MENA Essay

For this unit’s research project, you have a choice of two types of essays: one that examines cause and effect, or one that looks at an issue from two different perspectives. You may choose from a list of suggested topics or come up with your own, pending teacher approval. Your essay must be based on evidence from research and include a full works-cited page. We will be learning how to do this together. Your final essay should be 4-6 paragraphs long.

Cause and Effect Essay:

Explain how a history event is influencing modern events in the Middle East or North Africa.

History Topics :

(you choose modern connection)

WWI
WII
Holocaust
The Partition of the Middle East
The Foundation and Spread of Islam
The Sunni/Shi'a split
The creation of Israel
The Six Days War
The Israel/Egypt peace agreement
The Egyptian revolution of 2011
Fall of Constantinople in 1453
Destruction of the Jerusalem temple
Yom Kippur War
Foundation of Saudi Arabia in 1932
Election of Gadafi in Libya
Discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia, 1938

Format:

1 paragraph Introduction with claim

1-2 paragraphs on historic event/cause

1-2 paragraphs on modern event/effect

1 paragraph conclusion

Argumentative Essay:

Examine how different people have different views of an event. You can express an opinion but must also present the counter-evidence.

Topics:

Should Israel continue to build settlements in the West Bank?
Should the US withdraw troops from Iraq?
Should the UN intervene in the Yemeni Civil War?
What rights should women have in Saudi Arabia?
Should protesters be protected or persecuted in Algeria?
Should the UN monitor Bahrain’s Human Rights abuses?
Should other countries help refugees from Syria’s Civil War?
Should the UN punish the Syrian government for war crimes?
Should MENA nations switch to solar power?
Should the Kurds have their own country?
Should countries in the Middle East work together to solve the water shortage?
Should Dubai keep building islands/reclamation?
Should Egypt enact environmental laws to protect its ancient monuments?
Should Israel use less water from the Jordan River?

Format:

1 paragraph introduction with claim

1-2 paragraphs perspective A

1 paragraphs perspective B

Process:

PRESEARCH: Choose a preliminary topic. Do some quick research to see if you can find good sources. Evaluate their reliability, scan to see if they have good information. If you like what you find, keep going. If not, choose a different source. If you still can’t find good sources, change your topic.
RESEARCH: Once you begin your real research, list your source information and take notes. Keep notes sorted by source (don’t mix them all together, that comes later). Once you have enough information, write your claim based on your evidence. Look for news articles as sources! They will be very helpful.
WRITE: Starting with your claim in the introduction, write your body paragraphs using your notes. All writing must be in your own words. You should refer to evidence from sources but not directly quote from sources. Paraphrase!
CITE: put your sources into a works cited page. We will go over the format of this in class.
EDIT: proofread and correct errors.

DUE DATE: Wednesday, March 11, 2020

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