ASA: Academic Study Associates 2008 Programs

How do we balance national and international economic growth with concerns of workers' rights, fair trade, and environmental impact? This course will provide an introduction to the economic, political, and ethical issues of international business, monetary aid policies, and industry in today's global economy. Discussion will focus on case studies including China, India, and Africa; Fair Trade and child labor; the IMF and the World Bank; and NAFTA and the European Union.

How well does a standardized check-box reflect your cultural background? Did earlier generations of your family struggle to come to America, or to be accepted as 'real' Americans? This course introduces students to issues of identity in our diverse nation. Discussions and reflection will explore how national, racial, ethnic, religious, and class backgrounds have both united and divided communities, as well as how the social complexities of multiculturalism continue to develop in the twenty-first century, in other countries as well as in the US.

This course examines how social issues may be presented to the public through the lens of film documentary. Students will watch a variety of documentaries and discuss the approaches different filmmakers take to their subjects. How are cinematic techniques used to dictate the viewer's responses? Is there a responsibility to present all sides of an issue? Should representation be realistic, or selectively exaggerated to help motivate needed action? What happens when the boundaries between documentary and fictional film begin to blur?

No one wants other humans to suffer when the means exist to help them. Nonetheless, millions worldwide are without adequate sanitation, nutrition, or health care. This course will examine several central issues in world health & international aid, including food supply and nutrition, basic infrastructure, immunizations, infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, the expenses of medication, and operational issues facing organizations which provide aid.

This discussion-based course focuses on inequalities within the criminal justice system, as well as the wider social and ideological contexts of crime and punishment in America. Is justice really blind? Should an unemployed man who steals a loaf of bread be punished the same as an executive who embezzles millions of dollars? Should the purpose of our penal system be to punish offenders, to protect society, or to produce reformed citizens? Students will study controversial legal cases, hear from guest speakers, and engage in peer debates.

We all know that the environment is one of the most important concerns facing each of us as individuals and our governments collectively. But what exactly are the problems we face, and what is there to be done about them? This course looks at the central environmental issues and solutions being debated as well as the history of environmental activism from the beginnings of the green movement through today. Case studies and class discussions will cover such topics as sustainability, the Kyoto Protocol, non-fossil energy sources, and organizations such as the Sierra Club and Greenpeace.

In this course students will consider art as a means of social activism. All forms of art will be considered, with special attention devoted to pop culture. Particular movements, artworks, and artists studied may include 60?s folk music, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, John Lennon, the emergence of rap, spoken-word and slam poetry, Catch-22, 1984, urban murals, movies by Michael Moore and Spike Lee, Boal Theater for the Oppressed and Brechtian Theater. In addition to class discussions and response papers, students will experiment with creating and sharing their own amateur works.

Are capitalism and social responsibility contradictory? Can you make a difference while still making a buck? This course will look at the intersection of ethics and economics, focusing on small business policies, socially-conscious production, and models of development that are both profitable and responsible. Students will be introduced to inspiring case studies, such as 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank, and business models of the information economy that may revolutionize the profit/non-profit division.

What tools can you use to raise awareness? How is a movement formed, and how do you keep up momentum and motivation? This course will introduce students to the field of communications as it ties into to leadership for social change. We will look at the tools of the mainstream and alternative media at all scales - from your local op-ed page to national advertisements, picketing and protests to internet blogs.

We know that a democratic government is supposed to obey the will of the people. But how does public opinion actually influence policy? In this course students will examine and evaluate the various tools of democratic representation, from polls to pundits, the electoral system to congressional lobbying. Discussion will focus on how to give voice to each of 300 million individuals, while also considering how public opinion is itself affected by group dynamics and the media.

Whether you are speaking in a high school class or college seminar, at an activist rally or before Congress, leadership is often exhibited through your performance as a polished public speaker. This course offers you a practical approach to the art of public speaking. You will develop skills in various speech types: exposition, entertainment, argumentation, and persuasion. Attention is given to the physical properties of the voice as well as to non-verbal aspects of presentation. Students' own work will be supplemented by examination of famous speeches and speakers from history.

So you want to serve your class, your community, your state, your country. How do you convince them you're the one who has the right answers, will make the best decisions, and lead them to a bright future? Learn the art of campaigning, the strategies of electioneering, and the intricacies of the electoral process. Special attention will be given to analyzing ongoing developments in the 2008 presidential race.

From school papers to law briefs, Op-Eds to your own blog, the ability to express your ideas clearly and forcefully through writing is crucial to successful persuasion. This course will attend to the basics of effective writing, such as grammar, organization, conciseness, and directness, while further focusing on the art of argumentation, including rhetorical and logical forms and fallacies, effective use of evidence, and issues of audience. Structured writing exercises and reading assignments are followed by group workshops and student-teacher conferences as students work to complete several polished final pieces.