Final Exam Essay Questions

You will have to answer two questions on your final. Of the questions below, some of them will appear on the final. If you prepare all four questions, you are guaranteed to be in great shape for the exam.

Please email any questions you may have.

QUESTION ONE

Write a short handbook entitled “So You Want to Be an Imperialistic Power…” You have been hired by a publishing firm to write a very important DIY (do-it-yourself) book. It seems that no one has published an explanation as to how a state becomes an imperialistic power. The job is up to you.

After a brief introductory paragraph (one to two sentences), explain the following to your readers:

i. The Motivations: WHY you would want your state to become an imperial power
ii. The Methods: WHAT to do to make your state an imperial power
iii. The Pay-Offs: HOW to manage and get the most out of your colonies/empire once you have become an imperial power

As you explain the why, what and how of imperialism, you should make sure to give a different historical example of how what you are explaining (i.e. each motivation you discuss, each method, etc.) was used according to what you have studied this semester.

QUESTION TWO

Write a short handbook entitled “So You Want to Decolonize…” You have been hired by a publishing firm to write a very important DIY (do-it-yourself) book. It seems that no one has published an explanation as to how a colony gains its independence from an imperialistic power. The job is up to you.

After a brief introductory paragraph (one to two sentences), explain the following to your readers:

i. The Motivations: WHY you would want your state to become independent
ii. The Methods: WHAT to do to make your state independent
iii. The Challenges: HOW to manage the problems you will deal with once your state gains its independence

As you explain the why, what and how of decolonization, you should make sure to give a different historical example of how what you are explaining (i.e. each motivation you discuss, each method, etc.) was used according to what you have studied this semester.


QUESTION THREE

What is terrorism?

In a thoughtful, comprehensive paragraph, define terrorism. In the second paragraph, answer the following: What is wrong with the idea of a “War on Terrorism”? In the third paragraph, answer the following: If we cannot fight a “War on Terrorism,” then how do we stop terrorism?

QUESTION FOUR

Global Problems

In two thoughtful, comprehensive paragraphs, explain two distinct global problems (not including your own) that were presented in your class. Include the major causes as well as the results. In a third paragraph, answer the following: What practical global actions would work to solve both problems? What obstacles keep these actions from being implemented? What can we do to get around these obstacles?