Global News 4.28

• UKRAINE: Russia amps up its Eastern attack (CTV News)
• UNITED STATES: Dr. Fauci says US is out of "pandemic stage" of Covid (CNN)
• SOUTH KOREA: Young Koreans dread the return of work dinners (Reuters)
• INDIA: Massive heatwave hits India (BBC News)
  
• CANADA: Country begins gathering of trans and non-binary citizens in new census data (Toronto Star)

Week 14: Tue 4.26/Thu 4.28 – Mexico

Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City

Week 14: Tue 4.26/Thu 4.28 – Mexico*
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“The Self-Reflection Essay and ePortfolio: A How-To”
Due: REFLECTION 3 and 4

*It is advised you be up to slide 8 in your Research Project this week

Upcoming:

Week 15: Tue 5.3/Thu 5.5 – Cuba*
Class: Multimedia presentations

*It is advised you be up to slide 12 in your Research Project this week

Week 16: Tue 5.10/Thu 5.12 – The United States of America*
Class: Class wrap-up
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT

*Last regular class meeting of the semester

Final Exams:

Week 17: Sec. 12 Final Exam: Wed 5.18 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)

Week 18: Sec. 14 Final Exam: Tue 5.24 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)

Global News 4.21

• RUSSIA: High profile Russian tycoon on Instagram: "All of us must do what we can to support Ukrainians suffering from this vicious onslaught, whether in Ukraine or as refugees beyond its borders." (BBC News)
• UNITED KINGDOM: PM Boris Johnson apologizes to Parliament over "Partygate" (SkyNews)
  
• SOUTH AFRICA: Durban vicinity devastated by heavy flooding and mudslides (AP) 
• JAPAN: Japan and New Zealand strengthen ties, including defense, amid growing Russian and Chinese concerns (Toronto Star)
  
• CHILE: Study finds a 9.5 earthquake in Chile 3,800 years ago was the largest in history (CTV News)

Reflection 5: The Straight Dope—Understanding International Drug and Alcohol Laws

In the United States, alcohol is legal, but 100% of recreational drugs are illegal—Marijuana, recreational or medicinal, may or may not be legal depending on the state. But how do drug and alcohol laws and attitudes differ in countries we might visit? If Americans travel abroad with the intent to use drugs, what should they know beforehand? For example, how can a seemingly drug-casual society actually spell trouble for tourists engaging in narcotics? What should you know for you next global backpacking trip or spring break or EDM show? And if one travels without the intent to use drugs, why is it still important to know a place's laws about drugs and alcohol?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Seven Destinations Where Drug Tourism is Thriving" (Oyster)
• "Spring Breakers Now Need to Pinky Promise Not to Do Drugs in Tulum" (Vice)
  
• "The Most Dangerous Places to be a Drunk American" (Thrillist)
  
• "What You Need to Know About Drug Use in Southeast Asia" (Matador Network)
  
• "The Twenty Countries with the Harshest Drug Laws in the World" (DrugAbuse.com)

Required:

• 1.5 pages
  
• MLA Style, plus works cited page

Submission Window: Thu 4.28 - Tue 5.3 (via Canvas)

Reflection 4: The Music That Makes the World Go Round—Exploring International Pop Charts

 

Despite KPop's recent successes, non-English music on American commercial radio is still relatively rare. While we might hear the occasional song sung partially in another language (e.g. "Macarena," "Time to Say Goodbye," "Bailamos," "Gangnam Style"), songs sung entirely in a foreign language are still rare (e.g. "La Bamba," "Bamboleo"). However, that's not the case around the world, where foreign language songs, including American music, routinely become hits in a number of markets. Though it's beginning to change thanks to more globally-minded Gen Zers, Americans are traditionally notoriously resistant to songs that aren't in English. So, while the rest of the world gets to hear a variety of international artists, Americans are still largely limited to music from English-speaking countries (e.g. the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). For this reflection, you'll take a musical trip around the world. 

Directions:

1. Go to one of the following chart compilation sites:
• iTopChart 
  
• lanet.lv (comprehensive, but awkward design)
  
• top40-charts (look for dropdown menu in middle of page)
• PopVortex Internation iTunes Charts (sometimes up, sometimes not)
  
2. Choose three non-English-speaking countries from three different continents (for example, El Salvador [North America], Poland [Europe], Pakistan [Asia])
3. Spend some time sampling the local musical fare. As you do, consider these countries' musical tastes and to what degree American music has penetrated their charts. Do you you believe any of the music you sampled could have a shot at success in America? Why or why not?

Required:

• 1.5 pages
  
• MLA Style, plus works cited page

Submission Window: Thu 4.28 - Tue 5.3 (via Canvas)

Week 13: Tue 4.19/Thu 4.21 – Brazil

Pão de Açúcar, Rio de Janeiro

Week 13: Tue 4.19/Thu 4.21 – Brazil*
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: ROGERIAN ARGUMENT

*It is advised you be up to slide 4 in your Research Project this week

Upcoming:

Week 14: Tue 4.26/Thu 4.28 – Mexico*
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“The Self-Reflection Essay and ePortfolio: A How-To”

*It is advised you be up to slide 8 in your Research Project this week

Week 15: Tue 5.3/Thu 5.5 – Cuba*
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: REFLECTION 3 and 4

*It is advised you be up to slide 12 in your Research Project this week

Week 16: Tue 5.10/Thu 5.12 – The United States of America*
Class: Class wrap-up
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT

*Last regular class meeting of the semester

Final Exams:

Week 17: Sec. 12 Final Exam: Wed 5.18 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)

Week 18: Sec. 14 Final Exam: Tue 5.24 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)

Rogerian Argument

For several years, an increasingly contentious situation has brewed at the US-Mexico border. The southern border, the entry point for thousands of hopeful Latin Americans for decades, has also seen an influx of international migrants and refugees in the last year, including Russians, Syrians, Iraqis—and now, Ukrainians. Not surprisingly, Mexico has been overwhelmed by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people at its border and the situation was exponentially worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, then-President Trump, fulfilling the promises of his anti-immigration platform, invoked Title 42, which allowed Border Patrol to prohibit the entry of people who potentially pose a health risk to the US population. In essence, the US government automatically denied asylum-seekers their legal right to apply for refuge. Coupled with Covid-19, immigration to the US—both legal and illegal—dropped. President Biden recently announced, however, that Title 42 will be rescinded in the coming weeks. This has brought condemnation from Republicans, including GOP governors along the border. Republicans, carrying on former President Trump’s zero tolerance approach to immigration, have rallied around the border to stir up their base and to woo frustrated voters. Democrats, elected on the promise of a more humane approach to immigration, on the other hand, are grappling with a situation spiraling further out of control. Conservatives argue that Title 42 kept immigration in check, while liberals often see it as an abuse of law. Specifically, what is to be done with Title 42? Should it be kept in place or should it be rescinded? Using a Rogerian Argument, propose a solution that bridges the divide on the Title 42 debate.

Instructions:

Your Rogerian Argument will not take the shape of a long-form essay. Instead, it will be divided into the six parts.

1. Decide your position on maintaining OR rescinding Title 42
2. According to your position, address each of the parts of a Rogerian (1. Overview of the Issue, 2. Summary of Opposing View, 3. Statement of Understanding, 4. Stating Your Position, 5. Statement of Contexts, and 6. Finding Common Ground) in a single individual paragraph.
3. Your Rogerian should utilize at least six sources. You may use three of the following to start your argument:

• “Everything You Need to Know About Title 42” (Washington Post)
• “Title 42 is Ending in May, but These Migrants Can't Wait That Long” (Time)
• “What’s Happening at the US-Mexico border in Seven Charts” (Pew Research)
• “Ending Racist Title 42 Order is Only First Step in Helping Asylum Seekers” (ILRC)
• “Why Title 42 Is at the Center of the Border Crisis” (National Review)
• “Ukrainians Have Arrived at the US-Mexico Border by the Thousands” (NPR)
• “What is Title 42, the COVID-19 Border Policy Set to End in Late May?” (CBS News)
• “Biden Made a Promise to Deviate from Trump's Immigration Policies—and Broke It” (MSNBC)

Required:

• MLA Style, plus works cited page 

 

Submission Window: Thu 4.21 - Tue 4.19 (via Canvas)

Week 12: Tue 4.12/Thu 4.14 – Chile

Gran Torre Santiago, Santiago

Week 12: Tue 4.12/Thu 4.14 – Chile
Class: Multimedia presentations; Lecture—"Infographics: A How-To”

Upcoming:

Week 13: Tue 4.19/Thu 4.21 – Brazil*
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: ROGERIAN ARGUMENT

*It is advised you be up to slide 4 in your Research Project this week

Week 14: Tue 4.26/Thu 4.28 – Mexico*
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“The Self-Reflection Essay and ePortfolio: A How-To”

*It is advised you be up to slide 8 in your Research Project this week

Week 15: Tue 5.3/Thu 5.5 – Cuba*
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: REFLECTION 3 and 4

*It is advised you be up to slide 12 in your Research Project this week

Week 16: Tue 5.10/Thu 5.12 – The United States of America*
Class: Class wrap-up
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT

*Last regular class meeting of the semester

Final Exams:

Week 17: Sec. 12 Final Exam: Wed 5.18 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)

Week 18: Sec. 14 Final Exam: Tue 5.24 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (Details TBD)
Due: SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY AND ePORTFOLIO (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 8 P.M.)