HSY2601
Final Portfolio Semester 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: May 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, SECTION A: REVIEW OF ASSESSMENT 1
Part 1: Writing an Introduction for an Essay
The introduction I wrote aimed to frame the historical question clearly by focusing
on how the French invasion of Egypt was not just a military campaign but also a
cultural encounter with lasting effects. I highlighted the central themes of
knowledge production, colonial representation, and gender to position the essay
within broader historical debates. Balancing background and a clear thesis was
not too difficult because the historical context naturally led into the argument.
However, it was challenging to avoid providing too much background while
ensuring clarity.
To keep the introduction concise yet informative, I focused on the main ideas
without elaborating on details better suited for the body of the essay. I used
strong topic sentences and limited the scope to key issues that support the thesis.
To ensure the introduction set up a strong argument, I linked Napoleon’s
intentions with the contrasting Egyptian response, showing the complexity of
cultural imperialism. If I were to rewrite it, I might clarify the thesis more by
explicitly stating the argument, for example: “This essay argues that cultural
resistance undermined France’s imperial ambitions.” That would make the central
claim more focused and assertive from the start.
Part 2: Creating an Annotated Bibliography
Reading and analysing multiple sources significantly deepened my understanding
of the French invasion of Egypt by revealing its complex cultural, political, and
ideological dimensions. Rather than seeing the invasion as purely military, the
sources highlighted how it was also an intellectual and symbolic act of
domination. Edward Said’s Orientalism was especially impactful because it
provided a powerful theoretical lens to understand how the French used
knowledge as a tool for control, framing Egypt as inferior and in need of Western
guidance. Among the sources, Said’s work was the most useful for my argument
because it explained the deeper ideological motivations behind colonialism and
how these were reflected in French cultural policies and scholarly activities. To
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
Final Portfolio Semester 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: May 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, SECTION A: REVIEW OF ASSESSMENT 1
Part 1: Writing an Introduction for an Essay
The introduction I wrote aimed to frame the historical question clearly by focusing
on how the French invasion of Egypt was not just a military campaign but also a
cultural encounter with lasting effects. I highlighted the central themes of
knowledge production, colonial representation, and gender to position the essay
within broader historical debates. Balancing background and a clear thesis was
not too difficult because the historical context naturally led into the argument.
However, it was challenging to avoid providing too much background while
ensuring clarity.
To keep the introduction concise yet informative, I focused on the main ideas
without elaborating on details better suited for the body of the essay. I used
strong topic sentences and limited the scope to key issues that support the thesis.
To ensure the introduction set up a strong argument, I linked Napoleon’s
intentions with the contrasting Egyptian response, showing the complexity of
cultural imperialism. If I were to rewrite it, I might clarify the thesis more by
explicitly stating the argument, for example: “This essay argues that cultural
resistance undermined France’s imperial ambitions.” That would make the central
claim more focused and assertive from the start.
Part 2: Creating an Annotated Bibliography
Reading and analysing multiple sources significantly deepened my understanding
of the French invasion of Egypt by revealing its complex cultural, political, and
ideological dimensions. Rather than seeing the invasion as purely military, the
sources highlighted how it was also an intellectual and symbolic act of
domination. Edward Said’s Orientalism was especially impactful because it
provided a powerful theoretical lens to understand how the French used
knowledge as a tool for control, framing Egypt as inferior and in need of Western
guidance. Among the sources, Said’s work was the most useful for my argument
because it explained the deeper ideological motivations behind colonialism and
how these were reflected in French cultural policies and scholarly activities. To
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
