World News 11.26.16

• TANZANIA: Rare white giraffe spotted in Tarangire National Park (Daily Telegraph)
• MEXICO: Actress who helped arrange "El Chapo" interview says government is targeting her (Reuters)
• ITALY: Amid strong opposition from Catholic Church, nation debates whether to join EU in recognizing same-sex unions (Daily Beast) 
• BRAZIL: Brazilian-born Zeka virus, which causes brain damage in infants, spreading throughout the Americas (Al Jazeera)
• TAIWAN: Over 80 dead from rare Eastern Asia cold snap (BBC News) 
• FRANCE: Eight emerging trends from Paris Men's Fashion Week (Brit + Co.)

Reflection 1: Mind the Gap—Understanding the Gap Year

While American high school seniors are fretting over admission into their colleges of choice, British and Australian students are preparing to take a 12-month break from school called a "gap year." This practice, common in several English-speaking countries, involves young people deferring college for a year to travel or live abroad. So, while most American are experiencing their freshman year of college, students from these countries might be volunteering in Africa, working in Southeast Asia, or touring the United States. Proponents of gap years say these students return to college and work more mature, having gained a year's worth of real-world experience. Assuming you did not have a gap year (if you didn't, you're not alone—only 8% of Americans typically delay college by one year, and only third of those use that time to travel), how might a year of travel/living abroad before college have affected you? Are Americans missing out on opportunities by going straight into college from high school? Should Americans adopt, even mandate, gap years ? Why or why not?

Cite two of the following in your reflection:

• "Why are Gap Years More Common in Europe than the US?" (GoOverseas)
• "Perfect Gap-Year Itineraries" (Guardian)
• "Gap Year Data and Benefits" (American Gap Association)
• "Should You Take a Gap Year?" (Forbes)
• "Decide if a Gap Year Makes Sense for You" (US News & World Report)
• "Ten Reasons Why Taking a Gap Year Before College Might be the Best Choice You Ever Make" (Bustle)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• 1.5 pages in length
• Works cited page

Due: Th 2.4

Week 1: France

The Grand Palais, Paris

Week 1: France
Th 01.28
Class: Syllabus review

Next week:

Week 2: India
Read: FOREVERS—Part 1: Undercitizens
Tu 2.2/Th 2.4
Class: Introductions; Lecture— “Writing as a Process”
Due: REFLECTION 1