Bibliographic Sources:

Requirements for Critical Essay

 

You will be required to write an essay (maximum 1,250 words – about 5 pages double spaced 12 point) that identifies  two theories or hypotheses explaining an outcome covered in the course (see suggestions of outcomes below) from secondary scholarly literature on the topic. What explanation for the outcome is provided by different authors? For example, was the outcome the product of certain ideas prevalent at the time or of economic changes or military conflicts? What evidence do the authors provide to support their argument?  Which do you find more convincing and why?

 

topic

1. Why was the Egyptian state able to build the pyramids? NOTE: you should NOT focus on theories of the technology behind the pyramids (e.g. ramps etc.) but on the social/state organization required for such a massive task.

Bibliographic sources:

 

You will be required to use at least  six scholarly sources relating directly to the regime outcome  in question.  Such sources  may include but cannot be limited to the required reading in the course .  You are strongly encouraged to speak with your professor/TA/librarian for advice on sources.  You are NOT allowed to use Wikipedia or an encyclopedia as one of your sources (although you are welcome to use such sources to get acquainted with your topic).

 

You should include the following:

—–

Your name (student number)

The date you submitted your assignment

Essay Topic: State your topic here

Introductory Paragraph with Thesis and outline of argument:

Your paragraph should include an opening sentence that articulates the central question of your essay, a summary of the two different hypotheses you have identified and a preliminary thesis that identifies which hypothesis you find more convincing and why.

Working Bibliography:

Please list at least six academic sources (scholarly books and journal articles) directly related to the case you are studying (you may include relevant readings from the course syllabus).

 

You should annotate all six sources.  Such annotation should include a 1-2 sentence description of the article and a 3-4 sentence discussion of  what the source reveals about the essay question.  In other words, what evidence is provided by the source that supports either a structural or voluntarist approach to the origins of the regime outcome you are studying?

 

Please follow this format in your bibliography:

 

Articles:

Hahmovitch, Cindy. “Creating Perfect Immigrants: Guestworkers of the World in Historical Perspective.”  Labour History Vol. 44, No. 1 (2003), pp. 69-94.

 

Books:

Moses. Jonathan W.  International Migration: Globalization’s Last Frontier. London and New York: Zed Books, 2006.

 

Please refer to the Chicago Manual of Style for tips on citing other sources:

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.htmlLinks to an external site.

 

Criteria for Grading of proposal:

 

· Is it clearly written, easy to read and free of spelling and grammatical errors?

· Does it clearly describe a specific outcome in a particular country at a particular time?

· Does it clearly describe two alternative arguments/explanations and the evidence provided by the authors?

· Does the bibliography annotation provide a clear description of the source and what the source contributes to an understanding of the question/essay topic you have chosen.

 

Requirements for Critical Essay Due April

 

Your essay (maximum 1,250 words – about 5 pages double spaced 12 point) should do the following:

 

· Clearly describe the outcome you are trying to explain. Focus on a particular country in a narrow time frame. (e.g., “What explains Cleisthenes’ reforms in 508 BCE?” NOT “Why was Greece a democracy?”

 

· Clearly describe each alternative argument/explanation.

 

· Clearly summarize the evidence that the author provides for his/her explanation.

 

· Why is one argument/hypothesis more convincing than the other? If both are important, what is the evidence that each makes a contribution to the outcome?

 

In the paper, you should cite at least six separate sources.  These cites MUST include a page number and will not be counted otherwise.

 

Bibliography: See citation format above.   You do NOT need to annotate your sources

 

Advice on paragraph construction:

 

1. Paragraphs should have a clear focus and point that is clear in the first sentence of the paragraph. Everything in that paragraph should relate in an obvious way to the subject sentence. Anyone should be able to skim/understand the paper by reading only the first paragraph of the paper and the first sentence of each subsequent paragraph.

2. You should avoid paragraphs that (a) have multiple unrelated points in them; and (b) are longer than 150-200 words (1/2 to ¾ of a page)

 

Other notes about paper:

 

1. Avoid opening sentences that make broad claims about the universe (e.g., “All people in the world want freedom from hunger”). Your opening sentences should get right to the point about the question you address in the paper and your central claims.

2. Avoid colloquial words you would use in conversation but not in a writing assignment.

3. Include your name and student number

4. Include page numbers

5. Include citations (with page numbers) for every factual claim

The following criteria will be used to assess your final paper:

Opening paragraph – 25% of the grade

1. Is the main question the author is trying to ask made clear in the first few sentences? Is the outcome specific and clear?

2. Does the author provide a clear summary of two alternative arguments?

3. Is there a clear thesis?

Paragraph structure – 20%

4. Is there any paragraph longer than ¾ of a page?

5. If you ONLY read the first sentence of each paragraph is the paper easy to follow/understand?

6. Do all of the sentences in each paragraph relate directly to the first sentence of that paragraph?

Argument/Evidence – 40%

7. Does the author provide specific evidence for each hypothesis? Does the evidence relate in an obvious way to the argument presented?

Citations and grammar: 15%

8. Does the author give specific references to support all claims including page numbers?

9. Are there the required number of sources in the paper?

10. Are there more than 2 or 3 spelling or grammatical errors?

 

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