Although American thinker and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson made this statement in the 19th century, it remains relevant today. As you work through this activity, consider his idea about peace in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in the Middle East. Recall what you know about human geography, and read about the long-standing conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians in Israel. Then consider the complexity and violence of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and its direct tie to the geography of the Middle East.

Write a 3-5 page research paper about the role that human geography—including factors like culture, economics, and religion—plays in the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. Follow the process outlined below, and focus your research to answer the following question:

How has human geography prevented the Israelis and Palestinians from reaching the “understanding” that Emerson cites as necessary for achieving peace?

Follow the steps below to complete your thesis paper, and use the links provided to assist with your research and writing.

1. Gather sources. Before formulating your thesis, review these sources:

Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
An Overview of Human Geography
Key Maps in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Ten Things Students Need to Know about the Origins of Israel and Palestine
Israeli-Arab / Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Timeline, 1967-2007
ProCon: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Profile
Then begin gathering additional resources to build your argument and support your thesis. For each resource, consider the following questions:

Who authored the document?
What is the purpose of the document?
When was the document written?
How will this document help your argument?
2. Read and evaluate sources. Next, examine each source and think about how you will use it to support a thesis. Be an active researcher by asking the following questions about each source you reference:

What is the credibility of the source?
Is there any noticeable bias?
How does the argument differ from others you have read?
What is the value of the resource to the topic you are investigating?
3. Develop your thesis statement. Now that you have analyzed resources to use as evidence, revisit the essay question. Then develop your thesis statement with the following factors in mind:

Your thesis statement should be well supported by your research and should focus on specific human geographic issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.
If you need additional guidance, many writing resources are available to help create a strong thesis statement.
Here are some writing resources to help you write your thesis paper:

Examining and Evaluating References Sources
Research and Writing Info Center
Creating a Thesis Statement
Developing a Thesis Statement
Developing an Argument
Methods for Writing a Quality Paper
Chicago Manual of Style: Author-Date System
4. Form your argument. Once you have a clear, strong thesis statement, develop your argument. Make a particular effort to match the evidence in your sources to the points in your argument.

5. Write your essay. As you write your thesis paper, use quotations and summaries of your resources to support your argument. Be careful to keep the following ideas in mind:

To avoid plagiarism, make sure to cite your resources properly with in-text citations as well as a works-cited page.
When you finish, reread the essay to check for all of the points above, and then proofread it to be sure your work does not contain errors in grammar or spelling.