The final paper will offer you the opportunity to explore topics and countries not
covered in class. Whereas the first was designed to test your knowledge of course material by answering questions posed to you, the final paper will ask you to show
your critical understanding of related material by devising a question of your own
and then providing a critically-reasoned answer in the form of an essay. The
quality of your question. Do not give in to the temptation to ask simplistic
questions; though a simplistic answer might mean that your paper is technically
“right”, part of the assignment is to challenge yourself and deepen your
understanding of the material of the class – something that a simplistic question
cannot do.
The assignment has a considerable amount of built-in flexibility to allow for
creative freedom in crafting your paper. The main requirement is that your write
an essay in which your offer an argument so brilliant, so insightful, and so
well-supported that political analysts around the globe will be left astonished,
humbled, and shaken. Your essay must be 6-8 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.
Instructions: Choose one (only one) of the case-studies from the last part of the
class, namely the Phillippines or Indonesia, and then choose one (and only one) of the countries in Southeast Asia that we did not cover this semester (see list
below) and write a compartive essay on a topic of your own choosing. 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 ethnicity is “important” in both countries. Please make it clear at the
start of your essay which countries you are comparing and what issues(s) you will be addressing. As always, please underline, italicize, or bold your thesis statement.
Outside Case Studies
Cambodia, Vietnam, East Timor, Laos, Brunei, Myanmar/Burma, Thailand
Next, compile your souces
You will be integrating different types of sources for this paper, so please read the following carefully as you assemble your sources for this paer.
1. To provide a deeper context for your essay, you will also use 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 that 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 aslo 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
file, but these would not substitute for the four required in-class sources.
Finally, put all the pieces together and write your paper.
The one word to remember for this paper is intergration. What you will be doing is
integrating from your substantive sources and from course materials (lectures,
readings, and bonus course materials) to use as supporting evidence as you
develop your thesis around your topic. You will use your (outside) substantive
sources, for instance, to help provide a deeper context for your analysis.
Paper should use MLA guidelines for formatting and citations.
The key to this assignment is to start early and work on it on a consistent and
continuous basis. This is not an assignment that can be done at the last minute.
You have been given a considerable amount of creative freedom with this
assignment, so please do embrace it.
