Growing Up Saudi

What does it mean to grow up as a teenage boy or girl in Saudi Arabia?
How does this compare to your own life as a teenager in the U.S.?

1. Read the articles on "Growing Up Saudi".
2. Imagine that your family is participating in a student exchange program, and your visiting student is from Saudi Arabia and staying 2 weeks. Think about: What might you need to do to prepare for your guest? What issues might he or she face in your home, school and community? After reading the 2 articles, Write a letter to your exchange student and identify some of the cultural differences and explain how you will try to make him or her feel comfortable in American society. Make up a name for your exchange student. What is a common first name for a boy or girl in Saudi Arabia. Post your letter to the blog in the usual way.

A Veiled Debate

Please Post all comments before 8 AM, Monday, Dec 1. (No internet problems will be accepted as an excuse. Go to the library if necessary and finish the assignment.)
A Veiled Debate -

Blog Response to the statement: "In an age of terrorism and Islamic extremism, it is within a democratic government's right to outlaw certain Muslim garments in public."
As of 7 PM, Wednesday + 4 PM Saturday + 1PM Sunday + 4:30PM + 6:30PM + Monday 5:30 AM
Agree - 1 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 2 +3 = 17

Disagree - 5 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 4 + 7 + 2 = 34

2008 Learning About Islam

ASSIGNMENT #1 - 10 points
(Due Friday,November 14)
How are Muslims trying to change their image and get Westerners to understand the religion of Islam better? Find out about "The 99" .... A Comic Book about Superheroes created by a Muslim/U.S. educated psychiatrist. Who are the "99" and what "powers" do they possess? Will these new "superheroes" succeed and be accepted? What can you learn about Islam from this approach(a Comic Book)?
View either of the Video News Reports
PBS Report on "The 99" or the ABC News Video below. Leave your comment on the Blog (by Friday, Nov 14 .)



ASSIGNMENT #2 - 50 points
(Turn this assignment in class on Monday, November 17)

• Choose 2 articles from the sites listed below and compare them
  
• Read 1 U.S./Western based article from the list below
• Read 1 Middle East based article from the list below
  

• Word Process/Type a comparative summary and response essay. Include the following your essay:

1. Opening Paragraph with topic sentence. Include the following:
   
• Where the information came from
• When the articles were written
• For whom the articles were written
• 2nd Paragraph: Summarize the articles and discuss the following...
  
• What were the main ideas of each?
  
• Were the articles similar in any way? Different?
• For whom were the articles written and why?
• 3rd Paragraph: Write your response/reaction to what you read. Consider....
• Did the articles have a point of view? Did they want you to agree or disagree with what was written? Did the writer's have a biased point of view(POV)? Did the writers provoke you (make you angry? Cause you to think or react in some way based on what they wrote?) Did you learn anything about Islam? Its history? Culture?
  

2. Choose from the articles below

• Saudi ARAMCO World

• The Harvard Crimson University

• Newsweek - International Edition

• Bahrain Daily Times

• Christian Science Monitor

• Time Magazine

Beauty, Culture and Ethnocentrism

View this Powerpoint and take any notes you need. Be prepared to discuss the ideas in the powerpoint when you come to class.

Tiananmen Square Massacre 1989

Han to Qing Dynasties

The Importance of WCII

This is the real reason students are required to take this course. It gives you the ability to understand Jon Stewart's Daily Show. Studying various cultures can help you understand world events, customs and satirical humor. Note that my avatar (Under "About Me")on this blog
greets you with the visual representative greeting of "namaste".
Note that this is how the interchange between Jon Stewart and Assif Mandvi begins.

Buddhism, Chinese Characters, Writing & Philosophies

Gandhi, India's Independence and Modern India

China Geography Overview

Geography of South Asia (w/voiceover)

Research Paper

European Imperialism in Africa

Review the Power Point completed in class Feb 2, 2008.

African and European Slave Trade

Review Powerpoint Notes on the Slave Trade

Africa Introduction

Review Introduction to Africa Class No