本課程要求學生就課堂閱讀資料，繳交兩篇評論文章。繳交限期分別是第六及第十一堂課。論文長度不可超過七頁，亦不可使用特別的字型格式、行距或邊界。

Two papers based on the class reading will be required. These are to be critical essays. They are due on Session 6 and Session 11. They shall be no longer than 7 pages; no creative line-spacing, margins, or character formats please.

我們希望學生經過思考去完成論文，而非憑空想像去完成。第一篇論文應包含課程中的基本概念與資料。學生可就一個或以上的論據，分析他們邏輯上的一致性、完整性、以及清晰度與論証。學生亦可就上述的標準，比較兩個或以上的理論。學生可將一個或以上的理論應用到一個已知的實際問題（因此不需再作研究），以此來評論該理論。第二篇論文應包含第一次世界大戰的真實資料。因此，需涵括本課程第一部份至第一次世界大戰個案的理論與概念性資料的應用。最有系統與直接的方法是利用一個或數個和個案相反的理論做測試。這篇論文容許其他閱讀資料，但並不是必需。同學需與我討論兩篇論文的主題。最好的方法是將一段簡要的計劃傳送給我。

The papers are meant to be think pieces, but not day-dreaming pieces. The first paper covers the foundational conceptual material of the course. This paper could take one or more arguments apart and examine them for logical consistency, completeness, clarity, and evidence. It could compare and contrast two or more theoretical arguments according to several of the aforementioned criteria. It could apply one or more theories to a substantive problem already well known to the student (and thus requiring no further research), as a vehicle toward a critique of the theoretical arguments. The second paper covers the substantive material on World War I. Thus it should involve application of the theoretical and conceptual material from part I of the course, to some of the World War I case material. The most self organizing and straightforward approach would test one or more theories against some of this case material. Extra reading is permitted but not required for this paper. Students should review the topics of these papers with me. The best way to do so is to send me a brief one paragraph summary of the plan.