Discuss the factors, both internal and external to Australia, that led to the development and maintenance of the

‘White Australia Policy’ up to World War II and that were important in determining our traditional images of Asia

and Asians. Which of these factors do you consider to be the most important? Why?

Note: In the essay topic, where it says ‘our’ it is referring to Australians.
I will upload a document regarding the referencing style.
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Below are some notes from the lecturer that will be helpful.

The essay must include an introduction which states your main argument clearly and succinctly.

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The essay will be assessed according to how you have:
 answered the question
 stated your main argument in an introductory paragraph
 summarised your answer in a concluding paragraph
 argued your case based on the evidence/ideas you cite
 expressed your ideas clearly and succinctly and in logical sequence
 shown evidence of reading and research
 critically analysed the relevant literature and displayed analytical skills
 demonstrated your understanding of the subject matter of the unit
 demonstrated theoretical and conceptual understanding
 presented your work, including correct referencing and including a bibliography
 clear and grammatically correct expression, and correct spelling
 limited use of quotations, and when used they are well introduced and discussed

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It is important to ensure that you have indeed answered the question and that you haven’t fallen into the trap of

‘wandering off the topic’. Remember, you are not being asked to tell us all you know about a given topic. Rather,

you are being asked to deal with a specific question and provide a reasoned and well argued response to that

question.
 Second, make sure that you have actually developed an argument. It is not enough just to have assembled a

collection of ‘facts’. Rather, you have been asked to develop a specific argument or point of view.
 Third, make sure that your argument is supported by evidence gained from your readings. Simple assertion is not

an argument. You need to state clearly what your argument is and bring in evidence which you feel substantiates

your point of view.

Essay structure
 Ensure that the essay has a clear introduction in which you state clearly the aims, purposes and arguments of

the essay. Don’t leave it up to the reader to try and figure out what the essay is all about.
 Second, make sure that your ideas and arguments are presented in a clear and logical manner.
 Third, you must also try to ensure that the essay is clearly signposted. When marking your essay the lecturer

will not only expect a clear statement of the main argument at the outset, but will also expect a clear

indication of how each section of the essay relates back to the main argument. It is also important that after

concluding a section, you provide a linking sentence which leads into the next section. Again don’t leave it up

to the reader to try and figure out what is significant about the information you are including. You need to keep

reminding the reader what the argument is and how each section relates back your main argument. Proper linking

will give the essay coherence. It will ensure that the reader understands your essay as an integrated whole

rather than a series of scattered parts which have little relation to each other.
 Finally, check to ensure that you have provided a clear conclusion in which you summarise once again the main

arguments of the essay. A conclusion is also a good place to indicate some possible directions for further

thinking and research about the issue or topic dealt with in the essay.

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The essay must be analytical rather than descriptive. Presenting your argument means that you must analyse the

specific topic. Contextual or historical description may be relevant, but only to the extent that you use it to

develop your argument. You must always have a definite purpose in using material, and not simply include it

because you think it intrinsically interesting. You should also avoid the assumption that ‘facts speak for

themselves’. They do not. ‘Facts’ are more or less significant only in terms of the way you link them to your

interpretation.
The crucial point to remember when writing the essay is that you must develop and support an argument. The

assessment will not be on the basis of what you argue but on the basis of how clear, coherent, systematic and

well-supported your argument is. The examiner will be interested in how you reach and justify your conclusions,

not in the conclusions themselves.

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In order to answer the question, you should ensure that all parts of the discussion are relevant. A major part of

the assessment will be according to how well you demonstrate the relevance of what you discuss. In writing an

essay, ‘relevant’ does not mean merely being within a general subject area. Rather, the standard of relevance is

whether something contributes directly to your argument on a particular topic. You could have discussion within

the general subject area suggested by the topic but still receive the comment that the discussion is not

relevant. Relevance is something which is demonstrated. That is, in any discussion you must be making a point

which adds to the argument you are developing on the topic. You should look at every sentence of your essay in

order to assess its relevance. If there is anything which does not contribute directly to your argument on the

topic, then it should be eliminated or changed so that the relevance is established. Ensure that discussions of

context or background are relevant.