Instructions
for Position Paper Essay
By 9am
on March 18, a position paper between 1500-2000 words in length (not including
the bibliography).
The position paper must answer the following question: Which actor has the most
power in global politics? Great powers, the United Nations, diplomats &
negotiators, activists, influencers, terrorists, billionaires, big tech
companies, or terrorists?
The
paper must compare at least FOUR different actors, and at least THREE kinds of
power discussed in the course (including but not limited to Discuss with
reference to at least TWO types of power discussed in the course (including but
not limited to: material power, soft power, power to make the rules, structural
power, bureaucratic power, power of rules and laws, bargaining power, knowledge
power, power to set the agenda, market power, currency power, lending and aid
power, power of images, asymmetric power).
The
paper must have the following elements:
• It must have a cover page with the title of the essay, the student’s name,
the student’s student number, the tutorial group of the student, and the word
count of the essay. Kindly leave the information that is not available to you blank.
• The paper must begin with an introduction (1-2 paragraphs) that includes a
1-2 sentence concise answer to the question and a very brief summary of the
core arguments that will be made to back up this answer. The introduction
should also describe the organization of the paper.
• The rest of the paper (before the conclusion) must then present detailed
arguments to support the answer. This section of the paper must discuss the
power of all at least four actors from the course. The paper should discuss how
various types of power are wielded by these entities, and clearly define and
discuss at least three types of power discussed in the course. Students are
welcome to incorporate insights and text from the reading summaries and
presentations.
• The essay must end with a concluding section (1-2 paragraphs) that summarizes
the answer to the question and the arguments of the paper. The conclusion may
also comment on any limitations of the arguments or on some broader
implications of the arguments.
• After the concluding section, the essay must have a bibliography that
includes all works that you have cited in the paper (and no others).
Additional
requirements for the paper:
• The paper must make reference to AT LEAST eight (8) sources, all sources have
been provided and attached to this request. Do not draw content from any
external sources, unless required but use all sources provided. Any additional
source should be viewed as an ninth (9) source and should be mentioned as an
additional source.
• The
paper should be formatted with 12-point font and page numbers. The preferred citation
style is the Chicago author-date style which uses author-date citations in the text
and a bibliography at the end. In this style, footnotes or endnotes are used
only for explanatory digressions or notes of clarification.
• The essay must be between 1500-2000 words (not including the bibliography).
Essays that are either longer or shorter than the required length will not be
accepted.
Marking Rubric
Points will be assigned as follows:
The Basics /10
• Discusses at least four (4) different actors;
• Discusses at least three (3) kinds of power;
• Discusses at least eight (8) course readings
Citation
/10
• All sources are correctly and consistently cited, in text and in the
bibliography
Style /10
• Has a clear voice and distinct style, and engages the reader from beginning
to end.
• No errors of grammar or spelling
• Uses language and style that enhance meaning
Structure /5
• Has a clear introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.
• Argument is organized in a logical and cohesive way, and facilitates
understanding.
• Demonstrates an awareness of the links between content and form (purpose and audience)
Use of Power Concepts /25
• Demonstrates knowledge and correct application of power concepts and
theories;
• All concepts are correctly defined, used and applied
Argumentation /40
• Identifies, evaluates, and compares the power held by key states,
institutions, and other actors in global politics
• Demonstrates capacity to apply concepts and ideas from the course to make an argument
about power in global politics;
• Thesis and argument are logical and sophisticated. All details make sense in
context;
•
Evaluates scholarly work, synthesizes materials from different parts of the
course, and applies this understanding to an argument