China history paper outline

HIS 40B Theme Paper Outline - Example

I. Introductory Paragraph​: A. Topic:​ Imperialism in Chinese History B. List the sources

1. Fei Qihao’s Accounts of the Boxer Rebellion; 2. The Treaty of Nanjing, 1842; and 3. "Accounts of the Shining Red Lanterns"

C. Background info:​ European-American imperialism in China in the 19th century was terrible and cruel, and it was resisted by many Chinese people.

D. Problem: ​However, this does not mean that all anti-imperialist action was seen as good by all Chinese.

E. Thesis statement:​ The accounts by Fei Qihao, a Chinese Christian, of the murders of his friends during the Boxer Rebellion complicate the notion that all Chinese people had the same experiences of imperialism, and of anti-imperialist action.

F. Strategy:​ Analysis of the emotive language used in primary sources, and comparison of sources

II. First Body Paragraph: A. Topic statement: ​Crimes against humanity conducted in the name of

anti-imperialist action are still crimes. B. Evidence: ​Fei Qihao wrote that he witnessed several crimes by the Boxers

against Christians. 1. QUOTE​: “[we] talked long and earnestly over plans for saving the lives of

our beloved missionaries.” - Fei Qihao 2. QUOTE​: “There were ten ocean men killed, three men, four women, and

three little devils.” - a Boxer supporter describing the murder of a missionary family

3. ANALYSIS​: Explain the political significance of the term “beloved” and contrast with the Boxer term “little devils”. Explain how this relates to the rebellion.

C. Argument: ​Children are innocent, and therefore the murder of children is a crime. The murder of the children of missionaries and of native Chinese Christians was a crime, even though it was done in the name of resistance to foreign imperialism.

D. Segue:​ [how this connects to your next paragraph, logically] III. Second Body Paragraph:

A. Topic Statement: ​... B. … C. ...

IV. Conclusion

A. Restate thesis: ​a reading of primary sources shows that the different responses to imperialism were complex.

B. Discussion:​ From my analysis, we can see that … C. Further Questions​:

1. Were peoples’ experiences of imperialism different because of class, region, gender, or other status?

2. Were there people in the Boxer rebellion who condemned the crimes that Fei Qihao describes?

3. Were there foreigners who condemned the imperialist actions of their own governments against China?