The US Constitution is no longer fit for purpose - Discuss.

Students should be led to understand that they can achieve top grades by coming down on either side of the argument - indeed, the surest path to a poor result in this situation is to equivocate and to 'sit on the fence', failing to produce a clear, well-substantiated argument. However, students should also understand that the command-word 'discuss' necessitates analysis of both sides of the argument; the best answers will evaluate factors that run counter to their line of argument and convincingly illustrate why they do not disprove their point - they will address, rather than merely display, counterpoints. The Politics A-Level exam is highly mechanistic, and so students are well-served by breaking down the vocabulary of the question. The nature of the command word has already been noted, but the descriptor 'fit for purpose' should also be defined, so as to circumscribe the nature of the question within a student's answer. A tripartite structure can be adopted in providing an answer, with students selecting 3 key reasons why the Constitution is/is not fit for purpose, and providing a counterpoint and interim judgement at the end of analysis of each point. Naturally, standard essay technique applies, and should the student should be guided towards an understanding of what their introduction is for (setting out their line-of-argument and signposting their points) and the same for their conclusion (reiterating their argument and judgement).