Preparation for the Unified State Exam in social studies and history. Electronic courses and books

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Hello! In this article you will see a number of essays written on maximum score according to all criteria of this year's Unified State Examination. If you want to learn how to write an essay on society, I have written an article for you that reveals all aspects of doing this work

Political Science Essay

“Silent citizens are ideal subjects for an authoritarian ruler and a disaster for democracy” (Roald Dahl)

In his statement, Roald Dahl touches on the problem of the dependence of the level of political participation of citizens on the current regime in the state. Undoubtedly, this statement does not lose its relevance to this day, because the activity with which people take part in the life of the country is directly related to its basic foundations and laws. Moreover, consider this question can be based on both the realities of a democratic society and an authoritarian one.

Theoretical argument

The meaning of Dahl's words is that the lack of developed civic consciousness plays into the hands of rulers within an authoritarian regime, but has a negative impact on the state, where the main power is concentrated in the hands of society. I completely share the point of view of the author of the statement, because we can always find examples of this both in the past and at the present time. And in order to prove the significance of Dahl’s statement, it is worth first considering it from a theoretical point of view.

Political participation itself is nothing more than a set of actions taken by ordinary members political system in relation to its “top” in order to influence the latter. These actions can be expressed both in the usual reactions of citizens to any changes, in people’s speeches on various channels, websites, radio stations and other media, the creation of various social movements, and in participation in ongoing elections and referendums. In addition, political participation can be classified according to the number of people involved (individual and collective), compliance with laws (legitimate and illegitimate), activity of participants (active and passive), etc.

Civil society receives the greatest freedom within the framework of a democratic regime, the main characteristic of which is the concentration of all power in the hands of the people. The freedoms of citizens are significantly limited in the realities of an authoritarian society due to the constant government surveillance of citizens. A completely civil society is controlled by the state within the framework of totalitarianism.

As a first example confirming Dahl's point of view, we can cite the famous historical fact. During the so-called "Thaw" Soviet Union under the leadership of N.S. Khrushchev moved from Stalin's totalitarian regime to an authoritarian one. Undoubtedly, the dominance of one party continued to exist, but at the same time freedom of speech was significantly expanded, many repressed people were returned to their homeland. The state relied on the support of the population, partially increasing the range of its rights and opportunities. This directly illustrates the interaction between civil society and the state apparatus under an authoritarian regime.

The next example confirming Dahl’s position could be the event that was widely covered two years ago in the media – the annexation of Crimea to Russia. As you know, a referendum was held on the peninsula (the highest opportunity for the expression of the will of the people within the framework of democracy), which showed the desire of the Crimeans to join the Russian Federation. Residents of the peninsula expressed their opinions as representatives of civil society, thus influencing the future policies of the democratic state.

To summarize, I want to say that Roald Dahl incredibly accurately reflected in his statement the relationship between civil society and the state.

In addition, before reading this article, I further recommend that you familiarize yourself with the video lesson, which reveals all aspects of the mistakes and difficulties of applicants in the second part of the Unified State Exam.

Sociology Essay

“A citizen who has a share of power must act not for personal gain, but for the common good.” (B.N. Chicherin)
In his statement B.N. Chicherin touches on the problem of the essence of power and the ways of its influence on society. Without a doubt, this issue does not lose relevance to this day, because since time immemorial there have been relationships between those in power and ordinary people. This problem can be considered from two sides: influencing the authorities for the sake of one’s personal benefit, or for the benefit of many people.

Theoretical argument

The meaning of Chicherin’s words is that people with power should use it to solve the problems of society, and not to achieve some personal needs. Without a doubt, I fully share the author's point of view, since we can find many examples of it, both in the past and at the present time. However, before this we should understand the theoretical component of Chicherin’s words.

What is power? This is the ability of one person or group of people to impose their opinion on others, to force them to obey. Within the state, political power is one of its main elements, capable of imposing certain opinions and laws on citizens through legal and political norms. One of key features power is the so-called “legality” - the legality of its existence and the actions it carries out.

What can be the source of power? Firstly, this is authority - recognition of the ruler by the people, and secondly, charisma. Also, power can be based both on certain knowledge that its representatives have, and on their wealth. There are cases when people come to power using brute force. This often happens through the violent overthrow of the current government.

Examples for revealing criterion K3

As a first example illustrating Chicherin’s point of view, we can cite the work of A.S. Pushkin " Captain's daughter" In this book we can clearly observe how Emelyan Pugachev, despite his position, does not refuse help to all members of his army. The false Peter III frees all his supporters from serfdom, grants them freedom, thus using his power to support many people.

In order to give the following example, it is enough to turn to the history of Russia in the 18th century. Alexander Menshikov, an associate of Emperor Peter I, used his high position for personal enrichment. He used government money to achieve his personal needs, which had nothing to do with solving the pressing problems of an ordinary resident of Russia at that time.

Thus, this example clearly illustrates the use of power by a person not to help society, but to implement own desires.
To summarize, I want to say that B.N. Chicherin incredibly accurately reflected in his statement two contradictory ways in which a person uses his power, the essence of the latter and its methods of influencing society.


Second work in political science

“Politics is essentially power: the ability to achieve desired result by any means" (E. Heywood)
In his statement, E. Heywood touches on the problem of the true essence of power within politics. Undoubtedly, the relevance of the author’s words is not lost to this day, because one of the main features of power is its ability to use any means to achieve a goal. This statement can be considered both from the point of view of the cruel methods of carrying out the government’s plans, and from the side of more democratic methods.

Theoretical argument

The meaning of Heywood's words is that political power has an unlimited range of possibilities through which it can impose its opinions on other people. I completely share the author’s point of view, since you can find many different examples that serve as proof of his words. However, first it is worth understanding the theoretical component of Heywood’s statement.
What is power? This is the ability to influence people, to impose your opinion on them. Political power, characteristic exclusively of the institution of the state, is capable of exercising this influence with the help of legal and state methods. The so-called “legality”, i.e. the legitimacy of power is one of its main criteria. There are three types of legitimacy: charismatic (people's trust in a certain person or group of people), traditional (people following the authorities based on traditions and customs) and democratic (based on the compliance of the elected government with the principles and foundations of democracy).
The main sources of power can be: charisma, authority, strength, wealth or knowledge, which is possessed by the ruler or a group of people in power. That is why only the state, due to the concentration of political power, has a monopoly on the use of force. This contributes not only to the fight against lawbreakers, but also as a way of imposing a certain opinion on citizens.

Examples for revealing criterion K3

As the first example illustrating the process of political power achieving its goals within the history of Russia, we can cite the period of the reign of I.V. Stalin. It was at this time that the USSR was characterized by mass repressions, the purpose of which was to strengthen the authority of the authorities and suppress anti-Soviet sentiments in society. IN in this case the authorities used the most brutal methods to achieve what they needed. Thus, we see that the authorities did not skimp on methods for achieving their goals.
The next example is a situation that is now widely covered in the world media. During the presidential race in the United States, candidates try to win over voters to their side without using force. They attend numerous television programs, speak in public, and conduct special campaigns. Thus, presidential candidates also use the full power available to them, trying to win the US population to their side.
To summarize, I want to say that E. Heywood’s statement is incredibly accurate and clearly reflects the essence of power as such, revealing all its main aspects.

Essay on political science for maximum score

“Government is like fire—a dangerous servant and a monstrous master.” (D. Washington)
In his statement, George Washington touched upon the issue of the relationship between civil society and the state. Undoubtedly, his words are relevant to this day, because in any state there is a constant dialogue between its “top” and citizens. This issue can be considered both from the point of view of a positive dialogue between the government and the people, and from a negative point of view.

Theoretical argument

The meaning of Washington's words is that the state reacts completely differently to certain social unrest, in some cases trying to resolve them peacefully, and in other cases using force to do this. I completely share the point of view of the first president of the United States, since confirmation of his words can be found both by turning to history and by looking at the current situation in the world. In order to prove the significance of Washington's words, it is first worth considering them from a theoretical point of view.
What is civil society? This is the sphere of the state, not directly under its control and consisting of the inhabitants of the country. Elements of civil society can be found in many areas of society. For example, within the social sphere, such elements will be the family and non-state media. In the political sphere, the main element of civil society is political parties and movements expressing the opinion of the people.
If the residents of the state want to influence the government, they try to influence it in one way or another. This process is called political participation. Within its framework, people can express their thoughts directly by contacting special government bodies, or indirectly by participating in rallies or public speeches. And it is precisely such manifestations of civil sentiment that force the state to respond.

Examples for revealing criterion K3

The first example that can clearly illustrate the reluctance of the state to listen to the population of the country is the era of the reign of I.V. Stalin in the Soviet Union. It was at this time that the authorities began to carry out mass repressions designed to almost completely suppress any activity of civil society. Everyone who expressed disagreement with the current course of development of the country, or spoke unflatteringly about its “top”, were repressed. Thus, the state represented by I.V. Stalin ignored the manifestations of the will of the people, establishing his total control over the latter.
As following example One can cite a situation characteristic of modern political science. We will, of course, talk about the annexation of the Crimea peninsula to the Russian Federation. As is known, during the general referendum - the highest way expression of the will of the people in democratic countries - a decision was made to return the peninsula to the Russian Federation. Thus, civil society influenced the further policy of the state, which in turn did not turn away from the people, but began to act based on their decision.
Thus, I want to say that the words of D. Washington incredibly accurately and clearly reflect the whole essence of the relationship between the state and the actions of civil society.

Essay on social studies for 5 points: sociology

“To make people good citizens, they must be given the opportunity to exercise their rights as citizens and perform their duties as citizens.” (S. Smaile)
In his statement, S. Smaile touches on the problem of people realizing their rights and responsibilities. Undoubtedly, his words remain relevant to this day, because it is in a modern society, within the framework of a democratic regime, that people can fully realize their rights and responsibilities. This statement can be considered both from the point of view of the level of freedoms of citizens within the framework of a rule of law state, and within a totalitarian state.
The meaning of S. Smaile’s words is that the level of legal consciousness of citizens, just like the level of peace in the country itself, directly depends on what rights and freedoms are granted to the people. I fully share the author’s point of view, since for the successful development of a state it really needs to rely on the support of the population. However, in order to confirm the relevance of Smaile’s statement, it is first worth considering it from a theoretical point of view.

Theoretical argument

So, what is the rule of law? This is a country in which the rights and freedoms of its inhabitants are of the highest value. It is within the framework of such a state that civic consciousness is most developed, and the attitude of citizens towards the authorities is mostly positive. But who are the citizens? These are individuals who are connected to the state through certain mutual rights and obligations that they are both obliged to fulfill to each other. The main duties and rights of citizens that they must observe are written in the Constitution - the highest legal act that sets the foundations for the life of the entire country.
Within a democratic regime, the rights and freedoms of citizens are most highly respected, since they are nothing other than the main source of power in countries with such a regime. This is a unique feature of democratic countries, the analogues of which cannot be found not in totalitarian regimes (where all power strictly controls other spheres of society), not in authoritarian ones (where power is concentrated in the hands of one person or party, despite even a certain presence of civil liberties and rights in people).

Examples for revealing criterion K3

A well-known fact from world political science can serve as a first example that can clearly demonstrate the authorities’ lack of desire to listen to the citizens of the country. Augusto Pinochet, a Chilean politician, came to power as a result of a military coup and established his totalitarian rule in the state. Thus, he did not listen to the opinions of citizens, limiting their rights and freedoms through force. Soon this policy bore fruit, leading the country to a state of crisis. This clearly demonstrates the impact of the lack of political rights and freedoms of people on the effectiveness of their activities.

The next example that will clearly demonstrate the desire of the authorities to make contact with citizens and take into account their rights and responsibilities will be our country. As is known, Russian Federation is a legal state, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the country. Moreover, it is the Constitution of the Russian Federation that specifies all fundamental human rights and freedoms, which under no circumstances are subject to limitation. Ideological pluralism, coupled with the positioning of human rights and freedoms as the highest values, perfectly illustrates a state that is ready to listen to the opinions of its citizens and treats them with respect.
To summarize, I want to say that S. Smail incredibly clearly reflected in his statement the essence of the relationship between the state and its citizens

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Among all the 2019 Unified State Exam subjects, the social studies exam will traditionally be popular, which means that today 11th graders should ask what the structure of the essay should be, as well as what clichés can be used when writing a mini-essay.

We propose to analyze in more detail the features of task No. 29 of KIMs in social studies, and also find out what advice experienced teachers and USE tutors give to graduates.

What will change in the Unified State Examination in social studies in 2019

Due to the changes that affect tasks 25, 28 and 29, the total primary score of the 2019 Unified State Exam in society will increase to 65 points (in 2018 this parameter was 64 points).

FIPI officially announced that the following changes are planned:

More details about the changes that will come into force in 2018-2019 academic year read in the document.

For an essay, the specifications allow 45 minutes, but tutors recommend leaving at least 60-90 minutes for a mini-essay out of the total exam time, which in 2019 is 235 minutes (almost 4 hours).

Criteria for assessing a mini-essay/essay (task 29) at the Unified State Exam in social studies in 2019

(compiled on the basis of the Demonstration version of the KIM Unified State Exam 2019 in social studies)

Criteria for assessing a mini-essay Points
29.1 Revealing the meaning of a statement 1 point
The meaning of the statement is revealed: one or more main ideas related to the content of the social science course are correctly identified, and/or one or more theses are formulated in the context of the statement, which require justification. 1 point
The meaning of the statement is not revealed: not a single main idea is highlighted / not a single thesis is formulated.
OR The highlighted idea, the formulated thesis does not reflect the meaning of the statement / the meaning of the statement has been replaced by reasoning of a general nature (“homework”) that does not reflect the specifics of the proposed statement.
OR Disclosure of the meaning is replaced by a direct retelling/paraphrasing of the given statement/sequential explanation of each word in the statement without explaining the meaning of the statement as a whole.
0 points
Assessment instructions:
If 0 points are assigned according to criterion 29.1, then 0 points are assigned for all other evaluation criteria.
29.2 Theoretical content of the mini-essay: explanation of the key concept(s), presence and correctness of theoretical provisions 2 points
In the context of at least one highlighted idea / one thesis, explanations of the key concept(s) and theoretical positions that are correct from the point of view of scientific social science (without errors) are given. 2 points
In the context of at least one highlighted idea / one thesis, explanations of the key concept(s) that are correct from the point of view of scientific social science (without errors) are given; theoretical positions are not presented.
OR In the context of at least one highlighted idea / one thesis, theoretical provisions that are correct from the point of view of scientific social science (without errors) are presented, the meaning of the key concept(s) is not disclosed.
OR In the given explanations of the key concept(s) / theoretical provisions, there are some inaccuracies that do not distort the scientific meaning of these concepts, theoretical provisions
1 point
All other situations not provided for by the rules for assigning 2 and 1 points, including if there is no theoretical content of the mini-essay: the meaning of the key concept(s) is not explained, theoretical provisions are not given or are not related to the main idea/ thesis, do not reveal the meaning of the statement.
OR Reasoning of an everyday nature is given without relying on social science knowledge.
0 points
29.3 Theoretical content of the mini-essay: the presence and correctness of reasoning and conclusions. 1 point
In the context of at least one highlighted idea / one thesis based on the correct explanation(s) of the key concept(s), theoretical provisions, interconnected consistent and consistent reasoning is presented, on the basis of which a well-founded and a conclusion that is reliable from the point of view of scientific social science. 1 point
All other situations, including reasoning and conclusions of an everyday nature without relying on social science knowledge. 0 points
29.4 Quality of social facts and examples provided 2 points
At least two correct, comprehensively formulated facts/examples are given from various sources that confirm the illustrated idea/thesis/position/reasoning/conclusion and do not duplicate each other in content.
There is a clear connection between each fact/example and the idea/thesis/position/reasoning/conclusion given in the essay.
2 points
Only one correct, fully formulated fact/example is given that confirms the illustrated idea/thesis/position/reasoning/conclusion.
There is a clear connection between this fact/example and the idea/thesis/proposition/reasoning/conclusion given in the essay. OR Correct, well-formulated facts/examples are cited from sources of the same type that confirm the illustrated idea/thesis/proposition/reasoning/conclusion.
There is a clear connection between each fact/example and the idea/thesis/position/reasoning/conclusion given in the essay. OR Two examples are given from sources of different types, duplicating each other in content. There is a clear connection between each fact/example and the idea/thesis/position/reasoning/conclusion given in the essay.
1 point
All other situations not covered by the rules for assigning 2 and 1 points. 0 points
Assessment instructions:
Facts of social life (including media reports), personal social experience (including books read, films watched), materials from educational subjects (history, geography, etc.) can be used as sources.
1. Examples from different academic subjects are considered as examples from various sources;
2. Facts/examples containing factual and semantic errors that lead to a significant distortion of the essence of the statement or indicate a lack of understanding of the historical, literary, geographical and (or) other material used are not counted in the assessment.
0 points
Maximum score - 6

Essay structure

3. The meaning of the statement.

4. Own point of view.

5. Argumentation at the theoretical level.

6. At least two examples from social practice, history and/or literature confirming the correctness of the opinions expressed.

1. Choice of statement

Choosing statements for an essay, you must be sure that

You know the basic concepts of the basic science to which it relates;

Clearly understand the meaning of the statement;

You can express your own opinion (fully or partially agree with the statement or refute it);

You know the social science terms necessary to competently substantiate a personal position at a theoretical level (the terms and concepts used must clearly correspond to the topic of the essay and not go beyond it);

You will be able to give examples from social practice, history, literature, as well as personal life experience to confirm your own opinion.

2. Definition of the problem of the statement
For a clearer formulation of the problem, we offer a list of possible formulations of problems that occur most often.

After formulating the problem, you must indicate relevance of the problem in modern conditions. To do this, you can use cliche phrases:
This problem is relevant in the conditions…

...globalization of social relations;

…formation of a unified information, educational, economic space;

...exacerbation of global problems of our time;

…the special controversial nature of scientific discoveries and inventions;

…development of international integration;

...modern market economy;

…development and overcoming the global economic crisis;

...strict differentiation of society;

...the open social structure of modern society;

…formation of the rule of law;

...overcoming the spiritual and moral crisis;

…dialogue of cultures;

…the need to preserve one’s own identity and traditional spiritual values.


To the problem it is necessary come back periodically throughout the essay writing process. This is necessary in order to correctly reveal its content, and also not to accidentally go beyond the scope of the problem and not get carried away by reasoning that is not related to the meaning of this statement (this is one of the most common mistakes in many exam essays).

3. Formulation of the main idea of ​​the statement
Next, you need to reveal the meaning of the statement, but you should not repeat the statement verbatim. In this case, you can use the following cliches:

“The meaning of this statement is that...”


4. Determining your position on the statement
Here you can agree with the author completely, Can partially, refuting a certain part of the statement, or argue with the author, expressing the opposite opinion. In this case, you can use cliche phrases:

“Have you ever thought about the fact that...?”


5-6. Argumentation of your own opinion
Next, you should justify your own opinion on this issue. To do this, you need to select arguments (evidence), that is, remember the basic terms and theoretical positions.
Argumentation must be carried out at two levels:
1. Theoretical level- its basis is social science knowledge (concepts, terms, contradictions, directions of scientific thought, relationships, as well as the opinions of scientists and thinkers).
2. Empirical level- There are two options here:
a) using examples from history, literature and events in society;
b) appeal to personal experience.

When selecting facts, examples from public life and personal social experience, mentally answer the following questions:
1. Do they confirm my opinion?
2. Could they be interpreted differently?
3. Do they contradict the thesis I expressed?
4. Are they persuasive?
The proposed form will make it possible to strictly control the adequacy of the arguments presented and will prevent “going off topic”.

7. Conclusion
Finally, you need to formulate a conclusion. The conclusion should not coincide verbatim with the judgment given for justification: it brings together in one or two sentences, the main ideas of the arguments and summarizes the reasoning, confirming the correctness or incorrectness of the judgment that was the topic of the essay.
To formulate a problematic conclusion, cliche phrases can be used:
“Thus, we can conclude...”
“To summarize, I would like to note that...”

Main mistakes and shortcomings in graduates’ works

Analysis of graduates’ works allows us to highlight some typical mistakes, which are allowed at various stages of essay writing.

When formulating the problem and the meaning of the author’s statement:

1) On the one hand, misunderstanding and inability to isolate the problem of the statement is associated with a lack of knowledge of the basic science to which the quotation relates, and on the other hand, with an attempt to fit into known problems discussed in lessons in previously written, read, that is, ready-made essay.

2) The inability to formulate a problem is often associated with a lack of developed vocabulary and terminology in basic social sciences.

3) The inability to formulate the meaning of the author’s statement is associated with a misunderstanding or incorrect understanding of its content, and a lack of necessary social science knowledge.

4) Substitution of the problem with the author's position - due to the fact that the student does not see the difference between them. The problem is the topic of the author's discussion. It is always broad and includes several opinions and positions, often completely opposite to each other. The essence or meaning of the author’s statement is his personal answer to the question posed, one of several existing in science or social thought.

When expressing and arguing your own position:

1. The lack of arguments is due to the student’s ignorance or ignorance of the requirements for an essay in social studies and its structure.

2. The graduate’s argument only repeats the statement.

3. Errors in operations with concepts: unjustified expansion or narrowing of the meaning of the concept in question, substitution of concepts.

4. Errors in working with information caused by the inability to analyze social experience. Often, the examples given by graduates are weakly related to the position under consideration (the connection is either not traceable or is superficial and does not reflect essential points).

5. Uncritical perception of social information from media reports and the Internet. As a result, unverified facts, unfounded or provocative statements, and biased assessments are often used by graduates as evidence in essays.

6. The predominance of a one-sided view of social phenomena, the inability to identify and build cause-and-effect relationships.

Topics for 2019

No one knows exactly what statements will be offered to 11th graders in 2018-2019. There is a certain bank of problems that are relevant to the main topics of social science, which can be guided by in preparation for the Unified State Exam.

Clichés for a mini-essay

Is it worth looking for ready-made essays for the Unified State Exam in social studies?

In fact, the idea is to find and learn ready-made options essay visits many graduates at the stage of preparation for exams. But you should be especially careful here, because there is a lot of irrelevant information on the Internet. Even the examples posted on the FIPI website are works from 2013, and since then there have been many changes in the evaluation criteria for this task. Moreover, you should not expect to get a high score for standard version essays, because experts who have been working on the Unified State Exam for many years now also know these texts very well.

Conclusion - you need to look not for a ready-made text, but for clichés and clever thoughts that can be “strung” onto the above structure, getting your own unique essay for the Unified State Exam 2019. We offer you a selection of such preparations:

Secrets of a good mini-essay

In order for your essay to be holistic, concise, but at the same time deeply revealing the essence of the problem, you must:

  • Understand the essence of the problem. Do not take statements whose problem you do not initially understand.
  • Choose the right quote. This is an important stage that should be given enough time during the preparation stage.
  • Build a chain of reasoning. All blocks of a mini-essay must be interconnected. It is recommended to periodically return to the main idea of ​​the statement in the text.
  • Consider the issue from different points of view, if any..
  • Find the right examples.

Here are a few useful tips, which will help you select examples and arguments that the new structure of an essay in social studies requires, taking into account the innovations of 2019:

Also watch the video lesson on completing task No. 29 in the Unified State Exam in social studies for the 2018-2019 academic year:

Every graduate who is interested in preparing for the Unified State Exam in social studies will be faced with the task of writing an essay. From several proposed quotes, the student must choose one thesis and write an essay. There will be some changes to this final challenge in 2018. Now you can get a maximum of 6 primary points for a correctly completed essay (until 2018, the maximum possible score was 5 primary points). The word “problem” (which is raised by the author) has been replaced by the word “idea”. But this is completely unprincipled. The main thing is that the value of the essay has increased, which means you need to double your efforts to get the maximum score.

So, the value of the mini-essay has increased, so you need to take the most significant task of the exam seriously. First, you should study the criteria for assessing essays in social studies in 2018.

  1. The main criterion: revealing the meaning of the statement. It is necessary to correctly identify the idea put forward by the author and (or) put forward a thesis on the topic, which will be substantiated with the help of arguments. If there are 0 points for this item, the entire work is not counted.
  2. Lack of theoretical justification for your point of view. It is necessary to explain the meaning of the concepts given in the quotation, using theory (definitions and statements from textbooks), reasoning (cause-and-effect justification for what you think about this) and conclusions (your opinion, supported by arguments). If there is no theoretical content, the result is 0.
  3. New criterion! Factual error: if (from the point of view of the science of social science) you presented an erroneous position, made an incorrect conclusion, illogical reasoning, mixed up a term, etc., then you face 0.
  4. Thematic incompatibility of an example or fact with the topic, conclusion and reasoning. Only those arguments that correspond to the stated topic will be counted. Incorrectly displayed and incomplete statements will also not be counted. You can get as much as 2 points for this point if both examples are correct. Facts must be formulated in detail and accurately, because a mistake can cost you the loss of points. Examples can be given from personal experience, other subjects ( fiction, history, geography), media (from magazines, newspapers, television and radio programs).

Essay plan

In order to write an essay for the maximum score according to the above criteria, first of all, you need to strictly adhere to the format or structure of the essay. So, the essay plan for the Unified State Exam in social studies is as follows:

  • Identification of the problem and its interpretation.
  • Agree or disagree with the author’s position (explain why)
  • Argumentation of one's own position.
  • Conclusion

We will examine each of these points in detail in the next paragraph.

Structure and writing algorithm

Problem Identification

When identifying a problem, the graduate should, first of all, comprehend the thesis proposed by the author and highlight some problem (idea) in it. More often than not, quotes include a variety of issues and their interpretations. It is better for the student to stop at one and consider it in detail, following further the points of the essay structure. You can highlight several problems (ideas) contained in the thesis and reveal them, but, in my opinion, the time frame of the exam will not allow you to thoroughly reveal several ideas at once and give arguments to them. You can identify the problem using cliché phrases, for example:

  • In his statement, the author wanted to draw attention to the problem associated with...;
  • The main idea formulated by the author of the quote..., I see...;

It is important that the words “problem” and (or) “idea” are included in the essay, otherwise they may be given 0 points for their absence. In the process of explaining the problem raised by the author, it is necessary to use social scientific terms and give them definitions; include material that was included in the school curriculum of the course.

Your opinion

In the second paragraph you should write about agreement or disagreement with the author about the problem. Just saying “agree” or “disagree” is not enough. Here it is important to write the reason on which you rely. This reason may generalize the arguments that follow. The cliche phrases are obvious:

  • “I completely agree/disagree with the author’s opinion...”
  • “It’s hard to disagree with the author’s opinion...”

You can also include theory from a social studies course at this point. With its help, you will competently and reasonably explain why you adhere to your voiced opinion. Please note that it is easier to agree than to prove the opposite, so if you are not confident in yourself, do not run into ideological polemics with invisible examiners, but do your job impartially and detachedly. It is not at all necessary to express your real views on certain issues.

Arguments

The next point is the most complex and voluminous part of the essay. Making suitable arguments is often difficult. It is necessary to give at least 2 arguments that CLEARLY illustrate this problem. The main thing at this point is specificity. Examples containing “a lot of water” will be scored 0 points. Your arguments can be examples from fiction and scientific literature (history, chemistry, biology and other disciplines), biographies of great people, situations from films, TV series, life and personal experience. It is important to consider that these statements should be from different sources, for example, from personal experience and fiction. You cannot get the maximum score for examples taken from one area. Let's say that even if both arguments taken from books perfectly illustrate the problem, you will not be able to get the maximum score. Each argument should have a separate paragraph. Cliché phrases:

  • “To confirm my point of view, I will give the following argument...”
  • “An argument that can confirm my point of view is...”

Conclusion

The last point is the conclusion. The conclusion summarizes the thoughts given above. This part is no different from what you have to write in essays on the Russian language and literature. Cliché phrases:

  • “Thus, we can conclude that...”,
  • “To summarize, I would like to note that...”

It will be enough to write 2-3 sentences in the conclusion.

Essay example

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A mini-essay on the Unified State Exam in social studies is an alternative task. This means that the exam participant can choose from several proposed options the one that is closer and more interesting to him.

Essay topics are short quotes– aphorisms related to five blocks of the training course, one for each. The thematic areas of statements are as follows:

  • Philosophy,
  • Economy,
  • Sociology, social psychology,
  • Political science,
  • Jurisprudence.

Of the five statements, you need to choose only one (the closest or most understandable) and write a mini-essay that reveals the meaning of the chosen aphorism and contains illustrative examples.

The “weight” of the social studies essay in the final points is quite small: about 8% of the total points. A perfectly written paper can earn only 5 primary points out of 62 possible, about 8%. Therefore, you should not approach the work as fundamentally as when writing essays on the Russian language or essays on literature.

The compilers of the Unified State Examination themselves suggest taking 36-45 minutes to write an essay on social studies (this is exactly the time period indicated in the specification). For comparison: an essay on the Russian language takes 110 minutes, and a full-length essay on literature takes 115.

All this suggests that the approach to social science should be different: there is no need to create a “masterpiece”, there are no mandatory requirements for presentation style (or even literacy), and even the volume of work is not regulated. Here it is not necessary to write 150-350 words of text: after all, the task is positioned as a “mini-essay” and if you manage to reveal the idea briefly and succinctly, this will be welcome.

It is enough to simply demonstrate knowledge of the subject and the ability to find suitable examples to support your point of view - and express your thoughts coherently and convincingly on the exam form.

Criteria for assessing essays in social studies on the Unified State Exam

The essay is scored based on three criteria in total. To earn the maximum five points, you must meet the following "required minimum":

Reveal the meaning of the original statement, or at least demonstrate that you correctly understood what its author meant (1 point). This is a key point: if you did not understand the quote and received 0 points on the first criterion, the work will not be assessed further.

Demonstrate knowledge of theory(2 points). Here, to get a high grade, it is necessary to analyze the meaning of the statement, using the knowledge acquired during the study of the school social studies course, remember the main points of the theory, and use the terminology correctly. Incomplete compliance with the requirements, deviation from the original topic or semantic errors will result in the loss of one point.

Ability to find relevant examples(2 points). To receive the highest mark on this criterion, you must illustrate the problem with two (at least) examples - facts that confirm the main idea of ​​the essay. Moreover, they must be from sources different types. Sources can be

  • examples from fiction, feature films and documentaries;
  • examples from popular science literature, the history of various branches of science;
  • historical facts;
  • facts gleaned while studying other school subjects;
  • personal experience and observations;
  • media reports.

If only personal experience is used as examples or examples of the same type are given (for example, both from fiction), the score is reduced by a point. A zero for this criterion is given if the examples do not correspond to the topic or if there is no information at all.

Social studies essay writing plan

There are no strict requirements for the structure of the essay - the main thing is to reveal the meaning of the statement, demonstrate knowledge of the theory and support it with facts. However, given that you don’t have much time to think about it, you can stick to a standard essay plan that includes all the necessary elements.

1. The optional part is the introduction. General statement of the problem (one or two sentences). In an essay on social studies, this point of the plan can be omitted and go straight to the interpretation of the proposed aphorism, but schoolchildren often find it difficult to deviate from the usual compositional scheme, when the “gist of the matter” is preceded by general reasoning. Therefore, if you are used to starting with an introduction, write it, if this is not important for you, you can omit this point, the points will not be reduced for this.

2. Revealing the meaning of the original statement– 2-3 sentences. There is no need to quote in full; it is enough to refer to its author and state the meaning of the phrase in your own words. It must be remembered that, unlike an essay in Russian, where it is necessary to isolate a problem, an essay in social science can be devoted to a phenomenon, a process, or simply a statement of fact. To reveal the meaning of a statement, you can use templates like “In the proposed statement, N.N (a famous philosopher, economist, famous writer) considers (describes, talks about ...) such a phenomenon (process, problem) as ..., interpreting it as ... " or “The meaning of the statement ( expressions, aphorisms) N. N is that...”

3. Theoretical part(3-4 sentences). Here it is necessary to confirm or refute the author’s point of view, relying on the knowledge gained in class and using special terminology. If you agree with the author’s point of view, then by and large this part is an extensive translation of the original phrase into “textbook language.” For example, if the author called children’s games in the yard a “school of life”, you will write about what institutions of socialization are and the role they play in the process of an individual’s assimilation of social norms. Here you can also quote quotes from other philosophers, economists, etc., confirming the main idea of ​​the text - however, this is not a mandatory requirement.

4. Factual part(4-6 sentences). Here it is necessary to give at least two examples confirming the theses put forward in the previous paragraph. In this part it is better to avoid “general words” and talk about specifics. And do not forget to indicate sources of information. For example, “experiments devoted to” have been repeatedly described in popular science literature; “as we know from the school physics course...”, “ writer N,N. in his novel “Untitled” he describes the situation…”, “on the shelves of the supermarket opposite my school you can see...”.

5. Conclusion(1-2 sentences). Since an essay on social studies on the Unified State Exam is, by and large, a proof of a certain theoretical position, you can complete the essay by summing up what has been said. For example: “Thus, both real-life examples and reading experience suggest that...”, followed by a restatement of the main thesis.

remember, that the main thing is to correctly reveal the meaning of the statement. Therefore, when choosing from the proposed options, take a quote whose interpretation is beyond your doubts.

Before you start writing the text, remember the terminology on this topic. Write them down on a draft form so you can use them later in your work.

Choose the most suitable examples on this topic. Remember that examples from literature may not be limited to works school curriculum– in the social studies exam, you can use any literary works as arguments. We should not forget that relying on reading experience in the case of social studies is not a priority: remember cases from life; news heard on the radio; topics discussed in society and so on. Also write down the selected examples on the draft form.

Since literacy, style and composition of the text are not assessed - if you are confident enough to express your thoughts in writing, it is better not to waste time writing full text draft. Limit yourself to drawing up a thesis plan and write straight away- this will help save time.

Start the essay after you have answered all other questions.– otherwise you may not fit in the time limit and lose more points than you gain. For example, the first four tasks with detailed answers (based on the text read) can give a total of 10 primary points (twice as much as an essay), and formulating answers to them usually takes much less time than writing a mini-essay.

If you are “floating” in the topic and you feel that you cannot write an essay with maximum points - do this task anyway. Every point is important - and even if you only manage to correctly formulate the topic and give at least one example “from life” - you will receive two points for your social studies essay on the Unified State Exam. primary scores, which is much better than zero.

An essay on the Unified State Exam in social studies should be related to social psychology, philosophy, sociology, and economics. Let's analyze the rules and features of its preparation, which will help a school graduate get a high score on the Unified State Exam.

Essay requirements

What should an essay on the Unified State Exam include? In social studies, the main points that a graduate should reflect in his work have been developed educational institution. The student must base his material on specific statements of thinkers related to the main topic of the essay, provide generalizations, concepts, terms, facts, specific examples, which would confirm his position. What else should an essay on the Unified State Exam contain? Social studies implies strict compliance with a certain structure, which was created by teachers of this discipline in order to facilitate the task of schoolchildren.

From the social studies course we know about two main directions of development: progress and regression. In addition, society can develop as a result of evolution, revolution, reform. I think that the author means exactly evolutionary movement forward, facilitating a smooth transition from primitive to perfect, from simple to complex.

What could humanity rely on as it continues to move forward? Without developing new technologies: alternative sources, biotechnology - modern society can no longer survive. This is why it is so important to be based on scientific discoveries and achievements. For example, after man mastered thermonuclear fusion, humanity had a chance to generate inexpensive electrical energy.

In addition to technology and science, morality can be considered an important pillar of progress. The moral foundations that have been developed by human society over a long period of its existence should not bring harm to a person.

I believe that even in an innovative society it is important to maintain hard work, dignity, honor, and goodness. How does a person use the Internet, which has become greatest invention last century? What are the main goals of a child who turns on his laptop? I believe that the use of modern computers should be thoughtful, targeted, and justified. For example, it is ideal for self-education, self-improvement, and self-development.

Innovative technologies should not turn a person into a stupid creature who has lost honor, dignity, freedom, and creativity. In the future, in my opinion, only those societies that, in addition to technological progress, pay special attention to the principles of humanism and equality are able to survive.

Only if family and religion are preserved can we talk about progress.

Sociology essay option

“Communication ennobles and elevates: in society a person involuntarily, without any pretense, behaves differently than in solitude” (L. Feuerbach)

I support the position of the author, who touched upon the current problem of communication between people. The issue is so important today that it deserves full study and consideration. Many people withdraw into themselves and stop communicating because they do not know the culture of relationships. The main problem raised by the author is the importance of the educational function. From the social studies course, we learned that activity is a form of activity that allows a person to transform the world, to change the person himself. It is during conversations and conversations that people learn to understand each other. What is the main educational and socializing function of human communication? It enables parents to pass on to their children the basics of the family’s cultural traditions, to learn the basics of respect for adults, nature, native land. We learn to communicate not only in the family, but also at school, in the company of friends. If parents constantly yell at their children, a closed, complex personality grows in the family. I believe that human communication should not be turned into chatter; it should act as a factor for human development and improvement.



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