ATAR Notes: Forum

HSC Stuff => HSC Humanities Stuff => HSC Subjects + Help => HSC Legal Studies => Topic started by: Lottie99 on October 07, 2016, 12:41:57 pm

Title: Legal Studies: Contemporary Issues vs. All of Syllabus
Post by: Lottie99 on October 07, 2016, 12:41:57 pm
Hi guys,
When I'm writing an essay for the Options in Legal is it better to focus the essay around the contemporary issues or to work systematically through the whole syllabus in one essay. My teacher keeps asking us to work through the whole thing but I find this approach a bit problematic as it doesn't allow you the kind of insight into each point that I feel you need. What would you guys recommend?
Title: Re: Legal Studies: Contemporary Issues vs. All of Syllabus
Post by: jamonwindeyer on October 07, 2016, 12:51:19 pm
Hi guys,
When I'm writing an essay for the Options in Legal is it better to focus the essay around the contemporary issues or to work systematically through the whole syllabus in one essay. My teacher keeps asking us to work through the whole thing but I find this approach a bit problematic as it doesn't allow you the kind of insight into each point that I feel you need. What would you guys recommend?

Hey! I think it depends a little, but there are definitely parts of the syllabus you can ignore. For example, you can ignore the first section of Family, because it's all content and the marker doesn't care about it.

Of the two options you give, I am more inclined to say that contemporary issues is the better approach. In any case, you are definitely not required to use everything in the syllabus for a given essay. As you recommend, that is overkill, it is way better to hone in on the specific things you want to discuss to answer the question! I hope this helps :)
Title: Re: Legal Studies: Contemporary Issues vs. All of Syllabus
Post by: zachary99 on October 07, 2016, 09:35:04 pm
Last year the questions were on domestic violence and alternate family relationships.........neither of which are under the 'contemporary issues' section........which means that this year will definitely have a question, if not both questions on a contemporary issue! :) I would highly recommend studying this section of the syllabus. As jamon said, there are certainly aspects of the syllabus you dont need to really worry about.  8)
Title: Re: Legal Studies: Contemporary Issues vs. All of Syllabus
Post by: Essej on October 07, 2016, 10:15:19 pm
Last year the questions were on domestic violence and alternate family relationships.........neither of which are under the 'contemporary issues' section........which means that this year will definitely have a question, if not both questions on a contemporary issue! :) I would highly recommend studying this section of the syllabus. As jamon said, there are certainly aspects of the syllabus you dont need to really worry about.  8)

Make sure to read the question carefully! Its actually quite possible that you could incorporate quite a few contemporary issues into your response.

Alternate Family Relationships is a really broad term that encompasses the contemporary issues of same sex relationships and the changing nature of parental responsibility - you could even include single parent families or de facto couples if you're feeling extra frisky  8)

Domestic Violence often goes hand-in-hand with the contemporary issue of care and protection of children as often it is the young ones who suffer most from family breakdowns or violence.

So pretty much, read the option questions super carefully and often times you'll be able to slot in contemporary issues, even if the question doesn't explicitly ask for them  :)

Title: Re: Legal Studies: Contemporary Issues vs. All of Syllabus
Post by: jamonwindeyer on October 07, 2016, 11:18:07 pm
Would give the last two posts +5 thumbs up if I could, great stuff guys ;D