How has the Soviet Union Impacted the Middle East

REVIEWER NAME: Allison Brown PAPER AUTHOR NAME AND PAPER TITLE: Patrick Cummings, “How has the Soviet Union impacted the Middle East and why did they do what they did.” 1. Main point(s) clearly articulated? ☐Not yet ☐ Yes The main point in one sentence: Analyzing the impacts of Russian interference, both politically and militarily in the Middle East. The USSR spread communism and manipulated countries in the Middle East through military support. (Although your thesis is clear, your main points have yet to be articulated) 2. Resources, and use of resources Bibliography: ☐ unconvincing ☐ credible ☐ impressive Your use of two different books is credible. But, to make your argument and paper stronger I would suggest including some more modern peer-reviewed academic research. Direct quotes: ☐ 1/3 rule met? (no more than 1/3 quote, no less than 1/3 student author comment, analysis, and conclusions). References—conventions and usage: ☐ missing! ☐need better references ☐need a better grasp of conventions ☐OK! I won’t spend time going through looking for grammar and spelling issues as I am sure once your draft is further along you will read through it. 3. Analysis ☐ absent ☐ unconvincing ☐ credible ☐ impressive As your project progresses, I am sure there will be more analysis included. That being said, so far in your paper different ideas/paragraphs have a sentence or two of analysis but I would like to see more analysis for each of your points as well (when you get to it) a conclusion that analyzes USSR/ modern Russian influence as a whole in the Middle East and why it matters. 4. Organization ☐ needs work ☐ can be followed with a little effort ☐ clear The format of your paper is logical and can easily be followed. 5. Focus vs. Context (includes giving the background, dates for individuals mentioned, making sure time, place, etc. clear to the reader, and other contextualization, without losing focus). ☐ Clarity of Focus, the sufficiency of Context ☐ More focus. Suggest increasing focus on: decreasing focus on: ☐ Background needed for: ☐ More contextualization needed regarding: Overall focus vs. context: ☐ muddled ☐ acceptable ☐ good 6. Conclusion and discussion of conclusion’s significance: ☐ absent ☐ unconvincing ☐ credible ☐ impressive 7. English Language, professional approach, style: ☐ Needs work ☐ fine ☐ beautiful Sentences, paragraphs: ☐too “choppy” ☐too long ☐just right Other conventions, language needing work: Like I said earlier, I am sure once you’ve finished writing the remainder of your paper you will turn your focus to sentence structures and grammatical issues. 8. Strongest aspect of paper: I am a fan of how you’re laying out the paper with its different sections that very clearly explain the USSR’s impacts on the Middle East. Your conclusion and later sections of the paper are going to be important to tie everything in the paper together with analytical conclusions about the history of Russia in the region and hint at its potential future. 9. Significance of paper: You’ve stated how and why the USSR interfered in the Middle East, but I want more on the impacts of this involvement and the ramifications it’s had for the Middle East today and modern Russian involvement. 10. Any other suggestions: Revisions or general comments, Reviewer discussion of contents of paper, comments or questions for the author about the contents or theme: Patrick, Your research is impressive and this is a great start for your paper! I am in a similar boat as you, and just need to sit down this weekend/Monday and flesh out the remainder of our papers before the updated draft submissions. As for your topic itself, it is incredibly interesting and one that is more important than ever, understanding how Russia in the region is a proxy power and has influenced Middle Eastern countries over time. In conclusion, the paper is: __Ready to submit submission __Needs a little work in these areas, or __Not recommended for