Political Science: Writing Tips

Activity overview

This interactive hotspot activity outlines the sections of the 'What? So What? Now What? model. The hotspots are displayed as plus (+) icons that can be clicked to reveal the sections, as follows

Section 1: What?

A brief description of the incident/experience: who, what, why, when, where.

Section 2: So What?

This is the sense-making section where you discuss the significance, your position, understanding, feelings and relate to literature/theories.

Section 3: Now What?

This section makes connections from the experience to inform future actions. What you would do differently or the same. Also relates to literature/theories.

What? So What? Now What? template

To help you put this model into practice for your own context, download the template provided below to use for assessments. 

• The role of democracy in modern governance
• The influence of political parties on electoral outcomes
• The impact of social media on political campaigns
• Analyzing the effectiveness of the United Nations in conflict resolution
• The separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution
• Comparative analysis of authoritarian vs. democratic regimes
• The concept of human rights in international law
• The role of interest groups in shaping public policy
• The effects of gerrymandering on election results
• The relationship between economic inequality and political instability
• The impact of populism on global politics
• The rise of nationalism in Europe and its political implications
• The role of women in political leadership
• Political polarization and its impact on governance
• The ethics of political lobbying and campaign finance
• Analyzing the causes and effects of political corruption
• The role of political ideologies in shaping government policy
• Federalism and the distribution of power between state and national governments
• The effect of globalization on national sovereignty
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion
• The concept of civil liberties vs. national security
• Voter suppression and its implications for democracy
• Political party systems and their impact on democracy
• The influence of religion on politics and policy-making
• The rise of authoritarian populism in Latin America
• International relations theory: Realism vs. Liberalism vs. Constructivism
• The influence of money in politics: A comparative analysis
• Political ideologies: Liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and more
• The role of courts in shaping public policy
• Political transitions: From dictatorship to democracy
• The impact of Brexit on European integration
• The challenges of governing in multi-ethnic societies
• The relationship between political stability and economic growth
• Environmental policy and the political economy of climate change
• The effectiveness of international sanctions as a foreign policy tool
• Comparative political systems: Presidential vs. Parliamentary systems
• The role of youth in political movements and revolutions
• The politics of immigration and refugee policy
• The role of the military in politics and governance
• The influence of public opinion on foreign policy decisions
• The concept of the "military-industrial complex" and its implications
• Political participation: Why do people vote (or not vote)?
• The role of political ideologies in shaping public education policy
• The influence of historical events on contemporary political systems
• Political dynamics of trade and protectionism
• National security policies in a post-9/11 world
• The politics of health care reform
• The relationship between democracy and economic development
• The politics of foreign aid
• The role of public administration in policymaking and governance