Question

Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011.  Since the beginning of that war, “more than two million” refugees have fled their homes and many migrants have left  the country (Yardley and Pianigiani 2013; Semple 2014).  While many of the people migrate to neighboring countries such as Turkey and Lebanon, others make their way to Europe or the United States, both legally and  illegally(Stevis 2014).  The war and migration have even had some negative impacts on education in Syria (UNICEF 2013).

Provide details about the migration of people from Syria since the beginning of its civil war in 2011, including a discussion of the push and pull factors in migration as well as the destinations of the migrants. 

To answer this question thoroughly, you may want to consider the following questions. Why are people leaving Syria? How many people have left?  What percentage of Syrians have left their homes?  What are the characteristics of those who are migrating to various countries?   What are they doing in their new locations?  What effects are being felt both in Syria and in the destinations of these migrants?

Sources and Strategies

Choose a variety of sources. First, use the library and/or the internet databases to learn more about this subject. Because this is a current event, please look for up-to-date articles in reputable popular media (for example, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, BBC, etc.). As well, look for expert analysis and historical background by scholars, participants and journalists. Be sure that your search for expert analysis and opinions includes voices from across the political spectrum, and if possible, from outside the United States as well as inside. I’ve given you a start with four sources, shown below. Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source. Nor is any other encyclopedia.

Formatting Requirements

Length: The body of your research essay should be at least 1000 words (use “Word Count” to make sure you meet minimum length of 1000 words). Use Times New Roman font (12 point), with 1 inch margins all around. Begin your response at the top of the page. Do NOT use a title page. Please include your name in the “header.” No other identifying information is needed. Please number your pages. Please send a digital copy as an e-mail attachment. SAVE A COPY FOR YOURSELF.

Tips on Essay Writing

Tips on writing an essay and “21 Writing Tips” are included in the “Research Essay” area on Blackboard. In addition, there is also information on the evaluation criteria.

Works Cited

Semple, Kirk. 2014.  “Fleeing the Bombs in Aleppo, Syria, and Ending Up In New Jersey,” New York Times, January 3, 2014; online at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/04/nyregion/fleeing-syria-and-ending-up-in-new-jersey.html?action=click&module=Search®ion=searchResults&mabReward=relbias%3Ar&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquery.nytimes.com%2Fsearch%2Fsitesearch%2F%3Faction%3Dclick%26region%3DMasthead%26pgtype%3DHomepage%26module%3DSearchSubmit%26contentCollection%3DHomepage%26t%3Dqry341%23%2FSyria%2520migration&_r=0

Stevis, Matina.  2014.  “Number of  Migrants Trying to Reach Europe Illegally Rose Sharply in 2013,” Wall Street Journal; online at http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304908304579561341054849918?KEYWORDS=Syria+migration&mg=reno64-wsj

Yardley, Jim. 2013. “Out of Syria, Into a European Maze,” New York Times, November 29, 2013; online at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/30/world/middleeast/out-of-syria-into-a-european-maze.html?action=click&module=Search®ion=searchResults&mabReward=relbias%3Ar&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquery.nytimes.com%2Fsearch%2Fsitesearch%2F%3Faction%3Dclick%26region%3DMasthead%26pgtype%3DHomepage%26module%3DSearchSubmit%26contentCollection%3DHomepage%26t%3Dqry341%23%2FSyria%2520migration

UNICEF. 2013. “Syria Crisis: Education Interrupted,” UNICEF, December 2013;online at http://www.unicef.org/media/files/Education_Interrupted_Dec_2013.pdf

You may use these sources, but you are not required to do so. In any case, be sure that you find enough high-quality sources to be able to answer the question clearly, thoroughly, and with sufficient detail. If you choose to use these sources, they’ll give you a pretty good start. There are plenty of good sources on this subject and they’re easy to find!  If you need additional help finding sources, talk to a librarian.