Have you ever wondered about the practices, beliefs, and lives of people in other cultures? What have been your observations and experiences from interacting with people from a community or culture different than yours? Have you thought of the community you are part of as an opportunity for research? This course invites you to use focused writing and research to investigate a culture or community that is not your own. 

We begin the course by rhetorically analyzing a text related to a culture or community that interests you. Afterward, you will decide on an issue to research in your selected culture/community. Through your writing, you will establish a clear scholarly argument based on your understanding of the issue informed by its historical, social, or political contexts. For example, you might explore questions such as: How did the Paris attack affect Muslims in America? To what extent has Saint Patrick's Day holiday has changed historically in the US? What is the high school sports culture in Spain compared to the US? How does Google promote or undermine diversity and inclusion inside their company? Through writing and researching about relatable topics, you will construct your own argument on ever-changing cultural issues and their consequences for people around you.