I am going to try to explain how to write a DME report in the way I would in the classroom but by writing it rather than speaking it. Hopefully you will not lose the will to live but I apologise now if this is rather wordy.
First - download and print off 2009 past paper DME (both paper 1 and paper 2 are in there so keep going until you get to the DME) from below:
Download 2009 Higher past paper
Next - read it.
Having read the sources you should decide whether you are going to recommend or reject the proposal to introduce an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). It doesn't really matter which option you go for - the sources have evidence to support both.
The 'introduction' section of your report is straightforward. A lot of it is taken directly from the question paper. Set it out like this:
_____________________________________________________________________________
To: Committee investigating welfare provision
From: A Student (put your name here)
Subject: Employment and Support Allowance
Date: 3/3/2012 (put the date you write it)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Role and Remit
I am a social policy researcher and I have been asked to write a report recommending or rejecting the proposal to introduce Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Recommendation
After reviewing all of the available information I have decided to recommend the introduction of ESA.
__________________________________________________________________________
Okay so that's the introduction done. Next we move on to the main body of the report. The main body has 2 sections: one section where you set out your arguments for your recommendation and the second section where you put forward opposing arguments. In the second section it is important to rebut/refute (basically disprove) your opponents' arguments. You want the committee to adopt your proposal so there is no point in putting forward what opponents to your recommendation would argue if you are not going to shoot down in flames their points!
Remember it is a report you are writing so it needs to be set out like one with headings. Your two main headings are: Reasons for my recommendation and Opponents would argue. You are going to put 3 paragraphs under each heading. You may wish to use sub-headings for each paragraph but it is not necessary. If you are going to take too long to think about sub-headings - miss them out.
At this point you should re-read the sources and pick out the bits that could be used to support your recommendation. Use highlighters or some other way of identifying the evidence that is for your recommendation or against your recommendation. If you don't have highlighters use your own code, e.g. squiggly line for and a straight line against.
You must use all the sources. If a source is broken into 2 parts like source C2 and source C3 (2009 DME) you should use both parts - C2a and C2 b as well as C3a and C3b.
Here's the evidence I've picked out. You may wish to check if you picked out the same bits.
For my recommendation:
Source A - 'it is paid for life and may be accompanied by other benefits' (lines 7-8); 'encouraging welfare dependency' (line 12); 'should lead to a million fewer Incapacity Benefits claimants by 2016' (line 26); 'main aim is to return to the fundamental principles of the welfare state. It is surely far better to help people into the workplace than to condemn them to a life on benefits!' (lines 29-31)
Source C1 - 37% males of working age give long-term sickness/disability as the main reason for not working.
Source C3a - 26% of UK Government benefit spending is on sick and disabled.
Opponents would argue:
Source B - ' Charities raise millions of pounds to plug the income and health gaps in the welfare state'. (lines 3-4); 'Politicians should not complain about the cost of welfare state, and never about Incapacity Benefit. During the ...unemployemnt' (lines 9 - 11); 'It is disgraceful that those with disabilities ...than meeting needs.' (lines 16-19)
Source C2a - the UK spends 0.02% on schemes for disabled workers.
Source C2b - Charities spend nearly £500 million on the disabled.
Source C3b - 9% of one-parent families receive inacapacity/disability benefits.
The next thing to do is to make a plan using the main points from the evidence you've picked out:
|
For recommendation |
Against recommendation |
|
Para 1 – will reduce number of people on IC Para 2 – encourages welfare dependency Para 3 – will get people back to work |
Para 1 – Charities plugging the gap in the welfare state Para 2 – Vulnerable people won’t cope being forced into work Para 3 – Politicians tried to hide unemployment levels |
To show you the steps I'm going to do the planning step at a time but in reality you would do the planning in one go. Match up your evidence with your points.
|
For recommendation |
Against recommendation |
|
Para 1 – will reduce number of people on IC (Source A, C3A) Para 2 – encourages welfare dependency (Source A, C1) Para 3 – will get people back to work (Source A) |
Para 1 – Charities plugging the gap in the welfare state (Source B, C2a, C2b) Para 2 – Vulnerable people won’t cope being forced into work (Source B, C3b) Para 3 – Politicians tried to hide unemployment levels (Source B) |
Review your planning. Each paragraph should contain information from more than one source OR information from one source AND background knowledge. This is especially the case in the 'arguments for' section.
|
For recommendation |
Against recommendation |
|
Para 1 – will reduce number of people on IC (BK, Source A, C3A) Para 2 – encourages welfare dependency (Source A, C1) Para 3 – will get people back to work (Source A, Background Knowledge (BK)) |
Para 1 – Charities plugging the gap in the welfare state (Source B, C2a, C2b) Para 2 – Vulnerable people won’t cope being forced into work (Source B, C3b) Para 3 – Politicians tried to hide unemployment levels (Source B) |
Try to add as much background knowledge as you can. It must be relevant though and link well with the point you are making.
Next you will need to identify either background knowledge or new evidence from the sources to refute your opponents' arguments.
|
For recommendation |
Against recommendation |
|
Para 1 – will reduce number of people on IC (BK, Source A, C3A) Para 2 – encourages welfare dependency (Source A, C1) Para 3 – will get people back to work (Source A, Backround Knowledge (BK)) |
Para 1 – Charities plugging the gap in the welfare state (Source B, C2a, C2b) Rebuttal - more money to those that really need it (Source A) Para 2 – Vulnerable people won’t cope being forced into work (Source B, C3b) Rebuttal - Medical tests to ensure people are mentally fit for work (Source A) Para 3 – Politicians tried to hide unemployment levels (Source B) Rebuttal - new government (BK) |
You are now ready to write up the main section of your report. It is worth taking the time to plan your report carefully. This avoids repetition and ensures all the sources are used and BK is added in.
The paragraph structure to use is similar to your essay paragraph structure:
- Introduce the point
- Explain the point
- Bring in evidence (from more than one source or add background information)
- Concluding sentence relating the point back to the recommendation.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Arguments for my recommendation
Reduces Government Spending
The introduction of an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will reduce government spending. Public spending accounts for half the economy as a result of recession, increasing debt interest and social security spending and needs to be cut back. Long-term sickness and disability costs about £12.5bn (BK) and makes up 26% of government benefit spending. (SC3a). ESA should lead to a million fewer Incapacity Benefit claimants by 2016.(SA) This means the government can afford to give those who really need it more money while cutting the overall amount spent on benefits.
Breaks the Dependency Culture
The current system of Incapacity Benefit encourages welfare dependency. It is paid for life and the current benefit increases over time. People on IC may also qualify for other benefits. (SA) Little wonder IC encourages welfare dependency and long-term sickness/disability. In Source C1 it shows long-term sickness/disability is the most common reason reported for males (37%) of working age not working. Rigorous medical tests under the ESA scheme will root out anyone not entitled to the support. This means fewer people will spend a life time depending on welfare handouts when they could be contributing to society.
Encourages people into work
ESA will help people into work. If a person is capable of work then ESA provides extensive and personalised help to make the transition from IC to work. For example, there are 'work-focused interviews', and 'work-related activities' as well as employment advisers to help place people in appropriate employment. (SA) One of the main aims of ESA is to return to the fundamental principles of the welfare state. (SA) Beveridge was clear that benefits had to be paid for, largely through contributions from work. The welfare state was founded on the idea of something for something. (BK) ESA will help get those capable of work back to work so they can contribute rather than just receive.
Opponents would argue
Chronic Government Underfunding
Charities are already trying to plug the income and health gaps in the welfare state. For example, according to source C2b UK charities already spend nearly £500 million on the disabled. This is because of underfunding by the government. For example, in Source C2a it shows the UK is well behind the rest of the EU when it comes to government spending on schemes for disabled workers - only 0.02% of GDP compared to the EU average of 0.11%. However, figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show just 1 in 14 incapacity claimants is unfit for work. Only 7% of incapacity claimants are sick enough to stay on benefits for good. (BK) As people return to work under ESA, people will be self-dependent rather than needing help from charities.
Vulnerable groups targeted unfairly by cuts
Vulnerable groups in society will suffer if ESA is implemented. They may not be able to cope mentally with being forced into work or they become victims of benefit cuts as a result of others abusing the system. For example, in Source B it warns 'those with disabilities, and other groups vulnerable to poverty, such as lone parents, are being forced into employment situations they are unable to cope with.' This is despite the fact only 9% of one-parent families currently receive incapacity or disability allowance. (C3B) However, rigorous medical tests will protect those who are genuinely unable to work as a result of physical or mental disability or illness (SA). Those who prove they are entitled to ESA will receive more than they do with IC so genuine one-parent claimants will be helped more not targeted unfairly.
Flawed Government Policy
The reason for the high number of people on Incapacity Benefit today can be laid squarely at the feet of the Thatcher government. To hide the true level of unemployment in the 1980s, the government encouraged people to claim IC rather than unemployment benefit. (SB) The government encouraged dependency on IC so individuals should not be punished today for flawed government policy. However, the Conservative and Lib Dem parties came together in a governing coalition in 2010 in the national interest to cut the country's debt. Chancellor George Osbourne announced £81bn of cuts over 4 years in 2010 to reign in public spending. (BK) ESA will continue to meet the needs of those who need the benefit while contributing to the government's austerity measures.
_____________________________________________________________________________
You may have noticed the rebuttal is introduced by 'however' in the same way the balancing point in your essays is introduced with 'however'.
To finish off your report you need a conclusion. This simply needs to repeat your recommendation with a summary of your main arguments. Another heading is needed also:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
Welfare reform will always face criticism however in this case the benefits of introducing ESA outweigh the arguments for keeping IC. The best of both worlds is achieved. People who are entitled to the benefit will still receive it and will receive more than they currently do under IC. While at the same time those who should be working, or are mentally and physically able to do work, are given help to find a job. Therefore, I fully recommend the committee should introduce ESA.
_____________________________________________________________________________
It is good practice to put the sources you have used into the margin. I have put them after the quote or evidence above because I don't have a margin. You don't have to write it out in full. 'SA' is fine for 'Source A'. You should also identify any background knowledge used by putting 'BK' in the margin.
If you have time it is also useful for the marker if you keep a tally of the sources used. It will also alert you to any sources you've missed. For example,
Source A IIII
Source B II
Source C1 I
Source C2a I
Source C2b I
Source C3a I
Source 3Cb I
BK IIII
Download a colour-coded example report on Free Childcare using the same structure as above.