Instructions for writing the required research paper.

1. The paper is intended to test your academic capacities to plan, research, argue, and write a well-organized paper. It has to include an introduction, a thesis or a series of arguments, and a conclusion. Please do not write this essay as a description of the city. It should have opinions and arguments on the importance of the city, such as its monumental developments, culture, technology, and value. The city I am choosing for this paper is Yazd. The paper has to include a bibliography or a list of references specifically used in the text. I attached three sources to this question. If they aren’t enough, please let me know so I can provide more. The paper may not include illustrations. The length of the paper has to be from 1500 to 2000 words, double spaced.

2. Any topic in connection with ancient Iranian cities and monuments is acceptable. However, the research paper cannot be a mere description of a city and its monuments. The paper needs to introduce a question or a specific topic; it has to tackle a specific problem or to answer a set of questions. The paper has to be analytical or critical. For formatting and styles, refer to the Chicago Manual of Styles.

Topic: Must be related to the study of Iranian cities ranging in date from the early villages of the Iranian Plateau to the cities of Pre-Modern times. The paper can be also a critical review of one of the publications on Iranian cities. The idea is to do research and come up with an original essay.