READINGS: Lockman and Abou El-Haj

Your readings for second session of the first week were:

Lockman, Contending Visions…, 1-37 skim through; 

Abou El-Haj, “Historiography after Said’s Orientalism”  Read carefully and analytically

• Responses should be concise, no more than 300 words.

• Try engaging analytically for a brief response, use parenthetical references).

• Each student must comment on two responses, focusing on what they found insightful or particularly well-articulated for the purposes of this discussion. You may response to following prompts

• • What are the differences among method, theory, and paradigm? Why should these concern us?
  • What is an interpretive framework (See Lockman’s introduction)? How do interpretive frameworks differ from theoretical tools of the academic craft?
  • What are the types of authors according to About El-Haj are there in the field of Middle Eastern Studies?
  • What would be your critic of About El-Haj in one sentence?
  • What is a book?