You are encouraged to explore a topic that interests you.  Here are some examples:

Compare and contrast the status of Chinese women under the Guomindang and Chinese Communist Party. Which party was more successful in promoting women’s rights and why?
Was Lu Xun justified in his condemnations of Chinese traditional culture in his short stories? Why or why not?

Should Soong Meiling be judged positively or negatively in Chinese history?
Was Jung Chang’s portrayal of Mao Zedong and his policies fair in “Wild Swans?”  Why or why not?
What was Deng Xiaoping’s contribution to Chinese development? What were the positive and negative elements of his policies?
Evaluate the relationship between China and the United States over the last twenty-five years?  On what issues have their been cooperation and conflict?
Assess the effectiveness of the “one-child policy.”  Has it met its goals? What have been some of its social costs and unintended consequences?
Choose your own topic

Details:
Length: 1500-2100 words
Format: Double-spaced, 12 point font. Paper should have a title

Criteria for Evaluation

Argument – The paper makes a clear statement on a question of historical interpretation. Logic used to prove the validity of the argument is persuasive. Describing events or explaining the obvious do not make a good argument. Remember that the best arguments start with a question that can be answered equally well in more than one way.