Week # 5 Readings

Monday, June 15th:

• Cowen, Tyler. Creative Destruction. Chapters 2 & 3 —available on Blackboard.

Wednesday, June 17th:

• Cowen, Tyler. Creative Destruction. Chapter 4 & 6  —available on Blackboard.

BLOG RESPONSE for Week # 5 due by Wednesday, before class (June 17th).

FINAL EXAM – due via email by SATURDAY, June 20th by NOON!!

Week # 3 Readings

Monday, June 1st:

• David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism, Chapters 1 & 2 (pp 1-63)

Wednesday, June 3rd:

• Arana, Gabriel. “Higher Education Takes a Hit,” The Nation, March 31, 2009. (While you read, do so through the framework of globalization — to help explain this particular trend. We will discuss this case study example in such a way as will be expected on the second part of your final take-home exam).
• David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism, Chapter 4 (just up to the middle of page 98; what follows are case studies, which you may peruse, but not necessary to read) & Chapter 6 (I changed this from chapter 5 to 6).

Friday, June 5th:

• Poulin, Richard (2004). Globalization and the Sex Trade: Trafficking and the Commodification of Women and Children.
• Davis, M. (2007). Planet of slums. Chapters 1 & 2 (pp 1-49).

Blog response for this week’s readings/viewings due by Saturday, June 6th by midnight.

You can take any perspective you like in your blog response, but do be sure to reference at least one of the readings substantially. While the format of your response can be informal, I do expect substantial analysis and reflection on whatever specific topic or concept you wish to discuss. To that end, be sure to substantiate your claims or opinions with textual evidence (or with reference to outside sources), avoid generalizations (i.e. “globalization is a good thing,” and be sure to explain your thoughts (how/why you came to whatever conclusion).

Week # 2 Readings

Wednesday, May 27th

• Gabor, Steingart (2008). The War for Wealth: The True Story of Globalization Or why the Flat World is Broken. Chapter 1, 2, 3 & 5.

Friday, May 29th

• Klein, Naomi. No logo. Chapters 1, 3 & 5.
• View:  The Story of Stuff, 20 mins. (can watch on your computer).

Blog response for this week’s readings/viewings due by Friday, May 29th before class begins.

You can take any perspective you like in your blog response, but do be sure to reference at least one of the readings substantially. While the format of your response can be informal, I do expect substantial analysis and reflection on whatever specific topic or concept you wish to discuss. To that end, be sure to substantiate your claims or opinions with textual evidence (or with reference to outside sources), avoid generalizations (i.e. “globalization is a good thing,” and be sure to explain your thoughts (how/why you came to whatever conclusion). If you’re stumped on something – feel free to write about that also – raise whatever questions you have or problems you find with the concepts or arguments, just be sure to explain what’s confusing (so instead of saying “I don’t get so and so’s argument about free trade” – and leaving it at that – explain exactly what it is about the argument that confuses you). I’m basically looking to see that you put some thought into the concepts we are exploring and are attempting to work through the ideas presented.

Week #1 Readings

For Wednesday, May 20th, please read the following:

• Friedman, Thomas. The World is Flat, Chapter 1 (pp. 1-47).

• Angelique Haugerud, “Globalization and Thomas Friedman,” from Why America’s Top Pundits are Wrong.

Friday, May 22nd and Monday, May 25th – Memorial Day weekend (no class).

Please post a response to the readings (above) by Friday, May 22nd. Additionally, I encourage you to provide links to other sites (news stories, magazine articles, advertisements, etc.) that help us to better understand the readings (i.e. an example of a main point or argument made or something that contradicts or peripherally supports).

Next week’s readings will go up Friday, 22nd.

Welcome to your class blog!

Hi folks -

Once a week, you will be responsible for contributing your thoughts, reflections, and responses to readings, class discussions, and/or films viewed in class on this blog. Each week, I will post the reading assignments and expect you to incorporate at least two of the readings for the week into your journal response. In order to respond to that week’s assignments/class discussions, you must click on “comments” for that weeks post. I highly recommend that you first write out your response on a word document, then cut and paste into the comments section (if you were to lose internet connection in the middle of the response, for example, you could lose all that you wrote).

In order to respond to each week’s posting, however, you must register with WordPress. Unless you just want to, there is no need to get your own blog (just click on the option that gives you a username). These regular responses will help you further develop your own insights about globalization and culture, interact and exchange ideas with your student colleagues, and hone your critical thinking and writing skills.

If, for any reason, you are unable to get online to the blog to post your response by the date/time it is due, you must still turn in your response via email or in class on the morning it is due. Late responses will not be accepted. Blog responses are worth 40% of the total grade; therefore, missing even one blog response could affect your final grade, while missing two or more could substantially lower your final grade.