Write a 2-page (700-900 words, Times New Roman, single-spaced, 12 pts) essay on it. Both questions require you do some substantial research online, so make sure to give yourself enough time for research AND writing.
Essay option 1:
Topic: Climate Change.
Describe the issue / points of conflict: What is it? What is the history of the issue, and what is the current state of it? Who are the various parties involved in this issue (In the U.S. and beyond)? Which positions do they hold? Which arguments are put forward? What is at stake for each of these groups?
Analysis: Pick two or three positions/groups (e.g. Climate deniers in the U.S., 350org., and Obama administration). Then think (and write) about the classed, gendered, racial aspects of the issue. Think (and write) about the ways in which certain positions on climate Who and/or what does one position (or solution) serve?
Connections: How does these relationships connect to the themes and topics we have covered in class?
Essay option 2:
Topic: U.S. Elections
Describe the issue / points of conflict: Pick two candidates (Clinton, Sanders, or Trump) and tell me about their respective positions on foreign policy, refugees, taxation, climate change, unemployment (or any other issue you think is important. Pick three). Which arguments are put forward?
Analysis: Think about the classed, gendered, racial (therefore political and economic) aspects of what these candidates are saying. Which economic classes one position serve?
Connections: How does these relationships connect to the themes and topics we have covered in class?
Resources:
Wikipedia might be a start, but not enough. Use Google cleverly and creatively. Do research in online databases of newspapers, daily journals, blogs, etc. http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.theguardian.com/
http://scholar.google.com/schhp?hl=en&inst=1967041857304321720
Do not say you "like" someone or something in an essay. Readers will not care. Tell me what
you "think", "argue", "claim" and so on. And support your argument.
If you are making an argument, defend it.
You should not limit your essay to answering ALL of these questions and ONLY these questions. You've been following the lectures, reading the book, you know what the issues are about. You just need to reflect them back on current issues.