How is the role of the British Prime Minister changing?

This is an example of an essay question that could be asked (with slight variation) for a paper on British Politics. An approach to the question will need to be twofold - firstly the content needs to be addressed and secondly, good essay-writing technique will need to be applied in order to achieve top marks. The key points that will need to be addressed in the essay are as follows. Firstly, the traditional role of the Prime Minister will need to be outlined, with reference to the structure and roles of Parliament, the government and the Cabinet and how the PM relates to all of these. It is crucial that all points are fleshed out with relevant and thorough examples. Secondly, the Prime Minister's role on the international stage as a statesman and spokesperson for the UK is noteworthy - with the rise of international conferences and organisations such as the G7 gaining influence this is becoming more relevant. Thirdly, the role of the media will need to be assessed and how the PM deals with the media - Tony Blair following in the footsteps of US Presidents by employing a spin doctor signified an important shift. If the essay is worth more marks, other points can be considered like the role of PM as leader of their party and their role as a constituency MP - in a shorter essay these should definitely be mentioned but there might not be enough time to develop them in an exam setting. The conclusion reached is likely to be that domestically the role of the Prime Minister (in the Commons and Cabinet) has not changed hugely, however major adaptions have been made relating to how the media is handled and how the PM comports themselves on the international stage. This is a difficult question with a lot of relevant material so good essay technique is important in order to include everything. A short introduction which sets the scene, clear paragraphs and an argumentative conclusion are all necessary. The essay should be argument driven but balanced - instead of omitting the other side of the argument, include it and evaluate, explain why the argument that you have chosen is better. The argument should be signposted throughout by argumentative opening and closing sentences to paragraphs. A healthy mix between evaluation and evidence should be applied - demonstrating an engagement with current affairs by using up-to-date examples is crucial. Interpretations are also important to Politics so the argument should be supported by arguments of politicians, notable writers, journalists, etc.