Week 17

PARIS, FRANCE

Tu 26
SPECIAL TIME: 10:00-11:40 AM
CLASS: Evaluations, Summary

Travel in the News: Monday, May 18 2009

• The Queen Mary 2, the ultimate crib at sea (TheAge.com)
• Don't try this at home: People fooling with crocodile traps in Australia (Northern Territory News)
• Averting a real-life Snakes on a Plane (Times of London)
• What's in a name? Everything, according to the TSA (Baltimore Sun)
  
• In a recession, travel freebies (San Jose Mercury News)
  

Week 16

TRIPOLI, LIBYA

Tu 19
LAB: Final exam

Th 21
CLASS: Remaining presentations (last day)

UPCOMING:

Tu 26
SPECIAL TIME: 10:00-11:40 AM
CLASS: Evaluations, Summary

Week 15

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Tu 5.12
LAB: Practice Final Exam

Th 5.14
CLASS: Final Exam Prep and Review

Week 14

SANTIAGO, CHILE

Tu 5.5
LAB: Persuasive essay (Writers workshop: bring three copies of your essay)

Th 5.7
READ: eR—Selected poetry
CLASS: Watch—Paris, je t'aime (Various directors, France/UK/USA, 2006)

Persuasive Essay Assignment

Prompt:
Sometimes called "poorism," poverty tourism, the practice of touring some of the world's most impoverished neighborhoods, is an increasingly popular activity for travelers. Typically, tourists will sign up with a local touring agency and are taken by bus to see a local slum. Organizers claim it is a way to open the of eyes wealthier travelers to the everyday struggles of poverty. Critics, on the other hand, call it insensitive and intrusive. What do you think? Is poorism a way for tourists to be enlightened to the plights of the poor, or is it what's been dubbed "poverty porn," act of opportunistic voyeurism? Using "Next Stop, Squalor" by John Lancaster from Best American Travel Writing 2008 as a basis, argue for OR against the practice of poorism. In your essay, keep in mind that you are attempting to convince your reader of your position, so have a clear argument in your thesis and well-orgnized evidence. Also, cite specific evidence from the article to support your argument.

Requirements:

• MLA format, including parenthetical citation

• 2-page minimum

Due: Tuesday, May 5th (bring three copies to share in a writer's workshop)

FYI: Howcast.com's "How to Survive a Plane Crash" video