If you are able to analyze multiple different perspectives on the Taiping Uprising that disagree with each other (how do their make their arguments? What sources do they use? What are the problems with those sources?), and stake out your own claim on the matter, then I think your final product will be in good shape.

Please write a 12 Pages paper about the Taiping Rebellion.

Dear …..,

I graded your paper 8 out of 10 points.

I arrived at this score by combining the usual response paper criteria of “coherence, spelling/grammar, critical perspective, originality, use of evidence” as well as your inclusion of the elements I specified were necessary to this assignment (your name, Class title (APS 661), Date, Your paper title, Major sources used (plus your comments on them), Your argument, in a few sentences, A brief outline of your paper).

Your paper lacked comments on the major sources you will be using. Additionally, I felt as though you needed to demonstrate a more explicitly critical perspective about the limitations of your sources. A common feature in nearly all of the outlines was the absence of any explicit awareness of the limitations of your sources; as you use these materials to construct your argument, please make sure to maintain a critical perspective, and distinguish your position from that of the authors with whom you are engaging.

Regarding the specifics of your argument: as I mentioned on Wednesday, I think you want to be careful in limiting your argument to the Taiping Uprising, and steer away from any claims about China being a Christian country, or having any tendencies towards Christianity. If you are able to analyze multiple different perspectives on the Taiping Uprising that disagree with each other (how do their make their arguments? What sources do they use? What are the problems with those sources?), and stake out your own claim on the matter, then I think your final product will be in good shape.