The Chinese State

State Capacity and Autonomy: How powerful is the Chinese state, as described by Osnos? Write an essay that describes the relative levels of state capacity and state autonomy in China, using evidence from the Osnos book.

USING ONLY THE BOOK AS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

Age of Abomination: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China, by Evan Osnos

How powerful is the Chinese state, as described by Osnos?

[Both Descriptive and Analytical/Argumentative]

Essay Organization

I. Introduction

a. Sets out the question and its importance/significance

b. Provides a thesis statement [statement of argument]: a statement of fact/argument that reasonable people might disagree with

II. Developing Conceptual baseline/organizing structure

a. State capacity

b. State autonomy

c. Legitimacy

d. Ideology

III. Empirical Component 1: Maybe: state capacity?

a. Topic sentence that notes the reality

b. Example 1

c. Example 2, etc.

d. Analytical statement supporting thesis statement [“Thus, state capacity in China is best described as – very strong/somewhat strong, with some areas of weakness, weak, etc..”]

IV. Empirical Component 2: Maybe: state autonomy?

a. Topic sentence that notes the reality

b. Example 1

c. Example 2, etc.

d. Analytical statement supporting thesis statement [“Thus, state autonomy in China is best described as – very strong/somewhat strong, with some areas of weakness, weak, etc..”]

V. Empirical Component 2: Maybe: legitimacy/ideology?

a. Topic sentence that notes the reality

b. Example 1

c. Example 2, etc.

d. Analytical statement supporting thesis statement

VI. Conclusion: Overall analytical argument

For more information on The Chinese State read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_China