General Description
The term paper is an opportunity to demonstrate your assimilation of the conceptual framework developed throughout this course by applying it to the analysis of three critical episodes of the history of US-Latin American relations. These episodes are:
(a) The CIA-led cover operation in Guatemala, 1954
(b) The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, 1961.
(c) The El Mozote Massacre, El Salvador, 1981
Approach
By adopting a comparative approach you are expected to draw some general conclusions regarding the overall US-Latin American relationships. The following elements will define the quality of your work:
(a) Fully understanding the episodes under study by consulting several sources (What exactly happened?)
(b) Placing these episodes into their broader national and international context so you can determine their impact for the different actors involved (Who and how were them affected by this?) (b) Placing these episodes into their broader national and international context so you can determine their impact for the different actors involved (Who and how were them affected by this?)
(c) Defining clear comparative criteria so you can give your paper a coherent structure (What am I going to compare?)
(d) Through systematic contrast try to extract some common patterns of action and behavior.
Sources
The basic bibliography to be used for this paper is the books by Nick Cullather, Howard Jones and Ken Danner including in the required reading list.
Using films and documents consulted throughout this course will definitively enrich your paper resulting this in a better evaluation.
Style
This paper must be an argumentative piece not a mere summary of the books. An argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic, collect, generate, and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic. Therefore, in writing your paper Include only the historical details that you need to move forward in your analysis.
Keep your paper as focused as possible so you can dig deeply in your analysis. You can include quotations from the sources in case you think they are really helpful to make your point.
Direct quotations or any borrowed ideas must be footnoted. Do not use in-text notations or endnotes. Use only footnotes following the MLA style (see https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/).
Plagiarism
When you take words, work, or ideas of someone else and pass them off as your own you are committing plagiarism. Deliberate or involuntary, unfortunately, plagiarism has become common in our campus.
Be extremely careful in avoiding it. I generally trust on student honorability, however, I examine papers thoroughly as soon as I have a minimal suspicion of fraud. If you decided to plagiarize you will receive an F and I will turn the matter over the dean for further sanctioning.Structure
The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following elements:
(a) A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that is usually presented in the first paragraph of the essay
(b) Clear and logical transitions between the three main parts of the paper: introduction, body, and conclusion.
(c) Body paragraphs that include evidential support as well as discussing conflicting opinions on the topic.
(d) Evidential support: Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. A well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis.
(e) A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided. Synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis.
Outline
By Nov 28 you must submit an outline of your paper, including the following points:
(a) A title of your paper (make sure it reflects the core of your argument)
(b) Thesis or main questions to be addressed in your paper
(c) A preview of your argumentation
(d) Possible conclusions
There is no possible extension for handing in this outline. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of five points in your paper’s evaluation.
Formatting
In preparing your final draft please pay attention to the following instructions:
(a) Papers must be around 10 pages in length.
(b) Papers must be typed