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The whole midterm exam is worth 20% of your course mark. It covers Units 1-12. You must
send your answers as an attachment to an email to wpayne1@yorku.ca by 11:15 am on
Thursday, March 24 (this allows for 15 minutes for any technical issues).
Format: The exam consists of two sections, A and B: Section A contains a choice of short
answer questions (you must answer five of them) and Section B contains a choice of essay
questions (you must answer one of them). Both have equal weighting (50 marks each for a total
of 100 marks).
The allotted time includes the standard 2 hours permitted for this exam plus additional time
according to your accommodation letter. As such, you will have 180 minutes for the entire
exam (which leaves you roughly 90 minutes for the short answer questions and 90 minutes for
the essay question).
You are to answer a total of five short answer questions from the list of twelve provided at the
beginning of the exam. Each question is worth 10 marks. A strong short answer will generally
contain a definition and demonstrate a solid understanding of the significance of the concept or
topic typically by making use of a concrete example(s). The length of your answers will be no
more than a single paragraph of up to about four sentences, depending on the phrasing of the
question. Length: 100-150 words.
You are to answer ONE essay question from the list of three provided at the beginning of the
exam. The essay is worth 50 marks. For your answer in this section, we require a short
introduction, a body containing coherent paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. Strong answers
will demonstrate a solid understanding of key course themes and concepts and will be
supported by detailed examples. Be sure to explain each concept as you introduce it. It might
be a good idea to spend five minutes to sketch out a brief outline of your essay before you
begin writing it (for example, what will each paragraph attempt to say and how will it connect
to the paragraphs before and after it?) This will help you organize your thoughts and write a
more coherent answer with a clear thesis. Allow some time at the end to edit your answer.
Length: 500-750 words.
Please include your name, student number, and the numbers of the questions you answered.
For your answers in both sections, you must draw explicitly on course material (lectures and
their slides, readings, videos, & tutorials) and answer in your own words, even if you are giving
a definition. Do NOT search the internet for answers. State the course material sources of the
information as you write (you do not need to follow standard citing format – just be clear on
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the course material source). Do not cut and paste information from the lecture slides. We need
evidence that you’ve processed the information and that you truly understand it. With this in
mind, you must answer using your own words. Although you are welcome to name individual
writers/thinkers if you wish, you must not use direct quotes from anywhere. You must have
written your own answer even if you have studied and discussed with other students. Turnitin
nevertheless checks for similarity across exam submissions and for similarity to any material on
the internet.
The questions for each section follow below.
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SECTION A: Short Answers (50 marks)
Answer a total of five questions from the list of twelve below. Each question is worth 10 marks.
A strong short answer will generally contain a definition and demonstrate a solid understanding
of the significance of the concept or topic typically by making use of a concrete example(s). The
length of your answers will be no more than a single paragraph of up to about four sentences,
depending on the phrasing of the question. Length: 100-150 words.
- What is geopolitics? What does feminist geopolitics add to the definition of geopolitics?
- Outline how the latifundia system worked during the colonial period of Latin America.
- Explain how certification is one way to accomplish verification and identify another way
that verification of standards could be accomplished. - How does the concept of genocide as defined by Raphael Lempkin apply to the situation
of Indigenous peoples in Canada? - Drawing on the example of the Inuit, explain what self-determination is.
- What is Rostow’s model of development and how do other scholars say it is flawed?
- How does Sean Rehaag’s research on decisions made in Canada’s refugee determination
system question the system’s integrity and objectivity. - What are the intended and actual results of “Prevention through Deterrence”?
- What role did colonies play in supporting industrial imperialism?
- Using examples from Europe in the 21st century, outline the political philosophy of
nationalism. - What are the key elements of the European Union?
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SECTION B: Essays (50 marks)
Answer ONE question from the list of three below.
For your answer in this section, we require a short introduction, a body containing coherent
paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. Strong answers will demonstrate a solid understanding of
key course themes and concepts and will be supported by detailed examples. Be sure to explain
each concept as you introduce it.
It might be a good idea to spend five minutes to sketch out a brief outline of your essay before
you begin writing it (for example, what will each paragraph attempt to say and how will it
connect to the paragraphs before and after it?) This will help you organize your thoughts and
write a more coherent answer with a clear thesis. Allow some time at the end to edit your
answer. Length: 500-750 words.
QUESTIONS - Watch this recent video concerning conflict over resource development on Indigenous
territory in Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4eO1ecdeEA. Analyze the
content of the video based on what you have learned in this course, drawing specifically
on concepts examined in the Unit on Indigeneity in North America. - Explain how Canadian mining companies have impacted communities in Latin America.
Use the concept of ‘resource curse’ to frame your response. Illustrate your argument
with at least two examples from lectures or assigned readings. - Use the concept of settler-colonialism to explain the formation of the modern states
that exist in North America and Europe in the present day.
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