Assignment
A comparison of two different reactions to a global phenomenon – this year to the global financial crisis – using two media articles published by a non-American source (see my site for a tentative list of foreign English-language newspapers)
Your job is to 1) identify two different responses to the financial crisis on the state or a non-state level – econ. structure, macroeconomic policy, or social changes; 2) explain the difference; and 3) reflect whether proposed steps are working.
5 pages paper proposal and 5-7 minutes presentation in class
Objective
Learning to use Comparative Politics (CP) concepts for describing and analyzing how politics works in non-American context
1. Select two articles from a non-American press that analyze the same issue/problem in relations to the global economic crisis, but arrive at different conclusions regarding causes and solutions of the issue/problem
Specific Steps
1. Select several articles from a non-American press that analyze the same issue/problem in relations to the global economic crisis
2. Identify a country for comparison
3. Articles should differ in description of the issue/problem. Identify 1-2 key differences and concentrate on them in your analysis. Do not compare or describe similarities.
4. Articles should differ in analysis of causes of the issue/problem.
5. Articles should differ in proposed solution(s) of the issue/problem.
6. Be specific and provide a simple chart summarizing your contrast regarding the issue’s 1) description; 2) causes; 3) solutions (1 page maximum)
7. Identify a comparative politics concept useful for understanding the issue’s background, causes and theoretical context (state, nation-building, ideology, ethnic conflict, political economy, political culture, etc.)
8. Identify and explain your own position and suggest one lesson that stems from your analysis. A lesson can be positive or negative implying what needs to be done/avoided if we are to achieve a desired outcome.
Central Theme – “Comparative Responses to the Global Financial Crisis”
Format of Proposal / Presentation
1. Title page (have a title that conveys your central point)
2. Short introduction / impact of the crisis
3. Comparison of different responses and a chart
4. Explanation of different responses
5. Conclusion and lessons: are proposed measures working?
Evaluation Criteria
1. Clarity and specificity of comparison/contrast
2. Clarity of explanation
3. Clarity of conclusions and a lesson
4. Style: structure, visual aid, time management
Please also see evaluation sheet I use for grading in-class presentations (posted on my website at: http://bss.sfsu.edu/tsygankov/CompPolitics/Default.htm )
Presentation Suggestions
Introduction should briefly introduce your question and its significance, your answer, and orient the reader regarding your way of proceeding. A good introduction is short and able to grabs the audience attention from the first sentence (think about a opening that is catchy and to the point).
Visual aid. Prepare visual aid (Power Point or other software). How many slides to use is a matter of judgment, but try to support your main points with slides. Roughly, 1 for title page, 1-2 for evidence, 1 for explanation and 1 for conclusion/lesson.
Do not overuse visual aid. Do not put all your major and minor points on slides (only major ones!) and then read them off. Too many slides will overwhelm the audience, and your talk will loose a lot of its energy and spontaneity. This is not a good presentation; your job is to speak in public, not read in public.
Connect to your audience. Related to the previous point: always maintain an eye contact with the audience, follow its reaction, and try to connect to the audience (other ways of doing so include using the appropriate tone, speed, and manners). A good speaker is relaxed, but also responsible and reliable.
Start preparing early
Rehearse. Rehearse at least twice, preferably in both friendly and skeptical audiences.
Time yourself while practicing your talk
Presentation Time Management
Introduction – 10%
Comparison and a chart – 50%
Explanation – 25%
Conclusion and Lesson – 15%