AQAP

“al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.” POL 255: Terrorism and Asymmetric Conflict, Professor Tom Brister: Fall 2018.

This paper traces the history of AQAP, the branch of al-Qaeda in Yemen. Even though it was a simple historical recounting, I think I did a good job of making it clear and somewhat enjoyable. I believe I chose good, powerful verbs that move the story along in a compelling way, and I believe that I provide effective conclusion statements without repeating word-for-word what I had previously said.

For me, the most fascinating part of this paper is the process of writing it. As I began my rough draft, I remember having a very tough time pinpointing exactly what my main argument would be and how I would articulate it. In an effort to provide myself some clarity, I wrote on a scrap piece of paper, “I am arguing that…” and then filled in the blank. This immediately helped me figure out the most important part of my paper and how I would lay everything out. I then realized I could transfer these exact signposts (“I will…” phrases) directly into my paper. I had used explicit language and signposts before, but always as a conscious way of conforming to certain discursive expectations. This was the first time that I realized that using them carried benefits not only for the reader but also for a writer going through the writing process.

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