WHAT

For this Short Paper assignment, you will practice writing an op-ed (an opinion article). Op-eds are distinguished from regular newspaper articles by having a clear argument supported by evidence. Their job is to persuade the audience, not just provide information. In printed newspapers, these op-ed pieces were placed on the opposite page from editorial articles, hence the name: op-ed. Unsure what an op-ed looks like in general? Take a look at this recent exampleLinks to an external site..

A good op-ed features:

• An obvious argument: don’t keep your readers guessing where you stand on an issue
• Evidence to support it: any argument needs to rely on evidence
• Clear writing style: do your best to communicate your argument and evidence clearly and effectively to your readers
• Op-eds usually do not have citations BUT for the purposes of this class, you will cite your sources in parentheses (see the “How” section below)

WHY

Op-eds are not only more fun to write than a traditional essay, but they are also a great way of practicing how to argue, support, and communicate a specific argument. Knowing how to do this well will help you both in college and beyond: regardless of your career choices, the ability to advance an informed argument is extremely useful.

HOW

For this op-ed, discuss the history of the relationship between the Islamic World and the West. How did Western Imperialism and Orientalism influence this relationship? How did this relationship affect people living in parts of the Islamic World?

These are all big questions, of course, but try to answer them by developing a historical argument (thesis) that you can then support with evidence in your essay. Be sure to touch upon both Orientalism and Imperialism in your essay.

Use specific examples from readings and videos assigned in Weeks 9, 10, 11. Make sure to use at least 3 readings or videos (not counting lectures)in your op-ed. Do not use outside sources for this assignment; only use the readings and videos assigned for this class.

Try to analyze and interpret readings and/or videos when you use them. In other words, do not just present the information from them but explain why this information is useful and how it supports your argument

A good paper will do the following:

• include a clear argument (see “Making Arguments and Writing a Thesis” on Canvas). It helps to have a sentence or two containing your argument early in the op-ed. Write those sentences in bold to make them stand out in the paper.
• practice using many sources of different kinds to support your argument (readings, videos, and lectures from Weeks 9, 10, 11). Try to interpretthe readings, instead of merely using them for information. Especially if the readings are primary sources (historical documents), try to analyze what is being said and why (and, just as importantly, what is not being said). This will help you build historical analysis and critical thinking skills.
• use only materials assigned for this class (these short papers are meant to train you how to interpret and use the available evidence to support your argument)
• cite sources by putting their author’s name (or a couple of words from the title, if no author) and page number(s) in parentheses. No need for a Bibliography / Work Cited page for this assignment (since you are only using sources assigned for our class). If you refer to information from lectures, just put “Lecture” in parentheses. For example:
  • (Ibn Munqidh, 3) or (“Campaign to Install Pro-Western Government,” 2)
  • (“Islam Through Its Scriptures”)
  • (Lecture)
• reflect an understanding of change over time and across space: how did things change and why?

Essays should be no less than 900 words in length (about 3 pages double-spaced, 12pt Times font or similar, 1-inch margins), employ appropriate grammar and sentence structure, cite sources in parentheses, and be reasonably free of typographical errors. You are welcome to write more than 900 words.

Essays that rely on a narrow range of sources (for example: only use information from lectures), are too short, disorganized, or do not cite sources will not receive a high grade.