplinary. The field or discipline is linked to university courses and research, academic journals, conferences and other academic associations, and some book publishers. It also describes the expertise of thesis supervisors and examiners.

The discipline defines the kinds of approaches, theories, methods and styles of writing adopted by scholars and researchers working within them.

For a list of academic disciplines have a look at the wikipedia site at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_academic_disciplines

The field or discipline is not the same as the topic of the research. The topic is the subject matter or foci of your research. Disciplines or 'fields' refer to globally recognised areas of research and scholarship.

The field or discipline the research aims to contribute to can be signalled in a few key words within the literature review summary, or possibly earlier withn the research justification.

Sentence stems to signal the field of research

Within the field of ... there is now agreement that ... .
The field of ... is marked by ongoing debate about ... .
Following analysis of ... the field of ... turned to an exploration of ... .

2. A summary of contrasting areas of research or what is 'known'

The newness or significance of what you are doing is typically established in a contrast or dialogue with other research and scholarship. The 'gap' (or hole in the donut) only becomes apparent by the surrounding literature (or donut). Sometimes a contrast is provided to show that you are working in a different area to what has been done before, or to show that you are building on previous work, or perhaps working on an unresolved issue within a discipline. It might also be that the approaches of other disciplines on the same problem area or focus are introduced to highlight a new angle on the topic.

3. The summary of the 'gap' in the literature

The 'gap' in the field typically refers to the explanation provided to support the research question. Questions or objectives grow out of areas of uncertainty, or gaps, in the field of research. In most cases, you will not know what the gap in knowledge is until you have reviewed the literature and written up a good part of the literature review section of the proposal. It is often not possible therefore to confidently write the 'gap' statement until you have done considerable work on the literature review. Once your literature review section is sufficiently developed, you can summarise the missing piece of knowledge in a brief statement in the introduction.

Sentence stems for summarising a 'gap' in the literature

Indicate a gap in the previous research by raising a question about it, or extending previous knowledge in some way:

However, there is little information/attention/work/data/research on … .
However, few studies/investigations/researchers/attempt to … .

Often steps two and three blend together in the same sentence, as in the sentence stems below.

Sentence stems which both introduce research in the field (what is 'known') and summarise a 'gap'

The research has tended to focus on …(introduce existing field foci), rather than on … ('gap').
These studies have emphasised that … …(introduce what is known), but it remains unclear whether … ('gap').
Although considerable research has been devoted to … (introduce field areas), rather less attention has been paid to … ('gap').

The 'significance' of the research

When writing the research proposal, it is useful to think about the research justification and the ‘gap in the literature’ as two distinct conceptual elements, each of which must be established separately. Stating a real world problem or outlining a conceptual or other conundrum or concern is typically not, in itself, enough to justify the research. Similarly, establishing that there is a gap in the literature is often not enough on its own to persuade the reader that the research is important. In the first case, reviewers may still wonder ‘perhaps the problem or concern has already been addressed in the literature’, or, in the second, ‘so little has been done on this focus, but perhaps the proposed research is not important’? The proposal will ideally establish that the research is important, and that it will provide something new to the field of knowledge.

In effect, the research justification and the literature review work together to establish the benefit, contribution or 'significance' of the research. The 'significance' of the research is established not in a statement to be incorporated into the proposal, but as something the first two sections of the proposal work to establish. Research is significant when it pertains to something important, and when it provides new knowledge or insights within a field of knowledge.

4. The research aim or objective

The research aim is usually expressed as a concise statement at the close of the literature review. It may be referred to as an objective, a question or an aim. These terms are often used interchangeably to refer to the focus of the investigation. The research focus is the question at the heart of the research, designed to produce new knowledge. To avoid confusing the reader about the purpose of the research it is best to express it as either an aim, or an objective, or a question. It is also important to frame the aims of the research in a succinct manner; no more than three dot points say. And the aim/objective/question should be framed in more or less the same way wherever it appears in the proposal. This ensures the research focus is clear.

Language use

Research generally aims to produce knowledge, as opposed to say recommendations, policy or social change. Research may support policy or social change, and eventually produce it in some of its applications, but it does not typically produce it (with the possible exception of action research). For this reason, aims and objectives are framed in terms of knowledge production, using phrases like:

to increase understanding, insight, clarity;
to evaluate and critique;
to test models, theory, or strategies.

These are all knowledge outcomes that can be achieved within the research process.

Reflecting your social philosophy in the research aim

A well written research aim typically carries within it information about the philosophical approach the research will take, even if the researcher is not themselves aware of it, or if the proposal does not discuss philosophy or social theory at any length. If you are interested in social theory, you might consider framing your aim such that it reflects your philosophical or theoretical approach. Since your philosophical approach reflects your beliefs about how 'valid' knowledge can be gained, and therefore the types of questions you ask, it follows that it will be evident within your statement of the research aim. Researchers, variously, hold that knowledge of the world arises through:

observations of phenomena (measurements of what we can see, hear, taste, touch);
the interactions between interpreting human subjects and objective phenomena in the world;
ideology shaped by power, which we may be unconscious of, and which must be interrogated and replaced with knowledge that reflects people's true interests;
the structure of language and of the unconscious;
the play of historical relations between human actions, institutional practices and prevailing discourses;
metaphoric and other linguistic relations established within language and text.

The philosophical perspective underpinning your research is then reflected in the research aim. For example, depending upon your philosophical perspective, you may aim to find out about:

observable phenomenon or facts;
shared cultural meanings of practices, rituals, events that determine how objective phenomena are interpreted and experienced;
social structures and political ideologies that shape experience and distort authentic or empowered experience;
the structure of language;
the historical evolution of networks of discursive and extra-discursive practices;
emerging or actual phenomenon untainted by existing representation.

You might check your aim statement to ensure it reflects the philosophical perspective you claim to adopt in your proposal. Check that there are not contradictions in your philosophical claims and that you are consistent in your approach. For assistance with this you may find the Social philosophy of research resources helpful.

Sentence stems for aims and objectives

The purpose of this research project is to … .
The purpose of this investigation is to … .
The aim of this research project is to … .
This study is designed to … .

The next step or key element in the research proposal is the research design. The research design explains how the research aims will be achieved. Within the introduction a summary of the overall research design can make the project more accessible to the reader.

The summary statement of the research design within the introduction might include:

the method/s that will be used (interviews, surveys, video observation, diary recording);
if the research will be phased, how many phases, and what methods will be used in each phase;
brief reference to how the data will be analysed.

The statement of the research design is often the last thing discussed in the research proposal introduction.

NB. It is not necessary to explain that a literature review and a detailed ouline of the methods and methodology will follow because academic readers will assume this.

Title: Aboriginal cultural values and economic sustainability: A case study of agro-forestry in a remote Aboriginal community


The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in its 2001 Social Justice Report (ATSIC, 2001) highlights the importance of economic development in providing the means for lifting the socio-economic status of indigenous Australians, and this has become a key area of spending on indigenous affairs. Yet, historically few sustainable business models have been established in remote Aboriginal communities, particularly for projects that give Aboriginal people equal control of the economic benefits of business initiatives (Altman 2002). This continues to be the case despite increased government awareness and funding to support Aboriginal enterprise.	Research justification or 'problem' statement, signals the problem, and the importance of the research.
In the field of indigenous studies, literature that explains the poor performance of Aboriginal enterprise within remote communities has focused upon social and economic factors, and has not paid sufficient attention to the role of cultural factors. In a majority of cases economic policies involving Indigenous communities have failed to take into account the social and cultural expectations of the community. This research aims to contribute knowledge grounded in Aboriginal cultural perspectives to existing understandings of the necessary conditions for sustainable development within remote Aboriginal communities. This research project will investigate the options and the obstacles faced by remote Aboriginal communities seeking to develop a sustainable enterprise base on freehold land within the Northern Territory.	The literature review summary contains reference to the field (indigenous studies), what is 'known' (research on social and economic factors), and what is unknown or remains to be investigated (cultural aspect). It closes with the research aim, which picks up the theme introduced in the 'gap' statement (cultural perspective).
The research will focus upon an agro-forestry venture in a remote part of the Northern Territory run by traditional Aboriginal owners. An Aboriginal driven perspective will be attained by the research partnership with the Perron Island Enterprise Aboriginal Corporation (PIEAC), a focus upon an Aboriginal owned and run business, as well as a qualitative method that aims to elicit wide consultation with Aboriginal communities in the region. A series of approximately 20 interviews with key Aboriginal stakeholders in the forestry enterprise will be conducted in order to identify the relative importance of social, cultural, commercial and environmental values, to identify the dynamics of organisation/stakeholder relationships, as well as stakeholder attributes and management styles. Interviews also aim to reveal the forms of institutional support that assist the enterprise including organisation design, management governance structures, social impact assessment tools, and passive and active investment strategies. The research method also involves a review and analysis of social policy documents and Government reports into Aboriginal enterprise.	The summary of the research design explains how the aim will be achieved (points to the case study and research partnership, and the research interviews that will provide cultural perspective).

Further examples can be found at the end of this topic, and in the drop down for this topic in the left menu.

In summary, the introduction contains a problem statement, or explanation of why the research is important to the world, a summary of the literature review, and a summary of the research design. The introduction enables the reviewer, as well as yourself and your supervisory team, to assess the logical connections between the research justification, the 'gap' in the literature, research aim and the research design without getting lost in the detail of the project. In this sense, the introduction serves as a kind of map or abstract of the proposed research as well as of the main body of the research proposal.

The following questions may be useful in assessing your research proposal introduction.

Have I clearly signalled the research topic in the key words and phrases used in the first sentence and title of the research proposal?
Have I explained why my research matters, the problem or issue that underlies the research in the opening sentences, paragraphs and page/s?
Have I used literature, examples or other evidence to substantiate my understanding of the key issues?
Have I explained the problem in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and concern?
Have I indicated the field/s within which my research is situated using key words that are recognised by other scholars?
Have I provided a summary of previous research and outlined a 'gap' in the literature?
Have I provided a succinct statement of the objectives or aims of my research?
Have I provided a summary of the research phases and methods?

This resource was developed by Wendy Bastalich.

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President Kennedy address on Test Ban Treaty, White House, Oval Office, July 26, 1963. President John F. Kennedy, President Kennedy

Metropolitan Life

Learn about this topic in these articles:, discussed in biography.

…were collected in the book Metropolitan Life , which was soon followed by another collection, Social Studies (1981). Both books were best sellers, and it was not long before Lebowitz signed a publisher’s contract, with a hefty advance, to write a novel called Exterior Signs of Wealth . However, she was gripped…

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Universal Degree Requirements

To be awarded a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, students are required to complete universal curriculum requirements in addition to the program requirements provided below. The school universal curriculum requirements can be found on the school Degree Programs page .

Interested students currently in their fourth semester in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to apply for admission into this interdisciplinary program. As a distinguished major, the program admits only eighteen to twenty new students a year. A 3.20 cumulative GPA is generally required for admission; the average GPA of recent classes is well above this.

The program assumes the students will be in Charlottesville their third and fourth years.

It is highly desirable (but not mandatory) that students applying for the PST program should take at least one of the courses listed under the foundations of political and social thought by the end of their second year. Courses taken before admission to the major can be counted toward fulfilling its requirements.

Students interested in becoming PST majors should submit:

a completed PST application form (available on the PST website);
an official transcript
a letter of recommendation by a faculty member sent directly to Prof. Smith
a 300-500 word essay. This essay should address the following questions: (1) What are your intellectual goals and why are they best addressed in the interdisciplinary PST major? (2) At this (tentative) point, what three area studies will you select in constructing your PST curriculum and why? This answer does not commit students to a particular course of studies if they are accepted into the program; but it should reflect a thoughtful and coherent curricular plan.
a writing sample–preferably a previously completed and graded term paper or essay that represents one’s work at its best.
a brief statement of one or two significant extracurricular activities, and why the commitment is worth the time.

The above materials should be assembled in a manila file folder and placed under Professor Smith’s office door, Gibson S-396, by March 1. (Students studying abroad may submit applications online.) Candidates should hear from the committee by the end of March.

The director of the PST program holds a meeting for the prospective majors in early February to answer any questions about admission procedures and program requirements. Students may also obtain this information from the PST website. Abstracts of recent PST theses are available on the website; these provide a concrete sense of how students pursue the intellectual opportunities of the program.

Requirements for Major

The major has four basic components:

PST Seminars (8 credits)
Foundation Courses (6 credits)
Area Studies (18 credits)
Thesis (6 credits, full year)

PST Seminars - Credits: 8

Open to PST majors only, the following must be taken by the student:

PST 4850 - Core Seminar in Political and Social Thought I Credits: 3
PST 4870 - Core Seminar in Political and Social Thought II Credits: 3
PST 4980 - Workshop in Thesis Research Credits: 1
PST 4989 - Workshop in Thesis Research Credits: 1

Foundation Courses

Each student must complete at least six credits from the following list of courses, or equivalents approved by the director, dealing with political and social thought or its historical foundations:

ANTH 3010 - Theory and History of Anthropology Credits: 3
HIEU 3782 - Origins of Modern Thought, 1580-1943 Credits: 3
HIEU 3802 - Origins of Contemporary Thought Credits: 3
PHIL 2690 - Justice, Law, and Morality Credits: 3
PHIL 3640 - Political Philosophy Credits: 3
PHIL 3710 - Ethics Credits: 3
PHIL 3720 - Contemporary Ethics Credits: 3
PLIR 3310 - Ethics and Human Rights in World Politics Credits: 3
PLPT 3010 - Ancient and Medieval Political Theory Credits: 3
PLPT 3020 - Modern Political Thought Credits: 3
PLPT 3030 - Contemporary Political Thought Credits: 3
PLPT 4200 - Feminist Political Theory Credits: 3
RELG 3650 - Systems of Theological Ethics Credits: 3
SOC 3020 - Introduction to Social Theory Credits: 3
WGS 4810 - Feminist Theory Credits: 3

Area Studies

Each student is required to define three different area studies. An area is defined as a particular intellectual theme or subfield of interest to be investigated in the course of the student’s studies. These areas can be derived from within, between, or outside traditional disciplines. Some examples of area studies might include aspects of modern (or contemporary) political thought; ethical issues in modern economic development, human rights; religion in world politics; identity politics in modern social movements; state-building in third world societies; the modern welfare state; mass media and contemporary social communication; environmental justice.

NOTE: An area of study is more specific than simply the name of a department or discipline.

For each area, the student must complete two relevant courses, normally at the 3000 level or above.

The total of six courses necessary to fulfill the area requirements must be drawn from at least three different disciplines, programs, or departments . In brief: 3 areas; 2 courses per area; 3 disciplines; Total credits: 18.

Taken together, the three areas of study should be well thought-out and intellectually coherent, and form the general basis of study for the fourth-year thesis. The three areas of study define the interdisciplinary character of the student’s program and must meet a rigorous standard of coherence. In consultation with their advisors and the program director, students are expected to articulate the rationale of their choices in a brief written statement due by the end of the third year.

Fourth-Year Thesis - Credits: 6

PST 4998 - Thesis in Political and Social Thought Credits: 2
PST 4999 - Thesis in Political and Social Thought Credits: 4

Additional Information

For more information contact Michael J. Smith, Program Director, Gibson S-396, [email protected]. Also consult the program’s website; http://pst.as.virginia.edu/ .

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Social policy: history (colonial times to 1900).

Phyllis J. Day Phyllis J. Day Independent Scholar, West Lafayette, IN
https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.608
Published online: 11 June 2013

American social welfare began in the colonial period with the adoption of the Elizabethan Poor Laws as the basis for treatment of society's poor and deviant. By the beginning of the Progressive Era (1900), immigration, the Women's Movement, scientific investigation of social problems, and societal growth produced significant innovations in both public and private perceptions, programs, and treatment in such areas as poor relief, mental and physical health, and corrections, and led to the beginnings of professionalization of social work.

Charity Organization Society
Child-Saving Movement
Elizabethan Poor Laws
friendly visitors
protestant work ethic
Settlement House Movement

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date: 27 June 2024

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Descriptive Essay Examples: Bring Your Writing to Life with Vivid Descriptions and Engaging English

One of the most popular academic writings among students is a descriptive essay. And that's quite natural. The point is that the work is very creative, implying activation of all language and inventing skills. It helps the teachers to understand if a person can operate with linguistic means and if he or she possesses a sound grasp of language.

This material is devoted to the peculiarities and main principles of writing a descriptive project, its structure, outline, useful techniques, and whatnot. After looking through all this stuff you will not feel any fear towards this kind of paper. Everything will be as clear as day. And let's start with the first question. What is a descriptive essay?

What is a Descriptive Essay?

A descriptive essay is an academic paper, whose purpose is to create a vivid, picturesque image of some object, event, character, emotion, or anything that can be represented. A narrator should create quite an impressive word illustration, using various figures of speech and other expressive means. The project being excellent, the reader feels himself as an eyewitness of the happening.

Giving some sort of immersive experience this essay concentrates only on one object or concept. It may be both fictional and non-fictional, varying from a real personal background to any fantastic idea. We offer you some examples, suitable for descriptive essay format:

A day of a common elf.
A trip around the lake.
My little house on the tree.
Remembering my holidays in the village.
A talk with a fairy.
My favorite dessert.
Having a weekend at the seaside.
Traveling around Venus.
Inside an ancient castle.
Forest sounds at dawn.

You may choose any topic to your liking. Just remember that the text should be made in a descriptive writing style. Try to invent a unique, original way of presenting your thoughts and ideas. Any experimental literary form goes well with this project.

In a word, master your creativity and inspire your imagination to write a successful essay.

Descriptive Essay Structure

Even though descriptive essays may be created in a more or less free form, it is advisable to organize all the material in a nice system, using a standard structure:

introduction;
conclusion.

It lets readers take the text more easily, with much more pleasure and concern, as eating a delicious puff pastry or a layered salad.

Introduction

While making a descriptive essay outline, pay extra attention to an introducing paragraph. Like in any paper, being the first step in creating a successful project, it includes the following key elements:

a hook (to catch audience's interest);
some background data (to acquaint a reader with a theme);
a thesis (to accentuate the chosen object).

The purpose of the introduction is to prepare your readers for diving into the depth of your narration.

Body Paragraph

This is the core of your project, providing a reader with an impression of being within the situation. As a rule, there should be three or more descriptive paragraphs, connected by logical bridges. The key point here is that the last sentence of one paragraph should give the context for the next paragraph. Each part occurs to describe one of the unique features of the chosen topic (character, scenery, idea, etc).

When writing this section, use metaphors, symbols, personification, similes, and other expressive means, helping to create a rich, saturated sensory image of the topical object. Try to touch the sphere of your audience's emotions.

The tail part of the essay should give a reader a long-lasting impression, providing him or her with both a picturesque image and, of course, some food for thought. It is recommended to fill the conclusion with:

a reworded thesis;
a few brightest descriptive sentences, summarizing all the mentioned in the main body;
a vivid, outstanding quotation, image, or statement to accentuate the theme of the project once more.

Anyway, always keep in mind that the structure of such a work may be quite flexible, the essay being extra creative and artistic. The form of the text depends on the narrator's aims and the topic taken.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay?

We have spoken about the skeleton of the project, and now it's high time to discuss its verbal filling. Get acquainted with a few recommendations, helping to create a successful remarkable story.

Use Figures of Speech

It's a well-known fact that literary devices make the narration more emotional, colorful, and spectacular. When using similes, metaphors, personification, and other expressive means, a writer can produce a vivid, poetic masterpiece. Any matter, figuratively describing the object, is sure to help readers to dive deeper into the presented imaginary world.

Simple Words	Figures of Speech
A blue-eyed girl	A girl with deep blue eyes, resembling a world of waters. (simile)
It was windy in the forest.	The wind was whispering somewhere overhead, telling stories to tiny birds and playing with soft emerald green leaves. (personification)

Use Your Senses

A reader reacts to the narration better if depicted images can strike a chord. This effect is produced when a writer appeals to all personal senses. Word presentation of sounds, smells, tastes and other things of that kind occurs much more evocative.

Simple Words	Sensory Descriptions
A tasty cake	A cake smells like a handful of strawberries, gathered early in the morning
The storm was strong.	The lightning was blinding, the thunder was almost ear-splitting.

Use Evocative Language

According to a descriptive writing definition, it is important to take into your work strong, intensive, meaningful words, able to wake up readers' rememberings and emotions. the passive language goes well with scientific data (it is dull but clear), and the evocative one – with creative literary texts (it is sensory and expressive)..

Simple Words	Evocative Words
He walks along the trail.	He trudges along the trail.
He was looking at the girl.	He was ogling the girl.

Descriptive Essay Outline

After discussing the structure and filling of an impressive descriptive essay, we want to give a few recommendations concerning the work order and the process of making an outline.

First of all, make sure that the chosen topic can grab your interest and emotional experience. Remember that the structure of a descriptive paper may be quite adaptable. Now you are ready to create an outline. It usually includes three elements:

introduction (with a hook, thesis, and background word);
central narration (with scenery, feelings, reflections, and whatnot concerning the project theme);
conclusion (with a final word and some thought-starter for readers).

The outline of the central part is sure to be divided into sections and subsections to make a description more detailed and multi-faceted.

A Final Word

Summarizing all the material, we'd like again to pay attention to the question, 'What is descriptive writing?' It is the most creative and quite a free-formed academic paper. Its purpose is to show personal language skills, the ability to use various figures of speech and literary devices, and, of course, express feelings and emotions in the text.

If you need any inspiration while preparing such essays, welcome to use a free tool Aithor for creating examples concerning your topics.

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English Career Testimonials

Former undergraduate student testimonials.

I graduated from SDSU with a degree in English in 2011. I absolutely loved my time as an undergraduate student at SDSU, and I would not change a thing about my experience. My professors were passionate and inspiring individuals who truly changed my life. I had no intention of going to law school, but my advisor told me he thought my skills in writing and analysis would carry over well into the legal field. The more I looked into the legal profession, the more excited I became. I attended law school at the University of South Dakota, graduating with a J.D. in 2015. My background in English set me apart in that it gave me the skills to write effective legal documents and the ability to analyze various legal arguments. Since graduating from law school and passing the South Dakota bar exam I have held different positions. Initially, my husband and I created and operated our own private law firm. From there, I worked for Brookings County as a Deputy State’s Attorney where my primary role was to prosecute criminal cases. Currently, I am a law instructor at SDSU teaching courses in business law, criminal law, real estate and construction law. I absolutely love what I do and I am incredibly grateful for the foundation the SDSU English Department provided me.

Where do I start? My experiences in the English Department at South Dakota State University set me up for a lifetime of success. The skills I learned in school have helped me in nearly every aspect of my career as a copywriter and editor. The more I live and learn, the more I realize what I can trace back to my foundation at State. Strong research and critical thinking skills taught me to read any piece of information, extrapolate salient points and create informative content that anyone can understand. Technical Writing and a handful of other courses (Visual Rhetoric comes to mind) taught me the value of concise, engaging language, whether you're writing an email to a client or coming up with headlines. I went from getting my B.A. at SDSU to writing articles for a handful of magazines to owning my own freelance copywriting business. It was a fairly straight shot, thanks to my solid start. Also, the SDSU English Department fosters a sense of community and passion for language that has followed me. SDSU profs and fellow students ignited a spark when I was a student that still fans the flames of my writing life.

First, what an honor to be able to help support you. You meant so much to my development in college and I could never thank you enough for being there for me. I hope this will help repay that gratitude, no matter how minutely.

An English Degree is one of the, if not the most flexible degrees, you can earn in my opinion. To name a few intrinsic benefits, getting [a] B.A. in English forms the opportunity to think critically, form well-constructed and thorough opinions quickly on material one has read, and communicate effectively both verbally and in written form. Something more palpable to take away is the ability to think for yourself in a world that seems to increasingly disdain it and want you to "follow the herd," e.g. your boss, your political activists, the media, etc. To be able to ingest information, form critical thoughts about it and not take things at face value is a very powerful tool for your career and life in general for relationship building.

My English degree has assisted me in my life in ways I cannot describe. Maybe the most effective way to demonstrate this is the different things I've been able to "break into." I've worked in on-set production in Hollywood. I know for a fact my critical thinking skills got me my first gig when breaking down a mutual favorite film with the interviewer ( Aliens ). I now work for IBM as a Digital Sales Manager. I've overhauled the system at IBM on how to communicate effectively, emphasizing that the power with which we discuss topics gets us results, focusing a lot on the power of how we write and how we interpret and clarify what our prospects want versus need. My writing and critical thinking skills have gotten me promoted twice since joining IBM three years ago.

I can't put a value on my degree, but I can put a value on…the faculty as vital to my development. They're the best thing I could have asked for in my formative years at the end of my teens and early twenties. I miss my time at SDSU immensely. This is mainly because I miss discussing art, film and literature with people who challenged me to grow and fostered an environment of accountability and responsibility. I wouldn't be the man I am today without my experience with them and my time in the English Department from 2005 to 2008.

My experiences with English and the SDSU English Department have really set me up for a successful experience at the University of South Dakota School of Law. I feel, more than most students, I am prepared for the extensive amount of reading and writing that is required of us all thanks to my background. This has further allowed me to make Dean's list, join the Moot Court Board, and accept a position with the Governor's Office last summer working with the Governor's in-house counsel. I remember one individual mentioning that they chose me for the position because of my background in English! Now, I am finishing up my second year of law school with one year to go. I will be working this summer closer to home in Yankton with Marlow, Woodward and Huff, where I hope to learn more about civil litigation. My current dream upon graduation is to return to SDSU to finish my M.A. before taking a full-time job. One day, I really hope to return to teaching, but that is a long-term goal.

I work for a nonprofit in Omaha called Partnership 4 Kids where I do graphic design and write stories about the students we serve, our volunteers and our staff that publish on our blog, social media and donor cultivation materials. I also do grant research and writing. While I never took grant writing at SDSU, my ability to write eloquently and concisely has helped tremendously as I navigate writing grant proposals. The biggest help, though, is the skills I gained in research through my English degree. I’ve learned to apply that to researching funding opportunities for my organization as well as discovering resources that can help P4K grow and learn (on a nonprofit’s budget). I’ve always believed an English degree is a great foundation to grow from because the skills you gain are versatile and diverse, making you adaptable to all kinds of job opportunities depending on your interests. An English degree can open many doors of opportunity for you. Mine has allowed me to work in journalism, publishing, corporate communications and now marketing and grants.

They told me “you can go anywhere from here” and I took them up on the offer. After graduating from SDSU in 2012 with a degree in English and a 7-12 teaching certificate, I launched my career by teaching sixth grade writing in New York City for several years. Ultimately, teaching wasn’t for me, but I knew my English degree could help me pursue many different career paths, as long as I “sold” it on my resume. After receiving my master’s degree from New York University—where I won the award for top master’s thesis—I transitioned into a career in health journalism. I currently write for a health website in New York, writing articles and video scripts on mental health, nutrition and more. My studies at SDSU definitely gave me the skills and finesse not only to dig through jargon-filled medical journals and present complex information in engaging ways but also to think critically about how to market myself to break into new careers in one of the most competitive cities in the world.

I didn’t start out as an English major at SDSU. My dad had a degree in English and I didn’t want to copy him. However, after two years as a Political Science major, I grew disenchanted with politics and decided to change course. I happened to attend a speech given by an SDSU English professor. I was so impressed and inspired that I decided to change my major to English. It was the best decision of my college life. The English department was like a family. Every professor I had was encouraging, challenging and thoughtful. I graduated twelve years ago, but when I go back to Brookings and see former professors, they still remember me.

The classes I took in SDSU’s English department have a direct impact on my work now. I’m an actor and tour guide in New York City. Proficiency in script analysis, grasp of character development and general knowledge from studying a wide range of literature gives me a distinct advantage and a solid base in my acting career. The skills gained from studying language and literature also improved my work as a tour guide. Storytelling and the ability to communicate effectively are invaluable. I even lead a literary tour in Greenwich Village where I get to talk about authors and poets I studied at SDSU.

A degree in English lays the foundation for success in a multitude of careers. The classes foster a connection between students that is difficult to achieve in other disciplines. Most importantly, the professors in the English department at SDSU are passionate about their work and truly care about their students' education and success.

I’ve been a reader my whole life. Diving into a story (fiction or nonfiction) has always been an outlet. But the English department at SDSU took this to a whole new level. In addition to Austen and Brontë, SDSU taught me O’Brien and Caputo. It would be easy to say that it ended there. But strangely enough, I found my place in the world of finance, accounting and numbers. As much of an abnormality as I may be, my background in stories, persuasion (Jane Austen, thank you) and grammar are skills I use daily. I would not be in my current role without SDSU and without a solid background in using writing to make a “business” case. I have, and will continue, to donate regularly to SDSU English department for this reason.

Former Graduate Student Testimonials

I think what I appreciate the most from the English program at SDSU is the individual attention I received from the faculty and their level of commitment to their students. I always felt that the faculty truly cared about my educational and personal success, and for that, I am very grateful. (Ph.D., University of Kansas; now Assistant Director of Center for Academic and Professional Communication at a research university.)

As a teacher, I am able to apply some of the information that I learned from literary works to the work we read in my own classroom. I found it helpful to have seen what a grad school discussion looks like with the students engaged in the topic and responding to each other, not just the teacher. In my own classroom with my high school students, that is something to strive towards achieving. (11th and 12th grade English and journalism teacher.)

During my time in the Master's program at SDSU, I appreciated the opportunity to work closely with my professors on research and teaching projects. The faculty was incredibly open to allowing students the freedom to pursue their own interests and amazingly supportive. The research I conducted and used for my Master's thesis was a strong factor in my acceptance to UH because of its focus on pedagogy and as an illustration of teacher research. Further, the faculty unwaveringly supported me during the application process for Doctoral programs. (Ph.D. Candidate, University of Houston.)

I reflect fondly on my time in the M.A. program at SDSU. The program is unique in its intimate size, which allows graduate students to form a tight-knit community. Moreover, as the M.A. is its top degree, graduate students are valued as contributing members of the department. I appreciated the emphasis the program places on teaching, and I felt prepared and qualified to accept a teaching job at the college level when I received my degree. The program also represents the many facets of English studies; graduates can go forth as experts in British or American Literature, Rhetoric/Composition, Film Studies, Old English, Linguistics, Creative Writing—or as polymaths of the wide-ranging discipline. I know that the program deepened my life in many ways, and challenged me to improve as a writer, as a teacher and as a citizen. (former community college writing program lecturer; now a Ph.D. student at the University of Minnesota)

I deeply appreciate my program here at UC yet want to say that attending another graduate program has reinforced my opinion that I have truly benefited from the exceptional coursework I received at SDSU as well as the relationships I had with faculty and my peers. I continue to appreciate the English program's focus on student learning, the ways it prepared me to conduct academic and creative research, and how it taught and promoted critical thinking and analysis. (Ph.D. Candidate in English and Comparative Literature, Creative Writing: Literary Nonfiction, University of Cincinnati)

My experiences in the graduate program have enhanced every aspect of my professional life. I have called on them directly in writing, editing and teaching, and I continue to use them more generally in my current job, which involves working with authors, illustrators and publishers and, of course, reading books of all kinds! I truly appreciate the opportunities the graduate program gave me to think deeply about a broad range of ideas that still influence my outlook and activities today. (Director, South Dakota Center for the Book, South Dakota Humanities Council; former positions include South Dakota State University English Instructor, writer/editor for SDSU Marketing and Communications).

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PAPER 1 OBJECTIVE TEST

[45 minutes].

A major environmental problem facing towns and cities in Ghana in recent times is

land degradation.

sound pollution.

waste disposal.

water pollution.

Which of the following statements best describes the physical environment? The

building and other structures in our communities.

landforms, vegetation and climatic conditions.

mountains, lowlands and rivers in our communities

external surroundings within which all living things live.

A role that is inseparable and shared by all agencies of socialization is

skills development.

language acquisition.

intellectual development.

character formation.

Provision of security, sense of belonging, language acquisition and character formation are all socialization roles primarily played by the

peer group.

The youthful nature of Ghana's population implies

adequate skilled human resources for exportation.

low dependency burden for the country.

potential manpower for industrial growth.

reduced unemployment in the country.

The population policy of Ghana advocates

abstinence from sex as much as possible.

marrying only one wife at a time.

reducing the number of children one can afford to have.

spacing the number of children one can give birth to.

People who exhibit false identity do so in order to

achieve higher goals.

escape the realities of life.

obtain gainful employment.

please their peers.

The basic capability of a person is the ability to

The home environment can contribute positively to the building of the child's self-confidence by

being over sympathetic to him or her.

providing him or her with entertainment needs.

providing him or her with learning needs.

punishing all his or her offences.

The belief in one's own capabilities is

self-actualization.

self-confidence.

self-determination.

self-esteem.

Which of the following statements best explains self concept ? The

inborn characteristics of a person.

personal and physiological abilities of a person.

physical and psychomotor nature of a person.

whole nature of a person.

Ghanaian cultural practices are fully expressed during

funeral ceremonies.

marriage rites.

outdooring ceremonies.

traditional festivals.

The Sword in the Coat of Arms of Ghana represents

freedom and justice.

local administration.

national government.

struggle for independence.

Outmoded cultural practices can be eradicated from the Ghanaian community through

judicial and executive control.

legislation and military action.

legislation and public education.

police action and punishment.

Which of the following is not a symbol of national identity in Ghana?

National Anthem

Flag of Ghana

Coat of Arms of Ghana

Adinkra patterns

Which of the following statements is not accurate about some Ghanaian cultural practices?

Celebration of festivals facilitate cleanup of communities

Chieftaincy promotes traditional heritage

Female genital mutilation ensures chastity of the adolescent girl

Naming ceremony promotes communal living.

The most essential factor needed in accomplishing community computer laboratory project is

financial resources.

identification of the project.

sensitization of the people.

the support of the youth.

A major source of development problem in Ghana is

foreigners working in the country.

inadequate international grants.

poor prioritization.

World Bank loans.

A factor that promotes community development is

availability of human resources.

having followers with foresights.

migration of people to urban centres.

presence of apathetic citizens.

Which of the following community projects is worth undertaking in a locality prone to outbreak of diarrhea and cholera?

Building of community centre

Construction of community library

Construction of more school

Sinking of boreholes.

The most disastrous effect of ethnic conflicts in Ghana is

destruction of property.

displacement of people.

interruption of projects.

loss of human life.

Peace building is effectively realized when the feuding parties are

The following processes are means of peace building except

compromise.

Regular payment of taxes mainly helps the government to

pay internal revenue workers.

pay treasury bills.

prevent internal borrowing.

provide social amenities.

Which of the following options is a feature of democracy?

Constitutional rule

Controlled media

Primary socialization

Unitary party system

Unity and development are more sustainable in democracy because the people

are given the right to form political parties.

are actively involved in decision-making.

elect their own local government officials.

enjoy highs standard of living.

A constitution is very important because it

I. limits the arbitrary actions of government. II. guarantees the rights of the government to rule. III. limits the powers of the elite. IV. portrays the cultural heritage of the people.

I and II only

II and III only

III and IV only

I and IV only

Which of the following political institutions are wrongly paired in terms of their function?

I. Executive - administration of justice II. Judiciary - policy implementation III. Legislature - Law making IV. Electoral commission - conduct of elections

I and III only

II, III and IV only

I. Executive - policy implementation II. Judiciary - administration of justice III. Legislature - Law making IV. Electoral commission - conduct of elections

Prohibition against the entry into military security zones curtails the individual's

freedom of expression.

freedom of movement.

right to privacy.

right to self-confidence.

An individual who enjoys full political rights of a country is

an aborigine.

Ghana's economy is currently not buoyant because it is

heavily dependent on export of synthetic products.

heavily dependent on primary products.

highly industrialized.

highly politicized.

In order to overcome high cost of living in Ghana,

interest on bank loans must be maintained.

the rate of inflation must be allowed to adjust itself.

the population growth should remain at the present rate.

there must be an increase in the production of goods and services.

In which of the following ways has science and technology negatively affected mankind?

Invention of weapons for war

The use of hook and line in fishing

Reduction in the use of traditional farming

The use of storage facilities

Measures that the government of Ghana is taking to promote science education include all the following except

making science compulsory in all secondary institutions.

engaging expatriate to man science resource centres.

the establishment of the council for scientific and industrial research (CSIR).

opening more science colleges and resource centres.

Ploughing profit back enables the entrepreneur to

benefit from tax exemptions.

pay back bank loans.

pay workers attractive wages.

improve and expand business.

An entrepreneur can ensure sustainability of business through

dependence on bank loans.

maintenance of high quality products.

reliance on unskilled labour.

sales of shares to the public.

Anything that is available to society and is used for the production of goods and services to satisfy societal needs is

The best way to develop human resources in Ghana is through

education and training.

excursion and field trips.

organized visits and counselling.

retaining and guidance.

The ability to depend mainly on one's own resources for survival is referred to as

economic independence.

self-reliance.

political independence.

Which of the following African countries has never been colonized?

PAPER 2 ESSAY

This paper consists of six sections: I , II , III , IV , V and VI . Answer six questions only ,choosing one question from each section. All questions carry equal marks .

THE ENVIRONMENT

Answer one question only from this section .

Explain the following terms:

environment

State and explain the two types of environment.

State four environmental problems which are of national concern to Ghanaians

In what four ways can the problem identified in (c) be minimized?

Environment refers to the relationship between all living things including people and their naural surroundings. The things surrounding us include air, land, trees, animals, buildings, other man-made/artificial things and water bodies

Sanitation is the process of keeping places clean and healthy by providing a sewage system and a clean water supply.

Sanitation is the process of improving hygiene and preventing disease through waste and excreta (feces and urine) removal.

Sanitation sysems protect human health by providing clean environment that help to stop transmission of diseases.

1. Physical Environment

i. This refers to the material surroundings within which human, animal and plant live ii. It covers the land, soil, water bodies, animal and plants life, air/atmosphere, climate, etc.

2. Social Environment

i. This is the interaction/relationship among individuals, friends and families in a given community/society to enhance good neighbourliness ii. It includes culture, politics, family sysems, religion and religious practices iii. A good relationship in the social environment brings harmony and togetherness in the society

Environmental problems which are of national concern to Ghanaians

1. Deforestation 2. Air pollution 3. Water pollution 4. Desertification 5. Global warming/Depletion of ozone layer 6. Bush fire 7. Land degradation 8. Noise pollution 9. Flooding 10. Soil erosion

Ways to minimize environmental problems

1. Public education 2. Adoption of afforestation/re-afforestation and agro forestry projects 3. Proper waste management practices 4. Creation of forest and game reserves 5. Enforcement of environmental laws on mining 6. Provision of agricultural extension services to farmers 7. Proper layout of settlement and drainage system 8. Clean-up exercise 9. Encouragement of the use of alternative fuel (LPG) 10. Control of industrial pollution 11. Encouragement of proper fishing practices

Explain the term waste management .

Outline four effects of uncontrolled waste disposal in Ghana.

Define the term energy

State the two major sources of energy and give three examples each

State two benefits of using each of the major sources of energy stated in (c)(ii)

i. Waste management is the proper way of dispossing off waste substance (unused or discarded resources/substances) which are created through human activities without creating an environmental nuisance/problem.

ii. This includes the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste, together with regulation and monitoring of the waste management process.

Effects of uncontrolled waste disposal in Ghana

1. Increase in air pollution 2. Increase in water pollution 3. Increase in land degradation 4. Spread of diseases 5. Flooding 6. Destruction of aquatic life 7. Breeding of mosquitoes 8. Destruction of the vegetation 9. Dirty and unhygienic environment 10. Development of swamps

Energy is defined as the ability to do work.

The two major sources of energy and their examples

Renewable Energy

These can be replenished/restore/fill up after being used and are not limited.They cannot be depleted over time

Examples of renewable energies

1. Solar energy (energy from the sun) 2. Wind energy 3. Biogas/biomass energy 4. Water energy 5. Geothermal energy

Non-renewable Energy

These are exhaustible or limited source of energy and are not supplied in high quantities.

Examples of non-renewable energies

1. Firewood 2. Charcoal 3. Fossil fuel (coal, petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG) 4. Dry cell 5. Nuclear energy

Benefits of using renewable energy

1. Improved public health/Reduced carbon emissions and air pollution from energy production 2. Enhanced reliability, security, and resilience of the power grid 3. Job creation through the increased production and manufacturing of renewable energy technologies 4. Efficient use of waste materials as in biogas/biomas 5. Unlimited energy supply/Does not run out/get finished

Benefits of using non-renewable energy

1. It is cheaper as compared to renewable energy 2. Creates job through extracting, transporting and refining of the non-renewable energy 3. They are easy to store 4. They ae easy to use

FAMILY LIFE

Explain the term socialization .

What role does the following agencies play in the socialization of an individual?

Explain agent of socialization .

In what four ways is socialization important to the society?

Socialization is the total process by which the older generation makes a conscious effort to pass on the culture of the society to the younger generation to enable them become responsible and useful members of the society. It starts from birth to death.

Role the school plays in the socialization of a child

1. Character and moral training 2. Provision of vocational and occupational skills 3. Development of mental and intellectual abilities 4. Promotes co-operation and harmonious living 5. Transmission of culture 6. Teaching how to read and write 7. Provision of communication skills

Role the family plays in the socialization of individual

1. Provision of physical needs 2. Protection and security 3. Moral and character training 4. Domestic training 5. Occupational training 6. Imparting cultural heritage 7. Language acquisition 8. Proper interaction and co-operation

Role the mass media plays in the socialization of individual

1. Imparting knowledge to individuals 2. Dissemination of information 3. Skill training 4. Entertainment 5. Provision of religious and moral teachings 6. Preservation of cultural heritage 7. Ensuring social cohesion/national integration 8. Mobilization of people for work 9. Provision of public education

An agent of socialization is a person in an agency/institution such as family, a church, a mosque and a community who carries out the functions of socialization.

The agents include parents, family members, teachers, priests, peers, opinion leaders, policemen/policewomen, religious leaders (Pastors, Imam, etc.)

Importance of socialization to the society

1. It helps maintain the norms and values of a society 2. It helps in the development of the personality of an individual 3. It prepares a person to fit well into a society 4. It gives one a sense of identification of belongingness 5. It helps to achieve national integration, unity and social solidarity 6. It helps to reduce the state of frustration/rejection among individuals 7. It minimizes deviant behaviour in the society 8. It enables the individual to participate in the activities of the society/environment

State four effects of rapid population growth on your country.

Why do countries perform periodic population census?

What is population growth rate ?

State four factors that bring about high population growth rate in Ghana.

Effects of rapid population growth

1. Leads to high dependency burden 2. Leads to pressure on the use of environment 3. Leads to pressure on social infrastructures 4. Leads to congestion and overcrowding 5. Brings high cost of living 6. Leads to growing of social vices 7. It causes unemployment 8. It brings low standard of living/low per capita income 9. Supply of cheap labour 10. In increases aggregate demand/large market 11. It increases government sources of tax revenue 12. It creates opportunities for healthy competitions and innovations

Importance of periodic population census

1. Helps in development planning 2. It helps to determine the population growth rate 3. It helps for electoral purposes 4. It helps for administrative purposes 5. It helps in determining per capita income of Ghana 6. It helps to know the size of population of a country 7. It helps for distribution of national resources 8. It helps for business and other investment planning 9. It helps the government to structure foreign policy

Population growth rate is the percentage increase or decrease of the size of a country's population in a given period of time. It can be positive, negative or zero growth rate.

Factors that bring about high population growth rate in Ghana

1. High birth/fertility rate 2. Low level of mortality/death rate 3. Influence of socio cultural orientation of some Ghanaians 4. Early marriages 5. The practice of polygamous marriage by some societies/Polygyny 6. Ineffective implementation of the country's population policy 7. Low level of formal education/Illiteracy 8. Inadequate family planning practice 9. High level of immigrants

SECTION III

Sense of purpose.

State four reasons why it is necessary for an individual to know himself or herself

Explain the term self-confidence .

State four ways in which self-confidence can be built by the individual.

What is self-identity ?

State four ways by which the individual can develop his or her capabilities.

Explain the term national identity .

State four factors that hinder the development of national identity in Ghana.

Reasons why it is necessary for an individual to know himself or herself

1. It enables the individual to discover his or her positive qualities, strengths and capabilities 2. It makes the individual identify his weakness/shortcomings and correct them 3. It helps an individual to make right decisions at the right time in life 4. It enables the individual to relate, interact and communicate well with other people 5. It enables the individual to understand and accept himself as he/she is 6. It makes the individual build self-confidence 7. It enables the individual to appreciate, assess and accept other people's perception, ideas and views 8. It helps the individual to accept others for who they are

Self-confidence is having trust in one's ability. It involves having a strong belief that one can rely on his/her abilities to achieve a goal/accomplish a task.

Ways in which self-confidence can be built by the individual

1. Self-determination 2. Acquiring quality education and training 3. Making use of encouragement from other people 4. Taking advantage of enabling environment 5. Role-taking/taking leadership roles 6. Self-awareness and knowledge of capabilities/Knowledge of one's strengths and weaknesses 7. Going through guidance and counselling 8. Making effective use of conducive home environment 9. Ability to take risks 10. Taking an identity/Emulating role models

Self-identity is how an individual perceives/sees himself or herself as a special, unique/distinct individual different from all the people in the society. These include the person's capabilities, intelligence, understanding, etc.

Ways by which the individual can develop his or her capabilities

1. Education 2. Training 3. Having a vision and goal setting 4. Having self-determination 5. Guidance and counselling 6. Availability of enabling environment 7. Conducive home environment 8. Role taking 9. Encouragement from other people 10. Ability to take risks 11. Taking an identity/Taking a role model

National identity is the behaviour, traits and ideas that are commonly shared by the people of a nation.

National identity refers to the phenomenon whereby an individual sees himself or herself as part of his or her nation and relates to the national symbols. It involves positive psychic feeling towards the nation.

Factors that hinder the development of national identity in Ghana

1. Ethnocentrism 2. The existence of different ethnic languages 3. The existence of different cultural beliefs and practices 4. The existence of different religious beliefs 5. Formal education 6. Unequal development

State five ways in which national symbols foster national allegiance among Ghanaians.

Explain the terms community and community development .

State four factors to be considered in community development decision making process.

State five factors that hinder the development of one's capabilities.

Ways in which national symbols foster national allegiance among Ghanaians

1. They represent the authority of the state 2. They signify symbol of nationhood 3. They foster unity and national integration 4. They serve as national emblems worn on uniforms by security personnel 5. They portray the country's cultural heritage 6. They instill a sense of patriotism 7. They instill a sense of pride in the citizens

Community is a group of people living in a defined locality. The group has common values, interests, enduring ties, frequent interactions and a sense of closeness.

Ccommunity development refers to a positive change that occurs in the attitude and values of people that lead to an improvement in the standards of life of the people living in a particular community.

Factors to be considered in community development decision making process

1. Identification of the needs of the community 2. Sensitization of the people on the needs 3. Prioritization of needs 4. Study of alternative solution 5. Mobilization of community support 6. Mobilization of funds and resources 7. Development of strategies for implementation of final decision 8. Anticipation of likely avenues for opposition 9. The will power/Commitment to implement decisions

Factors that hinder the development of one's capabilities

1. Financial problems 2. Lack of education and training 3. Lack of encouragement from people 4. Lack of personal initiative 5. Lack of guidance and counselling 6. Inferiority complex 7. Health problems 8. Religious beliefs and cultural factors 9. Social problems

LAW AND ORDER

Explain the term citizenship .

State four ways in which citizenship is acquired.

State five duties of citizens of a state.

State four fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution of Ghana.

State three conditions under which the rights of an individual could be violated.

peace building

conflict management

conflict resolution

State four causes of ethnic conflicts in Ghana.

State five methods that can be adopted to resolve conflicts in the society.

Citizenship is a means of membership of a country.

A citizen is a person who has been accepted as a member of a country either by reason of birth, adoption or registration (naturalization).

Ways in which citizenship is acquired

1. Citizenship by birth 2. Citizenship by marriage and registration 3. Citizenship by adoption 4. Citizenship by honorary conferment 5. Citizenship by naturalisation 6. Citizenship by ancestry/descent

Duties of citizens of a state

1. To protect and defend the name of Ghana 2. To protect and defend the constitution of the state (Ghana)/Obedience to the laws of the state 3. Respect for other people's rights 4. To foster national unity 5. To protect and preserve public property and state fund 6. Payment of taxes 7. To protect and safeguard the environment 8. Respect for national symbols 9. Prevention of criminal activities 10. To contribute to well-being of his/her community (communal labour) 11. To perform national services (voluntary services)

Fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution of Ghana

1. Right to personal liberty 2. Right to protection from slavery and forced labour 3. Right to equality before the law 4. Right to life 5. Right to freedom against discrimination on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic group, religion, creed, health, social or economic status 6. Right to own property either alone or in association with others 7. Right to fair trail 8. Right to education 9. Right to work and earn a living 10. Right to freedom of speech, association, movement, expression, belief, conscience, thought, etc.

Conditions under which the rights of an individual could be violated

1. Breach of the law 2. National security reasons/Emergency situations 3. Outbreak of diseases/ill-health of a person 4. Natural and made-made disasters 5. Restricted areas 6. Cases under trial/On-going court proceedings/hearing 7. Interest of socio-economic development of the state 8. People suffering from insanity 9. Unlawful entry into the country 10. Engaging in unlawful associations 11. Apply the laws on libel and slander

Peace building refers to the conscious effort to create an atmosphere of harmonious living within a nation or community or between nations and communities through tolerance, cooperation, respect, etc.

Conflict management refers to the various methods adopted to reduce tension during periods of conflict/serious disagreement to facilitate resolution.

Conflict resolution refers to the process of putting measures in place to settle misunderstandings, disputes, quarrels, etc. between opposing factions.

Causes of ethnic conflicts in Ghana

1. Land disputes 2. Injustice 3. Discrimination 4. Chieftaincy disputes and struggle for power 5. Display of ethnocentric tendencies 6. Greed/Dishonesty 7. Stereotyping 8. Religious intolerance 9. Poor communication 10. Bad governance

Ways of resolving conflicts in the community

1. Tolerance 2. Right conduct 3. Justice and fairness in adjudication 4. Respect for human rights 5. Compromise 6. Forgiveness 7. Consensus building 8. Efficient law enforcement system 9. Arbitration 10. Negotiation 11. Mediation

What is an electoral system ?

Highlight four conditions required of a good electoral system.

Identify two functions of an election.

State two roles of the electoral commission.

Outline five ways by which democracy is being sustained in Ghana.

What is a constitution ?

State three reasons why a country needs a constitution.

Outline four types of freedom guaranteed under the 1992 constitution of Ghana.

An electoral system is the process, arrangement/procedure established by the constitution, which qualified citizens of a country go through by voting directly or indirectly to select those who will rule them and make laws on their behalf in parliament.

Conditions required of a good electoral system

1. Existence of an independent and non-partisan Electoral Commission 2. Existence of acceptable electoral laws 3. Existence of Universal Adult Suffrage 4. Availability of electoral materials 5. Appropriate demarcation of constituencies and polling stations 6. Periodic review and compilation of voters register 7. Adequate political education of the electorate 8. Adequate training and better remuneration of electoral officials 9. Equal access to state facilities for political parties 10. Public counting, collation and immediate announcement of results 11. Provision of adequate security

Functions of an election

1. It confers legitimacy on government or office holders (makes citizens accept the chosen government to govern the country) 2. It provides a platform for mass participation of citizens in the electoral process 3. It provides an opportunity for citizens to be educated on their political rights, political issues and process of election 4. It ensures accountability of government to the citizen (electorate) knowing what can happen to them if they fail to be responsible to the needs of the electorates 5. It serves as machinery for ensuring peaceful change of government in a country 6. It provides the opportunity for citizens to choose their own leaders and representatives at both national and local levels 7. It provides the basis for rulers to get fair assessment and feedback of their actions, policies and style of governance from the electorates. Thus it measures how a ruler is accepted or rejected by the electorates

Roles of the electoral commission

1. Periodic review and compilation of voters register 2. Appropriate demarcation of constituencies and polling stations 3. Conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda 4. Educate the public 5. Ensures the availability of electoral materials 6. Stores properly electoral materials 7. Ensures that the electoral officials are adequately trained and paid well 8. Ensures free and fair election

Ways by which democracy is being sustained in Ghana

1. There is separation of powers among the organs of government 2. There is the use of written constitution 3. Rule of law is operating in Ghana 4. There are checks and balances among the organs of government 5. Respect for fundamental human rights exists in the country 6. Multi-party system of elections and majority rule are in operation 7. Established democratic institutions exist and are functioning (e.g. CHRAJ, NCCE, etc.) 8. The judiciary is free from control 9. Free press exists in the country 10. Opposition/minority is recognized 11. Periodic elections are conducted

A constitution is a set of rules and regulations used for the administration and management of a nation. It is the highest/supreme law of the land to which all other laws must conform. A constitution can be written constitution or unwritten constitution .

Reasons why a country needs a constitution

1. It prevents dictatorship/arbitrary rule 2. It establishes the organs and agencies of government 3. It allocates the powers and functions of the organs and agencies of government 4. It protects the fundamental human rights and freedoms 5. It provides the basis for smooth transition of government 6. It ensures the legitimacy of government and authority 7. It serves as a symbol of statehood 8. It helps to protect the interest of the minority group 9. It helps to promote orderly society and certainty of rules and regulations

Types of freedom guaranteed under the 1992 constitution of Ghana

1. Freedom of speech 2. Freedom of belief, thought and conscience 3. Freedom of association 4. Freedom of movement 5. Freedom of assembly e.g. demonstrations, rallies, etc. 6. Freedom of expression/media 7. Freedom of religion

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

entrepreneur

entrepreneurship

Outline five functions of an entrepreneur

Outline four basic requirements an entrepreneur needs for starting a business.

Outline five qualities which an entrepreneur must exhibit to be successful in his or her business

Outline four positive behaviours employers expect from their workers.

Highlight four negative work attitudes that have to be discouraged in the Ghanaian worker.

Explain the folloing terms:

Outline five roles of science and technology

in the development of your country

in the development of agriculture in your country

An entrepreneur is a person/an individual who combines the other resources namely land, labour and capital to produce goods and services.

An entrepreneur is a person/organizer who combines the other three factors of production namely land, labour and capital to yield output and bears risk of production.

Entrepreneurship is the action that is taken by a person to make change in the world. It involves combining resources in creating business through innovations to make profit.

Entrepreneurship is a process of setting up business and combining resources to produce products to solve social needs and also to make profit.

Functions of an entrepreneur

1. Decision making 2. Risk bearing 3. Coordination of other factors of production 4. Provision of capital 5. Managerial function

Basic requirements an entrepreneur needs for starting a business

1. Examining what one is capable of doing 2. Acquisition of capabilities 3. Business plan 4. Conducting market survey 5. Acquiring basic knowledge in accounting procedures and book keeping 6. Advertisements 7. Acquisition of training 8. Ability to take risk 9. Acquiring assistance from friends already established in business 10. Registration and license to operate

Qualities which an entrepreneur must exhibit to be successful in his or her business

1. Sound/Good judgment 2. Courageous 3. Knowledgeable 4. Good human relation 5. Visionary 6. Persistence and diligence 7. Innovative 8. Hardworking/industrious 9. Insight 10. Risk bearing

Positive behaviours employers expect from their workers

1. Punctuality and regularity 2. Loyalty 3. High sense of duty 4. Respect for established authority at the workplace 5. Hard work 6. Discipline 7. Respect and care for organizational property 8. Co-operation 9. Honesty

Negative work attitudes that have to be discouraged in the Ghanaian worker

1. Lateness to work 2. Laziness 3. Disrespect of authority at workplaces 4. Absenteeism 5. Dishonest 6. Mismanagement of resources and properties at workplaces 7. Bribery and corruption

Technology is the process whereby through human ingenuity and creativity, scientific knowledge is applied to create tools and machines to control the environment and to solve problems that confront man. It is the practical application of scientific knowledge to control the environment to satisfy human needs.

Roles of science and technology in the development of your country

1. Makes possible to do reliable weather forecasting 2. Helps in the improvement in agricultural production 3. Enhances efficient communication and faster dissemination of information 4. Improvement in medicine and health delivery 5. Enhances faster and efficient system of transport 6. Improvement in the industrial production 7. Facilitates improvement in education delivery 8. Facilitates improvement in trade, banking and commerce 9. Improvement in sanitation 10. Provision of efficient machinery for exploiting natural resources 11. Facilitates in harnessing the environment to improve quality life

Roles of science and technology in the development of agriculture in your country

1. The use of modern machinery for agricultural production 2. The use of agro-chemicals to control pests, plant diseases and weeds 3. Cross-breeding of animals and grafting of plant species 4. Developing appropriate poultry and animal feeds 5. The use of dams and irrigation techniques 6. Improving storage and preservation facilities 7. Developing and use of fertilizer 8. Improving the system of fishing 9. Reliable weather forecasting 10. Increasing research into agricultural production 11. Better harvesting techniques 12. The dissemination and use of research findings 13. Provision of better research equipment 14. Improving transportation/communication system 15. Improving agro-processing methods 16. Improving soil quality and management

Differentiate between science and technology .

Why is the Ghana government placing emphasis on the development of information technology?

Highlight three problems holding back the development of Science and Technology in Ghana

Outline four undesirable effects of technology on the lives of people.

State four reasons why people visit scenic places in Ghana.

Highlight four ways in which tourism can be promoted in Ghana.

Outline four economic and social importance of tourism to the nation's development

Outline four challenges facing the tourist industry.

Difference between science and technology

Science is a body of knowledge about the physical world acquired through systematic enquiry and considerable mental effort. It involves observation, experimentation, critical analysis, testing of facts and making general laws concerning issues while technology on the other hand, is the process whereby through human ingenuity and creativity, scientific knowledge is applied to create tools and machines to control the environment and to solve problems that confront man. It is the practical application of scientific knowledge to control the environment to satisfy human needs.

Reasons the Ghana government placing emphasis on the development of information technology

1. Enhances delivery of education 2. Improvement in agricultural production 3. Promotion of health care delivery 4. Promotion of trading, commerce and banking 5. Creation of jobs 6. Enhancing efficiency at work in industrial production 7. Promotion of collection and gathering of information 8. Bridging the gap between nations 9. Promotion of research work

Problems holding back the development of Science and Technology in Ghana

1. Lack of funding or resources 2. The superstitious beliefs of the people 3. The faith and cultural belief of some Ghanaians 4. Illiteracy

Undesirable effects of technology on the lives of people

1. Production of weapons of mass destructions 2. Accidents 3. Displacement of workers/Unemployment 4. Environmental degradation and pollution 5. Health hazards/diseases 6. Introduction of social vices 7. Isolation 8. Depression and anxiety 9. Eyestrain 10. Sleep problems 11. Reduced physical activity 12. Addiction to technology 13. Poor academic performance

Reasons why people visit scenic places in Ghana

1. For employment or relaxation 2. For health reasons 3. To engage in sporting activities 4. To acquire new artefacts and obtain information 5. To appreciate and interact with nature 6. To engage in economic activities

Ways in which tourism can be promoted in Ghana

1. Education/Educating the people 2. Publicising Ghana's tourism potentials to the outside world through various marketing channels 3. Integrating tourism studies into school syllabus 4. Beautifying and maintaining tourist sites 5. Providing adequate security 6. Reducing fees at tourist destinations 7. Training tourism personnel 8. Providing adequate modern facilities close to the tourist sites 9. Construction of roads to the tourist sites for easy transport

Economic and social importance of tourism to the nation's development

1. Source income/revenue for the nation 2. Source of foreign exchange 3. Cultural preservation 4. Provision of infrastructure 5. Conservation of natural resources 6. Growth of local craft industries 7. It helps to attract foreign investors 8. Source of employment 9. Uplifts Ghana's image abroad/to the outside world

Challenges facing the tourist industry

1. Low domestic patronage 2. External competition 3. Lack of publicity 4. Frequent changes of government 5. Inadequate facilities 6. Inadequate funds/capital 7. Inadequate skilled workers

State the names of the three ex-service men who were killed in the 1948 riots.

State three effects of the 1948 riots.

Why was the Watson Commission formed?

State four recommendations of the Watson Commission to the British government

Explain how the Watson Commission helped Ghana moved towards independence

State three recommendations of the Coussey Committee

Explain the term power-sharing

State two advantages and disadvantages each of power-sharing

The three ex-service men who killed in the 1948 riots

1. Sergeant Francis Adjetey 2. Private Odartey Lamptey 3. Corporal Attipoe

Effects of the 1948 riots

1. It led to the formation of the Watson Commission which also led to the Coussey Committee 2. It led to the killing of the three ex-servicemen 3. It increased the level of political awareness among Ghanaians 4. It led to the arrest of the Big Six which made them popular 5. It brought about confusion in the UGCC leading to the breaking away of Kwame Nkrumah 6. It discourage Europeans from investing in the country

Reason why the Watson Commission was formed

It was formed to examine/find out the causes of the 1948 riots and to make recommendations. It was named after Andrew Aiken Watson, the leader of the commission.

Recommendations of the Watson Commission to the British government

1. A new constitution was needed as a step towards self Government 2. An African should be made the head of civil service 3. The grievances of the ex-soldiers must be addressed 4. Ghanaians should be made happy at their work places through provision of social amenities such as housing 5. More secondary and agriculture schools should be set up to educate Ghanaians to serve the country 6. Ghanaians should have more control over all things that were done in the country

How the Watson Commission helped Ghana moved towards independence

1. The recommendations of the Watson Commission after the 1948 riots and their implementation by the British government led Ghana towards independence 2. It led to the formation of the Coussey Committee in 1949 by Sir Charles Noble Clarke which was set up to study the Watson Commission recommendations and draw up a new constitution

Recommendations of the Coussey Committee

1. They fixed the voting age at 25 and above 2. More Africans were recommended o serve on the Executive Council 3. They recommended that Gold Coast should be divided into four regions 4. They recommended that Ghana should practice a Bi-cameral (two chambers) legislature

Power-sharing is a political arrangement in which different/opposing groups take part in governance together

Power-sharing is an arrangement in which two political parties share responsibility for decision-making and political action.

Advantages of power-sharing

1. It helps in maintaining balance between the different organs of the government 2. It reduces the possibility of conflict diverse social groups 3. It maintains a stability in the political order by balancing power distribution 4. It ensures democracy in a country as power is distributed 5. It helps maintain power between governments as chances of disputes and conflicts between majority and minority is lowered

Disadvantages of power-sharing

1. Slows decision making 2. It poses risk to nation's unity 3. It leads to misunderstanding between the council of various organs 4. It leads to corruption and nepotism 5. Divisive politics 6. Difficulty in accountability

What is a republic ?

Mention any three political parties that existed in the Gold Coast before independence.

State four roles played by political parties in the struggle for independence in 1957

In what three ways did military regimes abuse human rights in Ghana?

Outline three reasons people prefer democratic governments to military regimes.

A republic state is a state in which the supreme power is not inherent but rather rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

A republic is a type of government that has no king, queen or other monarchy and where the people are sovereign.

Political parties that existed in the Gold Coast before independence

1. United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) 2. Convention People's Party (CPP) 3. Ghana Congress Party (GCP) 4. National Liberation Movement (NLM) 5. Togoland Congress (TC) 5. Northern People's Party (NPP) 6. Moslem Association Party (MAP)

Roles played by political parties in the struggle for independence in 1957

1. The political parties mobilized the masses to have a common voice against colonial rule 2. The political parties provided the needed dynamic leadership e.g. Dr. J. B. Danquah and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah 3. The political parties created political and social awareness among the people 4. They contributed to political education of the people through campaign and rallies 5. They pressed for constitutional reforms e.g. 1951 and 1954 constitutions 6. They sent petitions, delegations to Britain on issues concerning the granting of independence 7. They provided platform for conducting elections to enable the people to choose their representatives 8. They helped the colonial government to determine the type of government suitable for Ghana. 9. They organized demonstrations, boycotts, and civil strikes to pressurize colonial authorities to grant independence to the people of the Gold Coast e.g. Positive Action

Ways the military regimes abused human rights in Ghana

1. Unlawful detentions 2. Secret trials of suspects 3. Restriction on press freedom 4. Suspension of the constitution

Reasons people prefer democratic governments to military regimes

1. Democratic government use constitution while Military Regimes use decrees 2. Democratic governments involve popular participation while Military Regimes rely on the military junta (a committee of military leaders) 3. There is separation of powers in democratic governance while the military has fusion of powers

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