MEMO

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014

To: Steffen Guenzel

From: Cory Carbone

Subject of my paper: United States foreign policy in the Middle East region,
emphasizing the current situation in the peace negotiations between the Israelis and the
Palestinians.

Purpose: My Major and why writing about this topic will be beneficial to me:
My major is Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. Writing about
this topic will benefit me in that it will further my knowledge about this particular area of
the World, while also educating me more about the United States Department of States
operations as I aspire to work there after College.

Preliminary Thesis/Argument: The heightening instability of the post Arab Spring
Middle East has become a top issue for the United States, and I am compelled to
examine our Nations foreign policy and the steps our Government has been and is taking
to ensure peace and U.S. interests.

Intended audience: The audiences I intend to engage with my research are
immediately my fellow Composition II students who I will present my findings to. And
in a broader sense, the Student Body at the UCF. This is an issue, which affects all
American citizens and though it does not carry severe implications in our everyday lives
at home, it nonetheless is an issue topic I feel not many Americans are well informed
about.

Types of research areas: Of the three research areas, I will only be focusing on two;
scholarly and Internet. Field research wont be practical given the limited time I have to
compile my findings.

Kinds of sources I will use and why they will benefit my paper: I will be utilizing
records from the U.S. State Department online. And I will also be seeking information
from other Internet sources through the use of JSTOR and Political Science Journals.

Graphs or charts: I do not foresee the use of many graphs, charts or visual images
during my research paper or presentation. Though there might be a couple to show aid
distribution etc.

Documentation Style: MLA format will be used.

Tentative List of References:
1). Mansour, Camille. "The Palestinian-Israeli Peace Negotiations: An Overview and
Assessment." Journal of Palestine Studies 22.3 (1993): 5-31. Print.

2). Kivimki, Timo. "The United States and the Arab Spring." Journal of Human Security
9.1 (2013): n. pag. Print.

3). Freedman, Lawrence, and Jeffrey H. Michaels. Scripting Middle East Leaders: The
Impact of Leadership Perceptions on US and UK Foreign Policy. New York:
Bloomsbury, 2013. Print.

4). Gerges, Fawaz A. "The Obama Approach to the Middle East: The End of America's
Moment?" International Affairs 89.2 (2013): 299-323. Print.

5). Aronson, Geoffrey. "Policy Options in a Time of Transition: The US and the Israel-
Palestine Conflict." The Middle East Journal 67.2 (2013): 249-56. Print.