Learning Objectives
Use primary and second materials to analyze historical information and to think critically about how political and historical factors impact a person’s life and livelihood
Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.
Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
Instructions for Research Paper
A. Description
In this research paper, you will write a 4-5 page essay or a minimum of 1200-1500 words. You must research one of the topics: Orientalism, Islamophobia, or the portrayal of Muslims in media. Through a comprehensive analysis of academic sources, your essay should investigate the profound impact of stereotypes and prejudices on Muslims’ lives, examining the correlation between discriminatory policies, hate crimes, mental health deterioration, and other consequences to the lives of Muslims living in the West. Your essay must argue a position and be supported by evidence from academic sources including journals, articles, or books. Personal stories, opinions, or unsupported ideas are not permitted in this research essay. You should include a minimum of three academic sources and the essay should be formatted in MLA.
Research Topics
Orientalism: Elaboration on Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism and its portrayal of the East as exotic and inferior.
Discussion of how Orientalist tropes persist in modern media portrayals.
Discuss how such ideas are connected to ideas of power, imperialism, and foreign policy
Islamophobia: Manifestations of Islamophobia in media, politics, and society.
Examination of media’s role in perpetuating Islamophobic narratives.
Examples of movies that perpetuate stereotypes
The Muslim Travel Ban: Policy Overview and Impact of Executive Order 13769 and its Rationale.
Analysis of other policies including the Patriot Act and surveillance of Muslims in America
Media’s Power in Shaping Perceptions: Exploration of media’s influence in constructing public opinion and reinforcing stereotypes.
Analysis of the portrayal of Muslims in contexts such as terrorism, criminality, and othering.
Case studies highlight the media’s role in perpetuating anti-Muslim sentiment.
Consideration of how discriminatory policies can exacerbate societal divisions.
Rise in Hate Crimes and Discrimination: Analysis of hate crime data before and after 9/11
Exploration of discriminatory attitudes and practices against Muslims in America.
Negative Stereotypes and Mental Health Deterioration: A. Psychological Impact of Stereotyping:
Investigation of the psychological toll of negative stereotypes on Muslim individuals.
Review of studies linking stereotypes to mental health issues.
Correlation Between Policy and Mental Health Deterioration
Exploration of the long-term effects on individuals and communities.
Advocating for Change:
Exploration of strategies to counter negative media portrayals and stereotypes.
Discussion of the potential positive impact of policy changes on Muslim communities.
Possible Essay Topics
Islam and Orientalism
Rise of Islamophobia
The Portrayal of Islam and Muslims in Western Media and Literature
Huntington and the Muslim World
Analysis of Lewis’s “Roots of Muslim Rage”
Contemporary Artists fight against Islamophobia
US Policies and Islamophobia
Galtung’s Theory of Conflict and Peace
Examples of Thesis Statements (Be specific and limit your topic)
The negative portrayal of Middle Eastern people in the movie Zero Dark 30, erases the humanity of the people in Iraq and overshadows the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in the country over the last 20 years of war. This is important because the reality of the war in Iraq is often forgotten.
Bernard Lewis’s article “The Roots of Muslim Rage” published in the Atlantic provides limited examples to support Muslim rage in the world and boxes 1 billion Muslims as anti-Western, this creates hate crimes towards Muslims in America and supports the Islamophobic industry which has increased since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Final Essay: Due March 31 (80 points)
Submit a 1500-word essay based on one of the topics listed above. Your essay should include the following:
The first paragraph must include a THESIS STATEMENT and the last paragraph must be your CONCLUSION. The thesis of your essay should be something you can prove with evidence from academic sources.
Use 12-point font, double-spaced, with a 1-inch margin, and Times New Roman font
Your academic sources must be Peer-Reviewed journals or books. You need a minimum of three academic sources, however, you should use as many as needed to support your position. Each paragraph in your essay must include an academic source.
The essay must include academic sources cited in the essay and listed on your work cited page.
Use MLA format.
D. Resources
The academic sources may also include, reputable news articles, books, websites from the UN and other research institutions, movies, and documentaries. Please avoid blogs, personal websites, yourself, or family members as sources.
