Once you have chosen your topic and created a question you are ready to begin the first stage of research. 

Stage 1

There are 5 marks available for 'framing the issue'. This is where you explain the issue and provide detailed background information.  

This will be your first paragraph in the assignment. This is where your research will begin. 

If you are making notes on a computer, create a document and save it as 'Framing the Issue'. If you are handwriting your research, write a heading 'Framing the Issue' at the top of your page. 

You will collate all of your background information about your chosen issue here. You may not use all of this information in this section, but it will help you to develop a deeper understanding of your chosen issue.

Bullet point your information and ensure that you record where you found the information as you may choose to reference these sources of information at a later stage in the Assignment. 

Stage 2

The second stage of research should focus on identifying different viewpoints on your chosen issue. If you are making notes on a computer, create a document and save it as 'Viewpoints'. If you are handwriting your research, write a heading 'Viewpoints' at the top of your page. 

You should aim to find three different viewpoints. This could include different causes, effects or ideas about your issue. This is a significant chunk of the research phase. At this point you may wish to conduct detailed research into each viewpoint. 

Stage 3

The third stage of research should focus on identifying the significance of your chosen issue. If you are making notes on a computer, create a document and save it as 'Significance'. If you are handwriting your research, write a heading 'Significance' at the top of your page. 

You should aim to research why your chosen issue is important: does it have long term implications for a political party, the future of a nation or does it limit the rights of the people or enhance democracy? Is your issue economically significant? Does your issue have a significant social or international significance? 

Stage 4

The fourth stage of the research phase should focus on the relevance of your chosen issue to relevant political concepts.   If you are making notes on a computer, create a document and save it as 'Links to political concepts'. If you are handwriting your research, write a heading 'Links to political concepts' at the top of your page. 

The political concepts that your issue may be linked to may be democracy, power, authority, legitimacy, rights, the rule of law, political ideologies, national security or foreign policy, for example. Note down the explicit link between your issue and the political concept to which it is linked. 

Many Higher Politics candidates structure their Assignments by writing two introductory paragraphs, the first framing the issue and providing detailed background information, and the second explicitly identifying different viewpoints and the significance of the issue or relating the issue to relevant political concepts. 

The research structure above will assist you in this recommended approach.