Name:______________________
Band:______
Afghanistan Essay Assignment:
Write a 5 paragraph essay answering the following question:
What should the US policy be in Afghanistan?
You must take a policy position. There are several distinct options to
choose from:
*Fight and Defeat the Taliban
*Target al Qaeda
*Promote Security by Supporting Democracy
*Withdraw U.S. Troops
You might also argue for a combination of the above options.
Please follow the outline below. Remember a good paragraph has ~5-7 sentences!
Your essay will be evaluated according to the following:
 THESIS: a strong, well-expressed thesis carried throughout the essay
 KNOWLEDGE: the conflict in Afghanistan, dissent between ethnic groups,
treatment of women, Taliban policies, relations with Pakistan
 EVIDENCE: effective use of evidence to support your thesis, including
quotations
 ORGANIZATION: clear organization of ideas, transitions between thoughts
 GRAMMAR: spelling, grammar
You must complete the “Afghanistan Essay Outline” and staple it to the front of your
final essay.
***SHOW ME what you are arguing, don't TELL ME. Use quotations and citations.***
Your essay must have:
 A bibliography
 In-text citations
 4 different sources
 12 point type/Times New Roman/1.5 spacing
Name:___________________________
Band:____
Afghanistan Essay Outline
I.
Introduction
a. Brief (1-2 sentences!) background on Afghanistan. Use specific dates and
locations.
b. Explain the meaning and significance of the question generally. Why does it
matter?
c. Thesis: Answer the essay question directly and put it at the end of your
introduction.
II.
Argument 1
a. Topic Sentence- (this sentence will support your thesis statement and
identifies the main idea of the paragraph)
b. Introduce the Quote (this quote should develop or explain the topic sentence)
b. Evidence- Give evidence from the text: ( this evidence should develop or
explain the topic sentence)
c. Discuss Quote/Evidence
III.
Argument 2
a. Topic Sentence- (this sentence will support your thesis statement and
identifies the main idea of the paragraph)
b. Introduce the Quote (this quote should develop or explain the topic sentence)
b. Evidence- Give evidence from the text: ( this evidence should develop or
explain the topic sentence)
c. Discuss Quote/Evidence
IV.
Argument 3
a. Topic Sentence- (this sentence will support your thesis statement and
identifies the main idea of the paragraph)
b. Introduce the Quote (this quote should develop or explain the topic sentence)
b. Evidence- Give evidence from the text: ( this evidence should develop or
explain the topic sentence)
c. Discuss Quote/Evidence
V.
Conclusion
a. Restate your thesis in different words.
b. Summarize the main points from each body paragraph.
c. Make some larger connections: ex. hopes, predictions, connect situation in
Afghanistan to something else in today’s world or some event in the past.
Sources you must consult
Please attach your notes from each of these articles/films to the final draft of your
essay. Please DO NOT use outside sources for this essay.
1. Afghanistan Packet: Choices
2. Frontline: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/pakistan802/video/video_index.html
3. Afghan Myth:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/opinion/afghan-myths-10-years-in.html?ref=afghanistan
4. Vietnam Still Haunting Obama: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/opinion/sunday/thevietnam-war-still-haunting-obama.html?ref=afghanistan
5. U.S. and Pakistan Still Differ on Withdrawal:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/world/asia/us-and-pakistan-differ-on-withdrawal-fromafghanistan.html?ref=afghanistan
6. A New Policy of Containment: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/opinion/a-newpakistan-policy-containment.html?ref=afghanistan
7. US and Pakistan Differ on Withdrawal: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/world/asia/usand-pakistan-differ-on-withdrawal-from-afghanistan.html?ref=afghanistan
8. Bad Guys vs. Worse Guys http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/magazine/bad-guys-vsworse-guys-in afghanistan.html?ref=afghanistan
9. U.S. Should Change its Views http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/opinion/the-unitedstates-should-change-its-view-on pakistan.html?ref=afghanistan
10. Long List of Suckers http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/opinion/friedman-a-long-listof-suckers.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan
11. The Economist: http://www.economist.com/node/14505443?story_id=14505443
12. Kissinger on Af/Pak:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67384.html#ixzz1cYSVJF7R
13. Clinton on Af/Pak: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/10/176281.htm
14. Wadhams on Leaving Afghanistan:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/23/leaving_afghanistan?page=0,1
15. Russell on Leaving Afghanistan:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/23/leaving_afghanistan?page=0,3
16. Garry Wills on Obama and Afghanistan:
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2010/jul/27/obamas-legacy-afghanistan/
17. The Power of Nightmares I & II
18. Optional: The Way Out of Afghanistan:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jan/13/way-out-afghanistan/