The assignment has a considerable amount of built-in flexibility to allow for
creative freedom in crafting your paper. The main requirement is that you write
an essay in which you offer an argument so brilliant, so insightful, and so well-
supported that political analysts around the globe will be left astonished,
humbled, and shaken (if not stirred). Your essay must be 7-8 pages (double-
spaced, 12-pt font, and one-inch margins), and you should utilize a broad array
of course materials (lectures and readings) and outside sources to your best
advantage in supporting your argument. You may use an additional page for
endnotes/references; you may also use a cover page.
This option asks you to choose one (and only one) of the case-studies from the
last part of the class, namely the Philippines or Indonesia, and then choose one
(and only one) of the countries in Southeast Asia that we did cover earlier in the
semester (see list below) and write a comparative essay on a topic of your own
choosing. The only restriction here is that you may not write on a topic that you
wrote about on the first midterm paper (so no double-dipping). This will be an
interpretive essay in which you offer a persuasive, original argument that
incorporates each of your chosen case-studies and relates them in a coherent
and compelling way. Avoid making the brutally obvious connection; that is, do not
argue that politics is “problematic” in both countries. Please make it clear at the
start of your essay what countries you are comparing and what issue(s) you will
be addressing. As always, please underline, italicize, or bold your thesis
statement.
1. To provide a deeper context for your essay, you will also at least four
additional and substantive outside sources for this paper. A substantive source is
a source that will offer an argument, backed by in-depth research using primary
sources. Academic journals and policy journals (such as Foreign Affairs) are
examples of substantive sources, as are books published by academic presses
and other publishers known for publishing substantive works. You can always
use more than four sources, but never fewer.
2. You must also draw on readings and lectures from the course as appropriate.
You will need to utilize at least four readings from the assigned course readings.
You will also need to utilize material from the lectures to show your mastery of
course material. You may also use any of the materials from the Bonus Materials
posted on bCourses, but these would not substitute for the four required in-class
sources.
***Please read the file “FinalPaper_Guidelines_PS149E_Spring2024” cafefully and write comparative essay. You need to see all the lecture slides and course readings to write essay. ***
