Category: Writing

For this week I want you to consider the following questions for our discussion. What was the significance of the First World War (1914-1918) on the Middle East, and on the formation of the modern Middle East?

Second, what role does nationalism play in the early 20th century Middle East? Was it a positive or negative force in the region, and do you see any similarities between the end of the First World War and todays Middle East when it comes to the question of nationalism and political identity?

Make sure to reference the readings, slides, or videos in your responses for full credit

For this assignment I want you to, in one paragraph, provide an answer to the following questions:

1. What is the topic of your paper (e.g., war, peace, economic development, social justice, etc.,).

2. What specifically is the research question you want to answer?

3. How is this contributing to your understanding of the Middle East.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Case Study: Movies and Media

You are now well-equipped and knowledgeable about the basic principles and fundamentals of negotiation. This week we are going to lighten up a bit from role-playing negotiation practice and change our approach for fun. Please select and watch the movie of your choice that involves negotiation. Then, complete the discussion questions based on the movie viewed which will demonstrate your negotiation analysis skills.

You may select any movie that you find inspiring, comedic, or engaging as long as it involves a form of negotiation. Here is a list of some top favorites:

The Negotiation

Discussion Questions:

Please answer the following questions based on the movie you selected. Please respond fully to each question with a minimum of five sentences each, citing specific examples from the movie for each response.

1. Describe the movie and the premise.
2. What was the basis for the negotiation in the movie?
3. What goals were established for the negotiation for each party?
4. What goals were actually achieved?
5. What were the interests of each side? How could these interests have been met in a joint solution?
6. What creative options were explored, if any? Which ones were finally accepted?
7. What negotiation strategies and tactics were used to pursue the negotiation goals for each side?
8. How did the negotiation end? Win-Win, Win-Lose, or Lose-Lose? Explain.
9. Was a distributive or integrative strategy used? Describe.
10. After your negotiation, how would you describe the relationship between the parties?
11. Were there any multi-party negotiations presented, and if so, how were the roles divided? (If this does not apply, simply put NA for your response)
12. What cross-cultural influences were there? (Race, age, gender, nationality, social status, other?) Describe how that impacted the negotiation.

Rubric

2020_Writing Rubric_AS/VS/Online (1)

2020_Writing Rubric_AS/VS/Online (1)

Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContentRubric Weight – 45%	20 to >17.32 ptsLevel 4Paper provides complete analysis and synthesis of the researched information. Paper covers all key points as outlined in the assignment. If required, CWV addressed completely. 17.32 to >14.68 ptsLevel 3Paper provides analysis and synthesis of the researched information. Paper covers most key points as outlined in the assignment. If required, CWV addressed adequately. 14.68 to >10.68 ptsLevel 2Paper provides only basic information and key points as outlined in the assignment. If required, only basic CWV included. 10.68 to >0 ptsLevel 1Paper does not supply substantive information and key points as outlined in the assignment. Paper also does not present an analysis or synthesis of the researched information. If required, CVW not included.	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganizationRubric Weight – 30%	15 to >12.51 ptsLevel 4Information and key points are appropriately aligned, and the reader can easily follow the organization of the paper 12.51 to >9.99 ptsLevel 3Information and key points are mostly aligned so the reader can follow the organization of the paper. 9.99 to >7.5 ptsLevel 2Information and key points are somewhat aligned so the reader can follow the organziation of the paper. 7.5 to >0 ptsLevel 1Paper does not supply substantive information and key points as outlined in the assignment. Paper also does not present an analysis or synthesis of the researched information. If required, CVW not included.	15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanicsRubric Weight – 15%	10 to >9.0 ptsLevel 4The paper demonstrates exceptional use of standard English conventions and word choice (mechanics, usage, grammar, and syntax). 9 to >8.0 ptsLevel 3The paper demonstrates consistent use of standard English conventions (mechanics, usage, grammar, and syntax). 8 to >7.5 ptsLevel 2The paper demonstrates inconsistent use of standard English conventions (mechanics, usage, grammar, and syntax). 7.5 to >0 ptsLevel 1The paper does not demonstrate consistent use of standard English conventions (mechanics, usage, grammar, and syntax). Much of the writing is not clear because of the degree of errors.	10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA FormattingRubric Weight – 10%	5 to >4.5 ptsLevel 4Nearly error-free APA format 4.5 to >4.0 ptsLevel 3Limited minor APA errors in format 4 to >3.75 ptsLevel 2Frequent minor APA errors in format 3.75 to >0 ptsLevel 1Frequent APA errors in format	5 pts

Total Points: 50

For this week, I want us to consider the foundations of the modern Middle East.

The Middle East, as we know it today, is the result of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War (1914-1918). Ibn Khaldun wrote about the collapse of empires, and I want you to read the article about Khaldun and his views and ask yourself if (1) he is correct, and (2) reading the documents and lecture slides about the immediate post war settlement in the Middle East, if things could have turned out differently? If so, how and why?

The philosopher George Santayana famously remarked “those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”

Political science strives to properly identify the lessons of the past. But this is easier said then done. As we begin our journey into comparative politics, I want you to reflect on how you, or people in general, learn from the past. I want you to answer and reflect on the following:

1. How do you personally learn from the past?

2. How do you know if you are learning the correct lessons?

3. What is the most important political questing the United States today?

800 words .

The philosopher George Santayana famously remarked “those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”

Political science strives to properly identify the lessons of the past. But this is easier said then done. As we begin our journey into comparative politics, I want you to reflect on how you, or people in general, learn from the past. I want you to answer and reflect on the following:

1. How do you personally learn from the past?

2. How do you know if you are learning the correct lessons?

3. What is the most important political questing the United States today?

800 words .

Please embed an image of your subject into your post, which can be included by downloading an image to your computer and uploading it to your post using the menu above the text box.

Be sure to cite at least two sources for your post. Be sure to summarize your thoughts in your own words.

Assignment Subject:

There are three main strategies for analyzing works of art: contextual theory, formal theory, and expressive theory. Contextual theory focuses on the political, social, or religious context of a work of art. Formal theory focuses on its visual characteristics. Expressive theory relates a work of art to the experience of the artist who created it. This week you will be using expressive theory and will discuss a work of art by relating it to the life of the artist.

The history of art is populated with many fascinating characters, and their work often reflects the triumphs and tragedies that shaped their lives. This week, you will choose an artist from this week’s reading and will present a work of art that you feel reflects some aspect of this artist’s life. Give some brief biographical details about the artist and explain how you think the artwork you feature in your post relates to their life experiences. How does the artist use form, color, and symbolism to express their point of view? How does it make you feel?

You may choose any artist from the reading you’ve done so far in this class. Look at the discussion before choosing your subject so that your post is unique (don’t all write about van Gogh please). Here are some possibilities:

Odilon Redon

Henri Rousseau

Auguste Rodin

Camille Claudel

Paul Gauguin

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Suzanne Valadon

Berthe Morisot

William Morris

Aubrey Beardsley

Gustave Klimt

Antoni Gaud

Edvard Munch

James Ensor

Visionary Artists

Visionary late 19th-century artists rejected strict realism to explore dreams and symbolism, expressing their experience of the world with emotional intensity. Artists like Vincent van Gogh shared a personal vision in their artwork that deeply impacted the history of art. Edvard Munch summarized this world view when he wrote: “Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye, it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.”

This week you will be taking a deeper dive to learn more about the lives of European artists in the late 19th century, and will gain insight into the relationship of art and life.

The artists featured below each overcame personal obstacles and the constraints of society to share their unique vision of the world, and their artistic legacy continues to inspire many people today. If you choose to write about one of these artists, please be sure to do additional research!

Toulouse-Lautrec

(1864-1901) captured the dark world of late 19th-century dance halls, cabarets, and theaters in the famous Montmartre district in Paris. Despite descending from three lines of aristocracy, Lautrec struggled with physical disability and found inspiration from the people he lived among in Montmartres working-class neighborhood, including prostitutes, singers, and fellow artists. His bold style helped set the course of avant-garde art well beyond his tragic death from syphilis and alcoholism at the age of 36.

Learn more about his brief (and scandalous) life in the video below:

Suzanne Valadon

Born Marie-Clmentine, (1865-1938) was the daughter of an unmarried domestic worker. She grew up in Montmartre, the bohemian quarter of Paris, supporting herself from the age of ten with odd jobs: waitress, nanny, and circus performer. A fall from a trapeze led her in a new direction.

From 1880 to 1893, Valadon modeled for several of the most important post-Impressionist painters of her day, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Although she could not afford formal art classes, Valadon learned drawing and printmaking techniques from the artists around her, especially her close friend and mentor Edgar Degas.

The following interview with Dr Lauren Jimerson, an art historian and the author of “”, discusses Suzanne Valadon’s transformation from model to self-taught master.

Henri Rousseau

(1844-1910) was a self-taught post-Impressionist painter who created dream-like worlds in his paintings. He began painting in middle age and was also known as Le Douanier, a humorous description of his occupation as a toll and tax collector. Although he was sometimes mocked as an amateur, Henri Rousseau’s work influenced many artists, including Pablo Picasso and the Surrealists. His work is still admired and studied today.

Andrew Graham-Dixon travels around France to discover more about his life in the video below:

Edvard Munch

(1863-1944) was a Norwegian painter and printmaker who played a pivotal role in the development of Expressionism. His work is known for its emotional intensity and he is best known for The Scream (1893), an iconic image of modern anxiety. The short video below explores his life and legacy, and will help you gain a better understanding of his symbolic and deeply personal artwork.

Antoni Gaud

Antoni Gaud (1852-1926) was a visionary Spanish architect. At the time of his death in 1926, was arguably the most famous architect in the world. He had created some of the greatest and most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture that were as exotic as they were outrageous, influencing the development of Surrealist painting as well as generations of groundbreaking architects like the Iraqi-born British architect .

Construction is ongoing but in 2026, the Sagrada Famlia is celebrating a historic milestone: the completion of the tower of Jesus, the last of the Basilicas central towers. This coincides with the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of Antoni Gauds death, making it a particularly meaningful year for the city of Barcelona and its inhabitants.

In the video below, art historians Beth Harris and Steven Zucker explore the visual impact of La Sagrada Familia.

The philosopher George Santayana famously remarked “those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”

Political science strives to properly identify the lessons of the past. But this is easier said then done. As we begin our journey into comparative politics, I want you to reflect on how you, or people in general, learn from the past. I want you to answer and reflect on the following:

1. How do you personally learn from the past?

2. How do you know if you are learning the correct lessons?

3. What is the most important political questing the United States today?

800 words .

Please embed an image of your subject into your post, which can be included by downloading an image to your computer and uploading it to your post using the menu above the text box.

Be sure to cite at least two sources for your post. Be sure to summarize your thoughts in your own words.

Assignment Subject:

There are three main strategies for analyzing works of art: contextual theory, formal theory, and expressive theory. Contextual theory focuses on the political, social, or religious context of a work of art. Formal theory focuses on its visual characteristics. Expressive theory relates a work of art to the experience of the artist who created it. This week you will be using expressive theory and will discuss a work of art by relating it to the life of the artist.

The history of art is populated with many fascinating characters, and their work often reflects the triumphs and tragedies that shaped their lives. This week, you will choose an artist from this week’s reading and will present a work of art that you feel reflects some aspect of this artist’s life. Give some brief biographical details about the artist and explain how you think the artwork you feature in your post relates to their life experiences. How does the artist use form, color, and symbolism to express their point of view? How does it make you feel?

You may choose any artist from the reading you’ve done so far in this class. Look at the discussion before choosing your subject so that your post is unique (don’t all write about van Gogh please). Here are some possibilities:

Odilon Redon

Henri Rousseau

Auguste Rodin

Camille Claudel

Paul Gauguin

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Suzanne Valadon

Berthe Morisot

William Morris

Aubrey Beardsley

Gustave Klimt

Antoni Gaud

Edvard Munch

James Ensor

Visionary Artists

Visionary late 19th-century artists rejected strict realism to explore dreams and symbolism, expressing their experience of the world with emotional intensity. Artists like Vincent van Gogh shared a personal vision in their artwork that deeply impacted the history of art. Edvard Munch summarized this world view when he wrote: “Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye, it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.”

This week you will be taking a deeper dive to learn more about the lives of European artists in the late 19th century, and will gain insight into the relationship of art and life.

The artists featured below each overcame personal obstacles and the constraints of society to share their unique vision of the world, and their artistic legacy continues to inspire many people today. If you choose to write about one of these artists, please be sure to do additional research!

Toulouse-Lautrec

(1864-1901) captured the dark world of late 19th-century dance halls, cabarets, and theaters in the famous Montmartre district in Paris. Despite descending from three lines of aristocracy, Lautrec struggled with physical disability and found inspiration from the people he lived among in Montmartres working-class neighborhood, including prostitutes, singers, and fellow artists. His bold style helped set the course of avant-garde art well beyond his tragic death from syphilis and alcoholism at the age of 36.

Learn more about his brief (and scandalous) life in the video below:

Suzanne Valadon

Born Marie-Clmentine, (1865-1938) was the daughter of an unmarried domestic worker. She grew up in Montmartre, the bohemian quarter of Paris, supporting herself from the age of ten with odd jobs: waitress, nanny, and circus performer. A fall from a trapeze led her in a new direction.

From 1880 to 1893, Valadon modeled for several of the most important post-Impressionist painters of her day, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Although she could not afford formal art classes, Valadon learned drawing and printmaking techniques from the artists around her, especially her close friend and mentor Edgar Degas.

The following interview with Dr Lauren Jimerson, an art historian and the author of “”, discusses Suzanne Valadon’s transformation from model to self-taught master.

Henri Rousseau

(1844-1910) was a self-taught post-Impressionist painter who created dream-like worlds in his paintings. He began painting in middle age and was also known as Le Douanier, a humorous description of his occupation as a toll and tax collector. Although he was sometimes mocked as an amateur, Henri Rousseau’s work influenced many artists, including Pablo Picasso and the Surrealists. His work is still admired and studied today.

Andrew Graham-Dixon travels around France to discover more about his life in the video below:

Edvard Munch

(1863-1944) was a Norwegian painter and printmaker who played a pivotal role in the development of Expressionism. His work is known for its emotional intensity and he is best known for The Scream (1893), an iconic image of modern anxiety. The short video below explores his life and legacy, and will help you gain a better understanding of his symbolic and deeply personal artwork.

Antoni Gaud

Antoni Gaud (1852-1926) was a visionary Spanish architect. At the time of his death in 1926, was arguably the most famous architect in the world. He had created some of the greatest and most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture that were as exotic as they were outrageous, influencing the development of Surrealist painting as well as generations of groundbreaking architects like the Iraqi-born British architect .

Construction is ongoing but in 2026, the Sagrada Famlia is celebrating a historic milestone: the completion of the tower of Jesus, the last of the Basilicas central towers. This coincides with the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of Antoni Gauds death, making it a particularly meaningful year for the city of Barcelona and its inhabitants.

In the video below, art historians Beth Harris and Steven Zucker explore the visual impact of La Sagrada Familia.

Please embed an image of your subject into your post, which can be included by downloading an image to your computer and uploading it to your post using the menu above the text box.

Be sure to cite at least two sources for your post. Be sure to summarize your thoughts in your own words.

Assignment Subject:

There are three main strategies for analyzing works of art: contextual theory, formal theory, and expressive theory. Contextual theory focuses on the political, social, or religious context of a work of art. Formal theory focuses on its visual characteristics. Expressive theory relates a work of art to the experience of the artist who created it. This week you will be using expressive theory and will discuss a work of art by relating it to the life of the artist.

The history of art is populated with many fascinating characters, and their work often reflects the triumphs and tragedies that shaped their lives. This week, you will choose an artist from this week’s reading and will present a work of art that you feel reflects some aspect of this artist’s life. Give some brief biographical details about the artist and explain how you think the artwork you feature in your post relates to their life experiences. How does the artist use form, color, and symbolism to express their point of view? How does it make you feel?

You may choose any artist from the reading you’ve done so far in this class. Look at the discussion before choosing your subject so that your post is unique (don’t all write about van Gogh please). Here are some possibilities:

Odilon Redon

Henri Rousseau

Auguste Rodin

Camille Claudel

Paul Gauguin

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Suzanne Valadon

Berthe Morisot

William Morris

Aubrey Beardsley

Gustave Klimt

Antoni Gaud

Edvard Munch

James Ensor

Visionary Artists

Visionary late 19th-century artists rejected strict realism to explore dreams and symbolism, expressing their experience of the world with emotional intensity. Artists like Vincent van Gogh shared a personal vision in their artwork that deeply impacted the history of art. Edvard Munch summarized this world view when he wrote: “Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye, it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.”

This week you will be taking a deeper dive to learn more about the lives of European artists in the late 19th century, and will gain insight into the relationship of art and life.

The artists featured below each overcame personal obstacles and the constraints of society to share their unique vision of the world, and their artistic legacy continues to inspire many people today. If you choose to write about one of these artists, please be sure to do additional research!

Toulouse-Lautrec

(1864-1901) captured the dark world of late 19th-century dance halls, cabarets, and theaters in the famous Montmartre district in Paris. Despite descending from three lines of aristocracy, Lautrec struggled with physical disability and found inspiration from the people he lived among in Montmartres working-class neighborhood, including prostitutes, singers, and fellow artists. His bold style helped set the course of avant-garde art well beyond his tragic death from syphilis and alcoholism at the age of 36.

Learn more about his brief (and scandalous) life in the video below:

Suzanne Valadon

Born Marie-Clmentine, (1865-1938) was the daughter of an unmarried domestic worker. She grew up in Montmartre, the bohemian quarter of Paris, supporting herself from the age of ten with odd jobs: waitress, nanny, and circus performer. A fall from a trapeze led her in a new direction.

From 1880 to 1893, Valadon modeled for several of the most important post-Impressionist painters of her day, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Although she could not afford formal art classes, Valadon learned drawing and printmaking techniques from the artists around her, especially her close friend and mentor Edgar Degas.

The following interview with Dr Lauren Jimerson, an art historian and the author of “”, discusses Suzanne Valadon’s transformation from model to self-taught master.

Henri Rousseau

(1844-1910) was a self-taught post-Impressionist painter who created dream-like worlds in his paintings. He began painting in middle age and was also known as Le Douanier, a humorous description of his occupation as a toll and tax collector. Although he was sometimes mocked as an amateur, Henri Rousseau’s work influenced many artists, including Pablo Picasso and the Surrealists. His work is still admired and studied today.

Andrew Graham-Dixon travels around France to discover more about his life in the video below:

Edvard Munch

(1863-1944) was a Norwegian painter and printmaker who played a pivotal role in the development of Expressionism. His work is known for its emotional intensity and he is best known for The Scream (1893), an iconic image of modern anxiety. The short video below explores his life and legacy, and will help you gain a better understanding of his symbolic and deeply personal artwork.

Antoni Gaud

Antoni Gaud (1852-1926) was a visionary Spanish architect. At the time of his death in 1926, was arguably the most famous architect in the world. He had created some of the greatest and most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture that were as exotic as they were outrageous, influencing the development of Surrealist painting as well as generations of groundbreaking architects like the Iraqi-born British architect .

Construction is ongoing but in 2026, the Sagrada Famlia is celebrating a historic milestone: the completion of the tower of Jesus, the last of the Basilicas central towers. This coincides with the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of Antoni Gauds death, making it a particularly meaningful year for the city of Barcelona and its inhabitants.

In the video below, art historians Beth Harris and Steven Zucker explore the visual impact of La Sagrada Familia.