Students are required to answer a synthetic question:
Select one of the four topics discussed in the seminars (Women’s Issues, Artificial Intelligence, Conflicts, Migration, and Minorities) and provide an evaluation of it. Where do you agree or disagree with the points raised? How can you connect it to other discussions or readings from the course, as well as your personal readings and research interests?
This is an individual assignment aimed at developing skills in analytical reading, connecting ideas, critical thinking, and the ability to focus on key conclusions, with conciseness in presenting them.
Students are required to:
• Use at least three of the required readings to answer the question.
• Refer to lecture content in the response.
• Discuss the ideas presented by relevant authors and lecturers.
• Conclude with a personal position on the discussion, supported by reasoned arguments.
• Keep the assignment within 1200 words, including references.
The summary must use the Sakkal Majalla font, size 14, with single spacing. The final version should be submitted on the designated Moodle page. This task contributes 15% of the course grade.
Evaluation Criteria:
• Critical analysis of ideas and presenting a supported viewpoint – 30%
• Ability to connect the chosen topic with course discussions and readings – 30%
• Quality and relevance of the literature and sources used – 15%
• Organized structure with smooth transitions between paragraphs – 15%
• Adherence to length, formatting, and citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago) – 10%
I have chosen the topic of Women’s Issues, and I will attach the reading titled Women’s Empowerment and Public Policy in the Arab Gulf States by Rabia Naguib. As 30% of the grade depends on linking the topic with course discussions and readings, I will attach additional texts we covered in previous weeks:
• In Week 2: Is Thinking with Modernity Eurocentric? by Sanjay Seth
• In Week 3: Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples by Linda Tuhiwai Smith
• In Week 4: That’s just what I do’: Placing Emotion in Academic Activism by Kye Askins
• In Week 5: Research Design: The Methodology for Interdisciplinary Research Framework by Hilde Tobi and Jarl K. Kampen
• In Week 7: On the Precedence of Understanding Over Method by Azmi Bishara
All the readings will be provided, but the focus of the reflective paper will be on Women’s Empowerment and Public Policy in the Arab Gulf States by Rabia Naguib. The remaining texts will serve as references to draw connections between the topic of women’s issues and the other discussions we’ve had throughout the semester.
Since one of the requirements is to use at least three mandatory readings, and since referencing lecture content is also essential for grading, these additional sources will play a crucial role in strengthening the paper.
To connect the topic “Women’s Empowerment and Public Policy in the Arab Gulf States” by Rabia Naguib with other readings, three of the following references can be selected for a comprehensive analysis:
1. Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples – Linda Tuhiwai Smith: This reference provides a postcolonial perspective for understanding the relationship between women’s issues and public policy, enriching the discussion on how colonial legacies influence women’s empowerment policies in the Gulf. It can assist in analyzing the cultural and institutional challenges these policies face.
2. Is Thinking with Modernity Eurocentric? – Sanjay Seth: This text discusses the impact of Western models on women’s empowerment policies in the Gulf, opening the door for comparison between imported policies and local solutions. This connection can support the debate on the appropriateness of Western models for Gulf contexts.
3. On the Precedence of Understanding Over Method – Azmi Bishara: Bishara emphasizes the importance of understanding local contexts in formulating effective policies, aligning well with Rabia Naguib’s topic. This reference reinforces the need to consider social and political dynamics when designing women’s empowerment policies.
These references are not mandatory for use in the analysis; rather, they are suggestions to facilitate connections between topics. However, it is essential to adhere to the references provided, and if these references are not utilized, the remaining references that have been attached can be considered.