Y490/N305 Conflict, Conflict Resolution and State Building

Undergrad courses pages:

• Y102/N122 International Political Controversies

• Y107 Introduction to Comparative Politics

• Y200/N222 The Contemporary Middle East in World Politics

• Y401/N304/W405 Muslims in Western Politics

• Y490/N305 Conflict, Conflict Resolution & State Building

Doctoral courses pages:

• Y657/N695: Researching Civil War

• Y657/N695: Muslims in Western Politics

• Y657/N695: Researching the Politics of Muslim Countries

Karen child soldier, Myanmar  ©Reuters 

This website provides you with an updated syllabus, supporting material and course readings.  It might be updated throughout the semester.  Feel welcome to email me your thoughts and suggestions. 

Abdulkader Sinno

Office hours: Tuesdays 11 am-1 pm, WH 323

Downloadable readings: By clicking on this link to the readings, you agree to abide by all copyrights and fair usage rules.

Handouts & samples

• Syllabus
• Handout 0: A primer on conflict
• Handout 1: Guide for Research Report
  • Sample research report (Courtesy of Mr. Michael Manetta)
• Handout 2: Guide for Paper Proposal
• Handout 3: Guide for Term Paper 
  • Sample paper 
  • useful handout from Prof. Clifford Bob
  • How to cite sources

PowerPoint slides

• For test 1: Lectures 1, 2*, & 3* & 4*

• For test 2: Lectures 5, 6*, 7*, movie Battle of Algiers, 8, 9, and 10,

• For test 3: Lectures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, documentary "Promises", and 17 (large file, be patient). 

• For final: Above plus 18, 19 & 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, & 26.

Important: Slides only provide outlines. Do not substitute for attending lecture or doing readings. Slides might be updated/changed before a lecture.  Slides with (*) were updated.

News sources

• New York Times

• The Independent (English, free)

• Al Jazeera (English, free)

• Al Hayat (English, free)

• Ha'aretz (English, free)

• Al Jazeera (Arabic, free)

• Al Hayat (Arabic, free)

• Ha`aretz (Hebrew, free)

Writing resources

• consider using the great resources at IU's Writing Tutorial Services to develop your essay/paper writing skills.

• Writing pamphlets from WTS

• A wonderful writing guide for 300- and 400-level papers (designed for history majors but works for everyone)

• How to cite sources

• Access the entire Chicago Manual of Style through IU

• Understanding plagiarism, an IU resource
• IU Libraries
• IU Library's political science resources website

   

Feel welcome to print and use the following paper writing aides:

• A thorough paper writing checklist (pdf; courtesy of Darren Schreiber, Esq.)
• A very useful 2-page guide, particularly for papers dealing with historical topics (pdf, courtesy of UCLA History Professor James Gelvin.)
• Excellent writing tips from Duncan MacRae (pdf, 5 pages) who also recommends Joseph William's Ten Lessons in Quality and Grace.
• Check out Colorado State's extensive resources for budding & experienced writers 
• Click here for an online guide for Writing Research Papers prepared by the Humanities Department of Capital Community College.
• A comprehensive resource on quotations, bibliographies & plagiarism

For those who want to invest a few dollars in a writing guide, I recommend the concise and affordable classic The Elements of Style by William Strunk & E. B. White (available online).  If you already know you want to join an M.A. or Ph.D. program then buy Kate Turabian's essential A Manual for Writers to master the complexities of formatting academic documents.  Click here for a summary of Turabian's chapters on citations.

Other resources

• Abdul Sinno's general student webpage

• Stressed out or otherwise not feeling well? It is ok...everyone goes  through this, but please seek help in getting your life back on track from CAPS or another source