The Mongol Empire

Indiana State University HIST 113: Islamic Civilization Fall 2015 Term Paper: Review of Historical Writing Due Dates ? One Paragraph Prospectus and list of sources due 11:59pm EDT Monday October 19 ? Final Draft due online via Blackboard 11:59pm EST Friday November 20 Learning Objectives ? Compare the perspectives of historians in their treatment of a common topic, including the assumptions, theoretical approaches, and research methods shaping their works. ? Compose a historiographical review essay based on secondary source research. ? Apply standards for academic writing in the field of History to written work. Assignment Description For your final paper in HIST 113, you will be writing a review of historical writing on a topic of your choice related to Islamic Civilization. Identify and read at least three academic books or journal articles (no online sources) on your selected topic and write a six to eight page comparative analysis of those texts. This is not a topical paper. Your focus should be on analyzing the field of historical writing about this topic, and not just the topic itself. Directions 1. Identify a topic related to Islamic Civilization that you would like to explore in greater detail. This is your chance to build on your general knowledge of Islamic Civilization and complete an applied project on an issue of personal, professional, or academic interest. 2. Do a thorough literature search on topic in the Cunningham Library electronic databases, including WorldCat, JSTOR, and Academic Search Complete, and present a one paragraph prospectus, or research proposal, and list of 3-5 sources on Blackboard for review by 10/19. 3. Using the Handout “Analyzing Historical Arguments” as a guide, identify a theme you can use to compare the historical works you selected on your topic. 4. In the introduction to your paper, you must present a clear argument in the form of a thesis statement. Your thesis statement is a brief summary of the conclusions you have drawn from your source materials (in this case, historical writing). Do this in one clear, concise sentence. Example: While the prophet Muhammad remains at the center of scholarship on the rise of the Islamic faith, more recent studies emphasize the religious traditions of the Near East as an important factor in shaping Islam as world religion. 5. Structure your paper around your thesis, and stay on point! Putting together a thorough outline before you begin writing is a good way to keep everything focused on demonstrating that your thesis is sound. 6. Provide evidence to back up what you are saying through frequent citation of the texts. 7. Express your ideas clearly and directly. Avoid vague and subjective language. Formatting and Guidelines ? The main text of your paper should be 6-8 pages double-spaced, plus a bibliography. ? Use the Chicago Manual of Style to format footnotes and bibliography. ? Use 12 point font, double spaced with reasonably standard margins (approximately 1”). ? Give your essay a descriptive title. Ex.: “Historical Writing on the Rise of Islam” ? Refer frequently to your sources and cite them appropriately throughout. ? Be sure your essay contains an introduction with a thesis statement, well defined paragraphs covering subtopics in support of your thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes your essay. Examples* of Appropriate Topics Biographies of the Prophet Muhammad Sunni/Shi’i Sectarianism The Islamic Conquest of the Near East Conversion in Early Islam Religion and State Science and the House of Wisdom Veiling in Islamic Societies Women and Gender in Islam Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire The Mamluk Slave Soldier Dynasty The Silk Road Migration The Hajj Pilgrimage Orientalism and Western Views of Islam The Islamic City The Carpet Trade in Iran History of Books and Printing Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa Islam in America Sufism Islamic Law Middle East Environmental History The Mongol Empire The Crusades in Islamic History The Conversion of Iran to Shi’ism Managing Diversity in Mughal India Empires and Local Notables Travelers and Travel Writing The Tanzimat Reforms in the 19th Century Modernization in Turkey The Suez Canal Project in Egypt The Formation of the Nation-State System Arab Nationalism Soviet Rule in Central Asia Terrorism and Political Islam Islam and Democracy The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran The Arab Revolt during World War I Palestinian Identity The Formation of the Israeli State Food and Culture in the Modern Middle East Globalization and Capitalism Oil Industries The Arab Spring (2011-) *This is only a list of suggestions to give students a few potential ideas or starting points. Any topic related to Islamic Civilization is appropriate for this assignment.