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1. GOVT 425
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LIBERTY GOVT 425 ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS
For each essay, you will write a 3–5-page research-based paper in current Turabian format that
focuses on topics that are relevant to the course content. Each essay must include 5–7 citations in
addition to the course textbook and the Bible. Each essay will be submitted through a SafeAssign
link in Blackboard.
Other guidelines:
 All references to the article itself only require a page number in parentheses referencing
the source. If you cite a page number in parentheses (e.g., 64) next to a sentence within
the body of the essay, it will imply that you are referencing page 64 of the source.
 Any and all quotations must be in the footnotes, not the body of the text.
 Note: As part of your analysis, you are welcome to include Christian perspectives or
opinions, but these must be integrated in a coherent manner that fits the overall tenor of
your analysis.
Essay 1: Analyzing Theory and Grand Strategy
Select any 1 of the textbook readings from Module/Week 2. Complete the following instructions:
 In a single opening paragraph, briefly summarize the author’s argument. The short
abstract provided at the beginning of each article already does this, but do not copy and
paste it, since it must flow with the overall tenor of your own style and argument.
 In the next section of the essay, offer a concise defense of the argument. Why is it at least
plausible? There is always something rationally defensible about a peer-reviewed journal
article on US foreign policy.
 For the remainder of your response, offer a critique of the article. What are the limits,
problems, or gaps in the author’s argument? There are limits, problems, or gaps in every
argument. You do not have to have answers to the problems you identify, but you must
be able to at least develop questions about the claims made by the author.
Essay 2: Analyzing Institutions and Processes
Consider the Mearsheimer and Walt article, “The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy,” in the
readings for Module/Week 5. It has become a controversial article in academic and policy circles
with its claim that the lobby influences US foreign policy in detrimental ways. However, the
authors have been severely criticized by many policy experts (among others) who rebut their
claims. See the bottom of this blog site for these sources:

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http://jeffweintraub.blogspot.com/2006/04/some-rebuttals-to-mearsheimer-walts.html

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Complete the following instructions:
 Using the sources listed at the bottom of the blog site above as a starting point, read at
least 5 or more rebuttals to Mearsheimer and Walt’s argument. You may discover other
sources on your own from the library or Internet.
 Among the articles read, identify the strongest points against the Israel Lobby argument.
 Make these points the basis of your critique of the Israel Lobby argument. What are the
limits, problems, or gaps in the Israel Lobby argument?
Essay 3: Analyzing New Domains in US Foreign Policy (USFP)
Select any 1 of the textbook readings from Module/Week 7. Complete the following instructions:
 In a single opening paragraph, briefly summarize the author’s argument. The short
abstract provided at the beginning of each article already does this, but do not copy and
paste it, since it must flow with the overall tenor of your own style and argument.
 In the next section of the essay, offer a concise defense of the argument. Why is it at least
plausible? There is always something rationally defensible about a peer-reviewed journal
article on US foreign policy.
 For the remainder of your response, offer a critique of the article. What are the limits,
problems, or gaps in the author’s argument? There are limits, problems, or gaps in every
argument. You do not have to have answers to the problems you identify, but you must
be able to at least develop questions about the claims made by the author.
Submit each assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the assigned module/week.