Research Paper: “Applying and Evaluating ‘The Model’ in the Herero/German South West Africa
Case”
The 200-point (total) Research Paper will be a totally original (limited quoting or even extended
paraphrasing) evaluative analysis using “The Model,” to explain the genocide of the Herero in
German South West Africa at the turn of the 20th century. More specifically, your charge or
“task order” is to use our Model to (a) explain in particular the preconditions and onset of the
genocide, and (b) evaluate how well The Model fits the case (that is, what The Model seems to
not only capture but also to miss). To compound the analytic challenge, you are limited to no
more than 10 double-spaced pages and no less than 7 pages, with standard margin and using
12-font (any deviation will result in the paper not being read, with a resulting score of zero).
Your references will be listed at the end on a separate page that will not count as part of the
10-page limit. At least five reliable references are required for this research paper (academic
journal, review, article, book chapter, book, etc). Wikipedia is not allowed for this paper.
Notes:
1. Copying from the textbook or cutting and pasting sections from websites or other
reference materials or presenting someone else’s ideas as your own is plagiarism and
will not be tolerated and will result in zero (0) points for that assignment. Please review
the FIU Plagiarism Prevention Guide. In addition, all work submitted must be original for
this class.
2. This class will utilize the Turnitin originality software.
3. Papers that are not properly cited will be issued a zero.
4. If the Instructor is unable to open an attachment, it must be resubmitted within 24
hours or the assignment will be issued a zero.
5. Always check the uploaded attachment is correct. After the deadline passes, the content
submitted will be used for grading.
The reason for the paper exercise is that sooner or later students will find themselves in often
highly competitive environments where they will have to provide their employers or superiors
with flawless, clear, and concise analytic backgrounders. The assumption is that such analyses
are written for individuals who are highly intelligent and well educated, but lack depth in a
particular topic, question, or issue. The further assumption is that such individuals will have
very limited time to read an analysis (hence the 10-page limit). In fact, the usual situation is that
“it has to go in the boss’s briefcase for reading on the plane before arriving at [blank].” For
interns to entry and middle level staff in highly competitive private or public sector
environments, this is a very common experience.
Proper grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, and correct writing in general are simply
expected of professionals on the outside. Also, and this is about to be reiterated, even the
slightest plagiarism in the paper will result in an F for the entire course –zero tolerance, zero
tolerance, zero tolerance. No use of Wikipedia is allowed in the course.
More generally, the FIU rules on cheating, plagiarism, and classroom comportment will be
strictly enforced in all aspects of this class. In particular, please note the Code of Academic
Integrity adopted by the FIU Student Government Association on the university website.
