Emphasize the theoretical aspects of your analysis. Empirical material such as historical details and statistical data may be used to support your argument where appropriate, but you should aim primarily to demonstrate your ability to develop a position within well-defined theoretical frameworks. Where your argument rests on factual claims, you must state them clearly in a precise manner, and you must support every important empirical claim with references to academic sources. Each essay should be organized in terms of a thesis rather than a summary of the texts. Essays that are not built on a thesis tend to summarize the text and to wander aimlessly from point to point.
Political theorists aim to define terms with great precision.
As soon as you introduce a term into your essay, you should define it very clearly. As in the response papers, note carefully the passages that you are using for your definitions. Always remember that the essay is a genre. You should avoid colloquial language in your academic writing. While this may feel like it restricts your style, it is important to master conventions before you begin to challenge them.