Because of the kind of responses you had to DQs 1 and 2, I have decided to change the way in which I was planning to use a couple of materials for this class. In the syllabus, I had originally scheduled the two pieces by James Fallows for much later in the term. But, given many of your comments, well, I need to strike when the metaphorical iron is hot, eh!
Now, before I give you the essay question, yes, for various reasons I am slightly behind in summarizing the DQs so far and in adding my perspectives. But, that will not affect your response to this essay question by any means. Also, if you think you need a day more in order to submit Essay 1, no problems as long as it reaches me by noon of next Wednesday.
Ok, what is the question for the essay? Well, you have read through quite a few chapters of Levinson, and a few current news items too. Levinson's thesis is that the shipping container was an important development that made international trade possible to the large extent that we see today. In other words, if there were no containers, well, the maginitude of international trade would be significantly less than what we have today.
In his essay and the multimedia presentation, James Fallows adds more to this when he discusses the country that we now associate with when it comes to global exports: China. Firs read/watch/listen to these.
Then, spend some time thinking about China, international trade, and shipping containers. Think about the Levinson chapters you have read thus far, and also some of the news item we have discussed. Yes, thinking comes first.
When you are then equipped with a whole bunch of thoughts, put together an essay, a cogent argument, that relate to China, international trade, and the "box"
In doing so, do not merely summarize the readings. Do not go off on a tangent, how much ever that topic might tempt you, and end up discussing, for instance, China's human rights issues and why Google has issues in China now. While those topics are important, stay focused on the assigned task.
In case you have never been given guidance on how faculty typically evaluate essay responses, well, there is a method to the madness :) Here is the guiding rubric that I use and share with my students.
Let me know if you think that you or the class might benefit from additional information/clarification from me.
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