KEY POINTS:
The latest exchange of emails to come to light between a student and sacked Auckland University lecturer Paul Buchanan shows how he initially tried to help her
Email from Asma Al Yammahi
From: [Asma Al Yammahi]
Sent: Tue 5/22/2007 1:56 AM
To: Paul Buchanan (ARTS POL)
Subject: Enquire
As all students know from the beginning of the semester, we can't ask for an extension just if you accept the reason why we want to extend the time?
But, can I ask for an extension because the last two weeks I was under pressure because my father was in the intensive care. Unfortunately, on Friday morning at 7:30 am, he passed away and I couldn't manage to go to attend my father's funeral back home in Dubai. All this after your confirmation
Also, can I ask some questions about the last essay. Please can you illustrate further what does bibliographic essay? Should I do the essay on a topic which interests me?
I will appreciate your cooperation with student.
Looking forward to hearing from you
[Asma Al Yammahi]
Email from Paul Buchanan
From: Paul Buchanan
To: [Asma Al Yammahi]
Subject: RE: Enquire
Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 05:18:26 +1200
Dear [Asma Al Yammahi]:
If you need an extension you must go to the University medical centre and speak to a mental health counselor who can verify your loss and the stress it has caused you.
Having lost both of my parents in recent years, I can sympathise with your grief, but in the interest of fairness to the other students I am required to request certification that your request is legitimate.
I hope that you will understand this reasoning.
A literature review or bibliographic essay critically surveys and assesses a sub-field of the literature on security studies. You can choose the sub-field according to your interests (the field is wide and varied).
What you must do is find 5-10 core sources in that sub-field and outline their strengths and weaknesses, the major points of debate, themes, methodological approaches etc.
The idea is not to just describe what other peope have written on the subject, but to analyse what they write.
Your analysis is the part where you show your knowlege of the sub-field.
I hope that this helps and wish you the best.
Regards,
PGB
Paul G Buchanan