Question: Group Memberships: We all participate or identify with many groups. Sometimes we even participate in several groups at the same time (e.g., members of a family playing basketball with neighbors). Make a list of all the groups you identify with. Consider nationality, ethnicity, geographic region, interests, and hobbies (e.g., U.S., German-American, Californian, surfers, and skiers.) Provide a norm (standard or rule of behavior) for each group. (Remember that a norm is an action, not a value.) Which groups' norms do you follow most often? Respond to at least two of your fellow students' postings by Day 7.
Communication and the Media: News media reflect and influence a culture. Select a current global topic in the news. (e.g., climate change, the Israel and Hamas conflict in Gaza, the world economy, nuclear proliferation, etc.) Read the coverage of this topic in a major United States newspaper (e.g., The Washington Post, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, etc.) and in the newspaper of another country (Pravda, International Herald Tribune, Al-Jazeera, etc.) Identify the issue you chose and discuss how the two newspapers differ in their perception of the issue and how the coverage reflects the culture of the country in which the newspaper is published. NOTE: Online versions of most major U.S. newspapers, along with English versions of many foreign newspapers, are available free on the Web. For foreign newspapers, simply search using the name of the newspaper and the word "English." Respond to at least two of your fellow students' postings by Day 7. (You must create one initial post and at least two responses, for a minimum of three posts for this discussion.)