Required reading
In addition to being able to discuss matters relating to American culture for which you should consult your local newspaper, students are required to read local news papers for the participating partner universities. At the beginning of our cultural link, we will provide you web addresses for suitable newspapers and we will discuss topics in class that are based on some of the lead stories. We ask that you spend 20 minutes before each class period reading through the latest on-line paper to get a sense of important issues, daily life, international perspective, etc.

A Joint Paper
When you are participating actively with your partner, a joint paper will be written by both of you and all are due by the intro session to the next culture. Starting from the beginning of the cultural link you and your partner will jointly choose a topic that is related to areas covered in this class. Use email and chat to work with your partner in this collaborative assignment. You will then submit your joint paper to Cindy and Doris and your partner will submit the paper to his/her professor at their institution. If you have any trouble corresponding with your partner; if your partner is not e-mailing you, or is refusing to work with you on your paper, please e-mail both Cindy and Doris within the first 2 weeks of the session. If it is found that your partner is failing to cooperate with you on this assignment, an alternate assignment will be given. However past the 2 week period, you are expected to complete the Joint paper as stated above.

Independent Paper
During the section when you are acting as an observer, you will write an independent paper related to a cultural topic. For oral presentation (as the observing student), you may present the content of this paper.

E-mailing your partne
You are expected to e-mail your partners on a daily basis. Ask each other questions and get to know about each others culture. Discuss options for topics for your joint paper and when the time comes discuss the joint paper itself. If the e-mail account for your partner does not work, let us know immediately. If your partner does not respond to your e-mails, after 3 days of no response, let your teacher or technical assistant know so that they can contact the Instructor at the partner university and inform them of the problem.