Ynet News
Jerusalem Post
Haaretz
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (a first-rate source of news on Israel as well as the broader Jewish world)
Media Line (professional journalists' service)
Arutz 7 (a right wing, pro-settlement perspective)
Israel Today (Christian Zionist perspective)

Jerusalem Online (Channel 2 news)
Israel Infolive (online television)
Kol Israel (link to English newscasts from Israel's official radio - kind of clunky)
Kol Israel (somewhat more complicated but less clunky link to official radio broadcasts)
Jewish Television Network (includes daily English-language news program from the Israel Broadcasting Authority)

1. Clear statement of problem and thesis - In the first 2 pages, you need to provide a succinct statement of the phenomena you are studying and provide a crisp statement of your central thesis/argument. You must tell me why the phenomenon you study is important in Israeli political life. Unlike a mystery, I want to know the outcome before I read the paper.
   
2. Quality of evidence and argument - Have you persuaded me of your thesis by the effective use of evidence and a strong, clear argument? If I'm not sure what you're arguing or why you've reached certain conclusions, the paper is adjudged less persuasive.
3. Quality of research - Your goal is to find the best sources available on your subject, such quality being a function of the competence of the authors, the nature of the publication outlet, your use of proper reference styles, and the appropriate use of quotation and paraphrase. Relying too heavily on one or two sources or principally upon unreliable sources counts against you. So does improper citation. Wikipedia should never be paraphrased or cited in an academic paper and I strongly recommend you avoid it like the plague.
   
4. Quality of writing - The best papers offer a clear authorial voice that speaks simply and clearly and is expressed in writing that follows accepted rules of grammar, syntax, and spelling. Poor writing, excessive formality, bad proofreading, and the like inhibit effective communication.
5. Linkage to course themes - This is a biggie. If your paper reads like it was written by somebody who didn't take the class, then it misses the mark. You need to incorporate the theories, concepts, questions, and themes that are dealt with throughout the semester. How does it bear on some of what we've found already?
   
6. Meeting deadlines - This is a negative criterion. You have three deadlines, submitting the paper topic, a preliminary list of references, and turning in the final paper in both hard copy and electronic format. The paper is due on Tuesday, November 30th in class. Late papers will be penalized at the rate of one grade per day, i.e., a B+ paper received on Friday becomes a B, a C+ the next day, and so on.
   

You will need to clear the topic with me in advance. By October 19th (Tuesday), you will need to provide me (in writing) with a paragraph about the subject of your paper and a list of at least five potential academic sources that do not include any of the assigned readings on the syllabus. Academic sources include scholarly books and articles in academic journals. Long feature articles in major newspapers (e.g., the New York Times) or serious magazines, such as Harper's or The Atlantic, also count. For a useful starting point in locating academic research, I recommend the RAMBI site of the Jewish National Library in Jerusalem, the guide to the UF Judaica Library, and the General Academic Index available through the UF Database Gateway. You will find that many academic journals include relevant materials about Israel. In addition, the following English language journals available at the Library specialize in Israel:

Israel Law Review
Israel Affairs (strong on history)
Israel Studies (social science)
Israel Studies Forum (political science)
Palestine-Israel Journal of Politics, Economis & Culture (focuses on Israeli-Palestinian conflict)
Journal of Israeli History

The paper should be typed or printed, follow proper rules of grammar and punctuation, use the author-date (Harvard) method of referencing sources (here), and utilize at least 5 academic sources beyond the assigned reading.  I take a very hard line on plagiarism so you should consult this site from another university to make sure you understand the rules of academic honesty.  I am willing to preview preliminary drafts of the paper and encourage you to submit them, the earlier, the better. When the paper is due, you must provide both a hard copy  and submit the paper to the Turnitin program licensed by UF. Although the principal purpose of this program is to insure the integrity of your papers, you can use it on your own to preview your paper and make sure it complies with the UF Student Honor Code.