AIR245 American Foreign Policy
Assignment Guide
Assignment No. 1 Essay
For this assignment students are required to write a 2,000 word research essay that responds to one of the following questions:
1. How important are multilateral institutions to U.S. foreign policy? Has this changed since the end of the Cold War?
2. Critically analyse the effectiveness of the United States where environmental issues are concerned. What accounts for this?
3. Critically assess the impact of Congress on the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Discuss this with respect to economic and security issues.
4. How important is international leadership to the United States? What determines whether presidents seek to provide international leadership?
5. Critically assess the impact of the post-9/11 security focus of the United States on its relations with other states. Discuss this with respect to at least two foreign states.
6. Does the foreign economic policy of the United States support or undermine its broader foreign policy objectives? Discuss this with respect to at least two cases.
The marking criteria for this assignment are:
1. Understanding of American foreign policy trends and developments, their basis, and their importance;
2. Presentation of an original argument that effectively responds to the question;
3. The use of properly-referenced research to support the argument being made; and
4. Clear written expression and use of appropriate essay structure.
See the Writing Guide and Essay Rubric, both of which are found on the unit CloudDeakin site.
Assignment No.2 Tutorial Participation (on-campus students only)
For this assignment on-campus students are required to give a presentation on one of the required
readings, and to participate in discussions by raising pertinent questions and engaging in discussion
with fellow students.
The marking criteria for this assignment are:
1. Understanding of American foreign policy trends and developments and their
importance;
2. Identifying the central arguments, strengths and weaknesses of readings; and
3. Developing arguments in discussing the issues raised in tutorial.
See the Presentation Guide found on the unit CloudDeakin site.
Assignment No.3 Tutorial Participation (off-campus students only)
For this assignment off-campus students are required to write short responses of no less than 100
words each to any three of the weekly discussion questions posted to the unit CloudDeakin site by
the unit chair or to other students’ responses to these questions. Responses must be posted in the
same week as the question posted by the unit chair.
The marking criteria for this assignment are:
1. Understanding of American foreign policy trends and developments and their
importance;
2. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of arguments; and
3. Developing arguments in discussing the issues raised by the questions to which they are
responding.
Assignment No.4 Exam
For this assignment students are required to write a closed-book exam on the material covered in
this unit.
The marking criteria for this assignment are:
1. Understanding of American foreign policy trends and developments, their basis, and their
importance;
2. Presentation of an original argument that effectively responds to the question; and
3. Clear written expression and use of appropriate essay structure.
