CLSA/HIST 4401 Spring 2018

You may turn the paper in to me via ICON, to the appropriate dropbox. You will receive comments and your grade via ICON.

Late papers will have a 1/3 grade deduction for every day late. This begins at 5pm December 1. Papers more than 1 week late will not be accepted.

Turning in papers early is always fine.

Format : 12 pt. type, double-spaced, with 1" margins all around. No hand-written papers will be accepted. List the total words in your paper at the end, ex. "Word count: 899" (use the word count function of your word processor – if Microsoft Word, it's in the Tools menu).

Sources : Use the primary and secondary sources assigned, as these will be sufficient to write a good paper. If you do use outside sources (something I do not encourage at this point), you must reference them completely and correctly in the body of the paper and you must also attach a bibliography. You do not need to add a bibliography if you only use texts assigned for this course.

Cite passages in the following manner: for AG, give author and work (this information is in italics at the beginning of the passage), and add Heckel AG and page number in parentheses, e.g., Arrian 3.16 (Heckel AG IV.2(i)); the other texts may be referred to by author and page number (though note, Heckel’s other book should be notated Heckel WAG with page number). Your references must all be clearly marked, either with parentheses, square brackets, or footnotes/endnotes.

Note: avoid online materials unless they are accessible through the UI Libraries Infohawk site or History Writing Center site. www.perseus.org is also reliable. Do not cite Wikipedia, please.

Grading: Your paper will be graded on topicality, strength of argument, appropriate and convincing use of evidence, and clarity. If your writing style/spelling/grammar impede any of these, your grade will be lowered. If you need advice about writing a paper for a history course, go to the University of Iowa History Writing Center site (http://www.uiowa.edu/~histwrit/). Appointments are also available at the History Writing Center; see the site for details.

The History Writing Center website is also an excellent resource for all sorts of things related to paper writing, so take a look! But be aware that your specific questions may have to do more with the topic itself than your writing or paper organization. I will also answer questions and read paper drafts, given sufficient lead time.

Please put the word count for the body of your paper (i.e., not including title, your name, etc., but all words from the first word of your introduction to the last word of your conclusion) at the end of the last page of your paper.

Keep in mind that the sources I mention in the questions are starting points. You’re not limited to using only those sources. I encourage you to include other relevant evidence to make your argument, for example, the readings suggested in the bibliographies of the books assigned, scholarly articles you have located, and fuller translations of the primary sources we have.

Be sure that you have read and understand the paper topic before you begin to write.

1. Heckel and Badian (relevant sections/articles in assigned books or on ICON in the same subsection as the paper topic) would argue that the first conspiracy against Alexander, supposedly led by Philotas, never took place or that the sources seriously distort the matter. Peter Greene ( Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 BC, 339-349, on ICON) suggests that there must have been. What do you think? Based on the primary sources for the conspiracy (start with Heckel X1-3), make your decision as you critique these scholars’ arguments. Incorporate other opinions as well from the books assigned for this course.

2. At what point do you think that Alexander decided that he should establish himself as the legitimate king of Persia? Or was it the case that he entered the expedition with this intention? Some suggested starting points: the entrance to Asia, the Gordian knot, negotiations after Issus, and actions at Persepolis. But where you start is your decision.

3. Examine the speeches and narratives surrounding the mutiny of the Macedonian army at Opis in 324. What were the issues that provoked the mutiny? Consider how deep these issues might have been and when they might have taken root. How could the mutiny at Opis have been avoided? Start with Heckel X9, and consider the opinions of other scholars assigned for this course.