We cannot stress enough the importance of writing as a skill and as a mode of thinking, learning, communicating, and engaging with the world. You can choose one of the following prompts to get you started, but you are welcome to write about other topics and ideas or to use different genres – and, again, we remind you to try and maintain a daily journal of your thoughts and reflections.

Note: Many of the prompts ask you to relate the concepts in the texts to your own personal experience. When doing that, it is important to first explain the author’s and your particular understanding of concepts in order to situate your experience.

Travels into Bokhara:

• In Reference to Imagined Geographies and Travels into Bokhara, do modern examples of this exist? If so, give examples.
• If you were put in the place of Burnes, how much would your own perception and views inform your writings about the Travel into Bokhara?

Soviet Nationalism: 

• Explain the reading to a friend or family member and quiz them over their preconceived ideas of Central Asia and the USSR, What were their initial reactions to the reading and how much did they know about this topic?
• Bauer discusses the separation of nationalist ideas and entities from revolutionary ideas and practices. How do you think this would be perceived today in an increasing age of intersectionality?

From the Steppe to Astana:

• Do you think Kazakhstan should change its name to “Kazakh Eli?” What might be the consequences of doing so? Should countries globalize or keep their traditions, cultures, and uniqueness?
• How can you connect Kazakhstan’s example to your experience? Does your home country promote the same ideology or does it differ?
• Soviet’s trying to “help” Kazakhs remind a lot of Westerners trying to “educate” their colonies. Which reading from past weeks can you connect to this topic? What are the similarities and differences between them?