1. The critical thinking project/paper (about 2 to 3 single-spaced pages or 1200 to 1500 words) is worth 10 points (10 percent of the final grade) and should be based exclusively on the assigned material of Topic 5, especially the PowerPoint slides which are more extensive and more current. 2. The paper should be focused on a thoughtful discussion and explanation of (1) what common goals unite geopolitical Axis 1 countries and (2) what common goals unite geopolitical Axis 2 countries. 3. You should begin your review of the assigned materials by skimming carefully through the following specific PowerPoint slides to identify specific examples illustrating the specific parties at war in Palestine-Israel (slides 221-223, 285, 294, 319, 332, 334-337, 157-161, 323), in Iraq (slides 2-5, 7-30, 41-42, 79-90), in Libya (slides 140-144, 149-151, 159-173, 332-333), in Syria (slides 176-191, 251-252, 275-280, 329, 331-332, 334-338), and in Yemen (slides 22/354, 172, 289-293, 299, 306, 328-329 ). 4. Your discussion and explanation should reflect your ability to integrate multiple perspectives/ways of learning through scientific and historical perspectives (such as learning from objective facts and figures as in PowerPoint slides 3, 12, 52-54, 144, 219), learning through artistic and literary perspectives (such as learning from imagined representations of facts as in PowerPoint slides 2, 26-29, 94, 113, 168, 179, 188-1990, 267, 277-278, 280) and learning through ethical and behavioral perspectives (such as learning from irrational or emotional or moving social behaviors or situations as in PowerPoint slides 61-64, 157-161, 169, 193, 199, 276-277, 279, 301). 5. To demonstrate some course-related experiential learning (out-of-class-learning experience), your paper should include a brief comparison of the Axis1-versus-Axis2 geopolitical explanation of major current issues in the news with other cultural, religious, sectarian, psychological, or other persuasive explanations you have personally encountered and documented either through your own social media electronic communications with others worldwide or through your own face-to-face interaction with any identifiable/verifiable ISU or Terre Haute community group or individual. 6. The paper must be formatted as a Microsoft Word file according to syllabus and blackboard guidelines and must be uploaded through the TurnItIn link. 7. The paper is important and must be completed and submitted by the deadline to avoid 0 points, in addition to a grade penalty of 5 points. 8. The paper should reflect independent and ORIGINAL writing and critical thinking and should be persuasive and well written (see the rest of the guidelines in the syllabus under Guidelines for the critical thinking project/paper).

1. The critical thinking project/paper (about 2 to 3 single-spaced pages or 1200 to 1500 words) is worth 10 points (10 percent of the final grade) and should be based exclusively on the assigned material of Topic 5, especially the PowerPoint slides which are more extensive and more current. 2. The paper should be focused on a thoughtful discussion and explanation of (1) what common goals unite geopolitical Axis 1 countries and (2) what common goals unite geopolitical Axis 2 countries. 3. You should begin your review of the assigned materials by skimming carefully through the following specific PowerPoint slides to identify specific examples illustrating the specific parties at war in Palestine-Israel (slides 221-223, 285, 294, 319, 332, 334-337, 157-161, 323), in Iraq (slides 2-5, 7-30, 41-42, 79-90), in Libya (slides 140-144, 149-151, 159-173, 332-333), in Syria (slides 176-191, 251-252, 275-280, 329, 331-332, 334-338), and in Yemen (slides 22/354, 172, 289-293, 299, 306, 328-329 ). 4. Your discussion and explanation should reflect your ability to integrate multiple perspectives/ways of learning through scientific and historical perspectives (such as learning from objective facts and figures as in PowerPoint slides 3, 12, 52-54, 144, 219), learning through artistic and literary perspectives (such as learning from imagined representations of facts as in PowerPoint slides 2, 26-29, 94, 113, 168, 179, 188-1990, 267, 277-278, 280) and learning through ethical and behavioral perspectives (such as learning from irrational or emotional or moving social behaviors or situations as in PowerPoint slides 61-64, 157-161, 169, 193, 199, 276-277, 279, 301). 5. To demonstrate some course-related experiential learning (out-of-class-learning experience), your paper should include a brief comparison of the Axis1-versus-Axis2 geopolitical explanation of major current issues in the news with other cultural, religious, sectarian, psychological, or other persuasive explanations you have personally encountered and documented either through your own social media electronic communications with others worldwide or through your own face-to-face interaction with any identifiable/verifiable ISU or Terre Haute community group or individual. 6. The paper must be formatted as a Microsoft Word file according to syllabus and blackboard guidelines and must be uploaded through the TurnItIn link. 7. The paper is important and must be completed and submitted by the deadline to avoid 0 points, in addition to a grade penalty of 5 points. 8. The paper should reflect independent and ORIGINAL writing and critical thinking and should be persuasive and well written (see the rest of the guidelines in the syllabus under Guidelines for the critical thinking project/paper).