World News 4.16

• FRANCE: Presidents Macron vows to "rebuild Notre Dame within five years" (Guardian)
• BRAZIL: NYC's Museum of Natural History cancels gala honoring Brazil's new president (NPR)
• CHINA: Alibaba's founder endorses the hotly-debated "966" work plan of 12-hour work days, six days a week (CNN) 
• MEXICO: Mexican president to establish a "Robin Hood" institute to return riches seized by corrupt politicians and gangsters (Reuters) 
• UNITED KINGDOM: Researchers discover that the ancestors of the builders of Stonehenge were from Greece and Turkey (National Post) 
• SOUTH KOREA: Why EXP Edition is the KPop's most controversial group (Vice)

Week 13: Mexico

Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City

Week 13: Mexico
Mon 4.15/Wed 4.17
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE (BRING 2 HARD COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 14: United Kingdom
Mon 4.22/Wed 4.24
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 1—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION); REFLECTION 6

Week 15: Kenya
Mon 4.29/Wed 5.1
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 2—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 16: Russia
Mon 5.6/Wed 5.8
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop

Week 17: Australia (Finals Week 1)
Mon 5.13*
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop; Course review
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (FINAL DRAFT—EMAIL BY 5 P.M.)
*Final class meeting of the semester

Week 18: Japan (Finals Week 2)
Final exam meeting time: Tue 5.21 @ 7:15-9:30 a.m. (Location TBD)
Class: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

World News 4.10

• CHINA: Shazam! falls to Hong Kong thriller, P Storm, at Chinese box office (TheHollywoodReporter)
• NORWAY: Scandinavian country refuses to drill for billions of barrels of oil in the Arctic (TheHill)
• RUSSIA: Amid international outcry, Russia agrees to free cetaceans from "whale jail" (Al Jazeera)
• UNITED KINGDOM: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now have an official Instagram account (Vanity Fair)
• CANADA: PM Trudeau's poll numbers in free fall after scandal (Reuters)
• SOUTH AFRICA: Suspected poacher killed by an elephant and eaten by lions (ABC News)

Week 12: India

Taj Mahal, Agra

Week 12: India
Mon 4.8/Wed 4.10
Read: FOREVERS—Part 4: Up and Out
Class: Multimedia presentations; Library research session (Details TBA)
Due: ARISTOTELIAN APPEALS

Upcoming:

Week 13: Mexico
Mon 4.15/Wed 4.17
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE (BRING 2 HARD COPIES)

Week 14: United Kingdom
Mon 4.22/Wed 4.24
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 1—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION); REFLECTION 6

Week 15: Kenya
Mon 4.29/Wed 5.1
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 2—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 16: Russia
Mon 5.6/Wed 5.8
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop

Week 17: Australia (Finals Week 1)
Mon 5.13*
Class: Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop; Course review
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (FINAL DRAFT—EMAIL BY 5 P.M.)
*Final class meeting of the semester

Week 18: Japan (Finals Week 2)
Final exam meeting time: Tue 5.21 @ 7:15-9:30 a.m. (Location TBD)
Class: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Week 11: Argentina

Week 11: Argentina

Mon 4.1/Wed 4.3

Read: FOREVERS—Part 3: A Little Wildness

NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK

Upcoming:

Week 12: India  

Mon 4.8/Wed 4.10

Read: FOREVERS—Part 4: Up and Out

Class: Multimedia presentations; Library research session (Details TBA)

Due: ARISTOTELIAN APPEALS

Final Research Project

Overview:

For your final research project, you are tasked with creating marketing and fundraising collateral for an international animal conservation organization. The goal is to create a compelling presentation promoting the organization’s work and enticing potential donors.

Directions:

1. Choose one of the following animal issues:

1. Trophy Hunting—every year, thousands of wild animals around the globe are killed by hunters targeting, often endangered, animals for trophies and bragging rights.
2. The Exotic Pet Trade—though largely illegal, the exotic species trade has flourished in recent years, often with detrimental results for the owners, the animals, and the environment.
3. Poaching—all around the world, illicit markets exist specializing in the trade of poached species, such as elephants and tigers.
4. The Cetacean Trade—cetacean transactions happen through an intricate, often shadowy, marketplace designed to match these animals with anyone who can afford them.
5. Release of circus animals—animals that are charged with entertaining humans are often animals that suffer, especially in circuses.

2. Find one major (and reputable) organization associated with animal welfare—this will be the organization for whom you will create a presentation

3. Thoroughly research both the organization and the specific animal issue, including counter positions

4. Create a 12-slide multimedia presentation designed to persuade potential donors

Your presentation must:

• Have a cohesive design, including illustrations—how does the overall design support the goal?
• Introduce the organization, including history and mission statement—what is this organization and what do they do?
• Contextualize the issue—what does this organization do for animals and why should we care?
• Present 2-3 case studies—what are specific examples that might persuade donors?
• Address “common myths”—illustrate commonly misunderstood points associated with this issue
• Conclude with a persuasive argument—what is your closing argument to potential donors?

As the goal is a professional presentation, it is important that:

• The mission and needs of your organization be clear
• The spelling and grammar be impeccable
• Your argument be persuasive (without relying on fallacies of logic)

Project Timeline:
Week 13: Wed 4.17- Due: RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE (BRING 2 HARD COPIES)

Week 14: Mon 4.22/Wed 4.24- RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 1—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 15: Wed 5.1- RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 2—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 16: Wed 5.8- RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 3—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 17: (Finals Week 1) Mon 5.13- RESEARCH PROJECT (FINAL DRAFT—EMAIL BY 5 P.M.)

Week 10: United Arab Emirates

Burg Khalifi, Dubai

Week 10: United Arab Emirates
Mon 3.25/Wed 3.27
Read: FOREVERS—Part 2: The Business of Burning
Class: Reading Discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Understanding Aristotle’s Modes of Persuasion”
Due: REFLECTION 4 AND 5

Upcoming:

Week 11: Argentina
Mon 4.1/Wed 4.3
Read: FOREVERS—Part 3: A Little Wildness
NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK

Reflection 5: Get on the Pitch—On America's Resistance to Football—er, Soccer

In 1994, nationally-recognized sports marketer Nye Lavalle boldly predicted that “there is no chance [Major League Soccer] will survive. Absolutely no chance whatsoever.” His prediction was grim, but also off the mark. Twenty-five years later, American professional soccer has not only survived, but steadily grown its base. Still, no one today can argue that soccer's popularity in America has exactly exploded in that time, either. Of the five major US sports leagues, it has the lowest attendance and brings in the least amount of sponsorship dollars, especially compared to the "Holy Trinity of American Sports": baseball, basketball, and football. Thus far, men's pro soccer has failed to seep into the country's consciousness the way other sports have. So, in many regards, men's pro soccer remains the ugly step-child of American sports. (As for women's soccer, the US Women's National Team triumphant final match in the 2015 Women's World Cup was our country's most-watched soccer game ever.) Of course, all of this stands in stark contrast to the rest of the world, where soccer—or football, as it's known—is a maniacal obsession. What is behind many Americans' resistance to the sport? Why has soccer failed to firmly take root in America? And does the 2026 joint Canada-Mexico-US World Cup hold promise for domestic soccer fans? Finally, are you soccer fan? Why or why not?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Has Soccer Finally Made It in the US?" (Wall Street Journal)
• "US Soccer: Will Americans Ever Care About Football?" (BBC News)
• "Why Americans Suck at Soccer (Well, the Men)" (Vox)
• "No One Understands Soccer's Rules, and that's a Problem" (Deadspin)
• "The Future of American Soccer After Women's World Cup Victory" (ABC News)
• "A Beautiful Sickness: America's Soccer Fever" (Huffington Post) 
• "Why is the US So Good at Women's Soccer? (FiveThirtyEight)

Required:

• MLA Style
• 250 words
• Works cited 

Due: Wed 3.27

Reflection 4: What's on Telly?—International Televison in America

Just as American movies and music dominate the world, so too, does our television. In fact, American shows, ranging from The Walking Dead to The Big Bang Theory often enjoy large audiences globally. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of international shows in the United States. Americans generally prefer English-language television produced in our own country—even shows from other English-speaking countries have a difficult time finding an audience here, as viewers are often confounded by non-American English accents. Thus, risk-adverse broadcast networks (e.g. NBC, Fox) rarely offer non-English, non-American programs in their schedules. Streaming services, on the other hand, have tapped into an American appetite for foreign television. Now, most major services feature a plethora of international programing, including Korean soaps and Scandinavian procedurals. For this reflection, watch at least one episode from two different internationally-produced shows* on either Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.** In your analysis, examine the differences and similarities between our countries’ entertainment, such as tone, language, subject matter, and humor. Finally, consider if the shows you watched have any potential for mainstream success in America. Why or why not?

*Broadcasting standards in these countries are different than those in the US, so you may find more profanity, violence, even nudity, in these shows. 

**Of the three major streaming services, only Hulu offers a free tier. If none of these is an option, YouTube is another option. Contact me if you cannot access any of these services. 

To guide your viewing:

• "The Best Shows That Make Reading Subtitles Worth It" (TV Guide)

Required:

• MLA Style
• 250 words
• Works cited 

Due: Wed 3.27

World News 3.20

• MOZAMBIQUE: Country devastated by cyclone (PBS News)
• NEW ZEALAND: Prime Minister on mosque shooter: “We, in New Zealand, will give him nothing. Not even his name." (Quartz)
• AUSTRALIA: Telecoms block access to 4chan, 8chan, and Liveleak (9 News)
• ITALY: Anti-vax legislator hospitalized for the chicken pox (Daily Mail)
• JAPAN: #KuToo movement takes on workplaces that require women wear high heels (Time)
• CHINA: Chinese goths protest treatment of goth woman harassed in subway (Guardian)

Week 9: Botswana

Northern Kalahari, Botswana

Week 9: Botswana
Mon 3.18/Wed 3.20
Read: FOREVERS—Part 1: Undercitizens
Class: Reading Discussion; Multimedia presentations; Writers workshop*
Due: ROGERIAN ARGUMENT (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL BY 5 PM)

*Bring Draft 1 of your infographic on Mon. 3.18

Upcoming:

Week 10: United Arab Emirates
Mon 3.25/Wed 3.27
Read: FOREVERS—Part 2: The Business of Burning
Class: Reading Discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Understanding Aristotle’s Modes of Persuasion”
Due: REFLECTION 4 AND 5