Assignment
Essay Questions
Choose any one of the following essay questions.
Please read the notes on grading criteria and writing an essay below. Details pertaining to requirements for the essay are listed on the syllabus.
1. Discuss the role played by Sufis in the expansion of Islam in any one region of the Islamic world.
2. How have rulers in the Islamic world used art, architecture and/or literature as a political tool? Discuss with reference to one particular area or dynasty.
3. Discuss how the life-history of any one individual (e.g. a ruler, scholar, Sufi, etc.) from the Islamic world reflects broader trends in society and politics.
Requirements and notes on writing your essay.
Your essay should be 6 pages long, double-spaced in a standard 12-point font. The essay must include citations and a bibliography. You must utilize at least 5 sources. You are (very) strongly encouraged to make use of library resources and online academic resources such as JSTOR to gain access to scholarly material. You may also draw upon lectures and discussions.
Please note that our class lectures do not constitute a source.
Also note that for the purposes of this course, Wikipedia does not constitute a valid academic source (I will be happy to discuss why this is the case with you if you would like to talk about this).
These essays will be graded based on your ability to formulate a coherent argument and support it with evidence.
So, for example:
An "A" essay
• makes a coherent argument that responds to the question
• supports that argument well with appropriate and compelling evidence
• is organized coherently and written clearly
• has a strong analysis, an awareness of the "so-what" significance.
A "B" essay has an argument and supports it, but is lacking clarity, coherence, or strong analysis.
A "C" essay lacks a coherent argument or adequate evidence to support the argument.
A "D" essay lacks both, but still presents relevant information in partial answer to the question.
Make sure that you leave enough time after drafting your essay to read it again and reflect on these questions:
• Identify your central argument. Have you proved it with evidence? If you have not, what does your evidence actually prove? Should that be your argument instead?
• Outline what you have already written. Does the organization make sense?
• Find your evidence. Have you interpreted it so your reader can understand why you included it?
• Look back over your paragraphs. Does each one have a strong topic sentence?
• Reflect on the process of writing. When did you begin? Where did you write?
Attachment:- Unit-3-Sequence.rar