What do IR scholars mean by regional integration? What different forms of integration are there? Which actors are involved in regional integration? What are the motivations leading different actors to seek integration, or to prevent? How do these actors facilitate integration? How successful has the Asia-Pacific been in terms of regional integration? Provide examples and explicate the reasons by which these actors have failed, or been successful in terms of regional integration. What factors have facilitated, or hampered regional integration in the Asia-Pacific?

PS 356 – Exam
Exam Rubric
Please refer to this rubric when completing your Exam. It outlines the expectations, due dates,
grading, and other information that you will need to successfully complete the project.
Skills
This project will help you to develop several skills:
1. Writing Concisely – You are expected to explain the complex issues of representation and
redistricting in no more than a few paragraphs, which will help you to write concisely for a
broad audience.
2. Critical Thinking – You are expected to evaluate concepts that do not always have a
single “correct” answer, and you will evaluate claims made in previous research.
Reference Materials
For this assignment you will need to refer to this rubric, readings from the course reading list,
and find appropriate original resources from outside the course readings to answer the Exam
questions.
Due Dates
This assignment is due on Friday, May 1st, at 11:59 P.M. (uploaded to Canvas or emailed if
Canvas is not responsive).
Grading
This assignment is worth (300) points (or 30 %) of your course grade. In order to earn points
for this assignment you must submit your final exam to Canvas by the due date.
How to Submit Your Assignment
To submit your paper:
1. Log in to Canvas (https://oregonstate.instructure.com/) and navigate to our PS
356 course site.
2. Submit your paper to the submission link called Exam.
Late Submissions
Late submissions will not be accepted unless students are able to provide a reason and documentation in line with the course Makeup Policy outlined in the syllabus. In all other cases a late
assignment earns a score of zero.
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PS 356 – Exam
Directions
Select two of the essay prompts below for your exam. Your exam should result in a submission
that is between 8 and 9 pages in length (Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins,
double spaced). Your submissions should have a title page and a reference page. Note these
pages do not count toward the minimum page length for your submission.
Your analysis should include multiple citations and resources. Each essay should include a minimum of three outside academic resources and a minimum of at least 8 academic resources
in total. Citations should be generously weaved throughout your submission in order to support
your analysis (20+).
Question Prompt:
Please select two of the prompts below to address in your exam. Each prompt should receive
equal attention in your exam.
Prompt 1: What do IR scholars mean by regional integration? What different forms of integration are there? Which actors are involved in regional integration? What are the motivations
leading different actors to seek integration, or to prevent? How do these actors facilitate integration? How successful has the Asia-Pacific been in terms of regional integration? Provide
examples and explicate the reasons by which these actors have failed, or been successful in terms
of regional integration. What factors have facilitated, or hampered regional integration in the
Asia-Pacific?
Prompt 2: What is ASEAN and why is it (un)important in the region? What are its origins?
How has ASEAN developed and evolved over time? What are the principal features and actors
of ASEAN? Which IR theory or theories best explain the successes/failures of ASEAN as an
institution? Has ASEAN facilitated greater integration within the region? If so, how? Provide
clear examples to support your analysis.
Prompt 3: What role has geography and history played in the interstate politics of the AsiaPacific? How has/could the region been conceptualized? What limitations and difficulties exist in
conceptualizing the Asia-Pacific as a region? In what ways does geography facilitate or attenuate
regional integration? How has history shaped the politics of the region over time and into the
modern era? Provide clear examples of how historical events have and continue to affect the
region’s politics.
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PS 356 – Exam
Exam Advice
Synthesize the readings and content from our course when you answer this question. You can
draw on our course readings, but it would also be a good idea to use outside sources that can
support your analysis.
Justify, Support, and Cite: Demonstrate your mastery of subject while providing numerous
citations, defining terms and concepts, and supporting your argument by scaffolding citations and
evidence to support your analysis. Do not assume the reader know what is going on in your head.
Be explicit, detailed, and thorough in your analysis.
Outside Sources: While you may, and are expected to use, readings from our course I also
expect that you will examine sources not form our course readings. These sources should be a
mix of academic (peer-reviewed) sources, but may also include sources from organizations and
actors that may be relevant in your exam essay. For instance, you may use data from the WB
or IMF, a web page document from an NGO, or a report from the United Nations or another
IGO. Reputable news sources may also be used to frame your issue, but the vast majority of your
outside sources should be from academic sources, or come directly from reports, information, and
data acquired from the institutions and actors that you are using in your essay.
You should provide a minimum of 3 outside sources in your analysis.
Quality Matters: Do not get fixated on the minimum pages for this assignment. Instead, focus
on putting together a quality essay and response that is well cited, grounded in the literature,
provides analytical excellence through nuance and depth.
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