3-D Printing My Country

The text on 3-D printing is very upbeat about how beneficial 3-D printing can be.  Think of your country.  In at least two paragraphs, discuss how  this technology could benefit your country?  Make sure you mention your country's name in your blog post, especially if it is not Lebanon.

If Only I Could 3- D Print

The author is very upbeat about the benefits of 3-D Printing.  If you had a one-time access to such a printer, what would you print?  Explain your choice in at least two paragraphs. Make sure you make a wise / worthwhile selection.

The Arab World:  Obviously, The Arab World is full of both a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the Arab world and Arabs.  Write a note to Hall correcting his information and discussing the impact of such misrepresentation by a scholar.

Post your response to Hall on the replies to the article as well.  Hall should hear our opinion.  

Reflective Journal

Before you write your reflective journal, please see the assignment description on Moodle.

In brief, this is a very informal writing assignment the purpose of which is to reflect on your work and progress.  I would like you to choose one are in which you are having difficulties and one area in which you have experienced success.  Discuss both areas in detail.  Your post should be approximately two pages long.  Remember that this is not the place for praising your teacher but it is the place to do some actual thinking.

You will need to bring a  print out of this blog to class on Wednesday.

Sexual Violence Is a Crime 1

This text is very controversial.  Mikdashi states that "when two people get married, they are granted rights to each other's bodies and their resources (and yes, the fact that these two come together is interesting to say the least)" and that " civil law (largely inherited from its French counterpart) expressly exempts husbands from punishment and states that if someone other than the husband commits rape then it is a criminal act".  Is marital rape a crime and should it be penalized?

Sexual Violence Is a Crime 2

Go to the original source of the article at http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/4001/sexual-violence-is-a-crime-sometimes and write a note to Mikdashi in which you express your take (opinion) on any of the points she makes.  Copy your post on this blog as well so I don't have to follow 50 links.

Dubai & Beirut 2

Selma Zeki &  Jad Al Jamal question would like to discuss the following : Many Arab countries are being westernized in the context of building and infrastructure / architecture.  Are the projects in Dubai and downtown a better change for the people of the country or not ?  Are Arab countries losing their true identity?

Deadline:  Posts after Wednesday October 17 will not be considered.

Dubai & Beirut 1

Since there were so many suggestions, let's have several blog options:

Fatima Al Zahraa proposed we discuss the following:  "I believe that it would be interesting if we discussed the steps that Arabs need to do in order to avoid imitating the Western culture and
start creating a civilization of their own. Also, we can stress on how the Emirate rulers could've focused on making Dubai an oustanding city that represents the Arabs instead of just building copies of other worldwide cultures."

Rather than the steps, maybe we could discuss how much we imitate the Western culture and how our leaders don't do  much to encourage other behaviors.

Deadline:  Posts after Wednesday October 17 will not be considered.

A Gentle Rain in a Distant Autumn, p. 114

Hi Everybody!

Well, maybe it's time to give you a break.  I thought this time around we would do a different type of text that is shorter but very meaningful   As you are told in the headnotes, Darwish is considered as a Palestinian national poet.  His poem then speaks of his homeland, Palestine.  You will have the option of two types of writing here. Choose one of these.  Then reply to one of your peers and provide feedback.  Choose someone that has not received feedback.

1.  Write a poem similar to Darwish's in which you tackle one similar problem using metaphors.  It does not have to be long. You should talk about your homeland and discuss something with which you have issues.  You do not have to be a poet to write this.  Just spill out what you feel in a different form from the one we have been dealing with.
2.  Choose one of themes Darwish presents and discuss it.

Due Dates:  
Initial blog:  Before class on Monday, October 8 .
Response to peer:  Before class on Wednesday, October 10

Feedback:
I will be posting feedback randomly to one-third of the class.  Next time I will post feedback to another third and so on.  

Breaking the Silence

Hi Everybody!  Here we will talk about the text Breaking the Silence.  I would like you to discuss your ideas about one of the points Khalaf made.  Naturally, you may agree or disagree.  Whatever you do, please support your ideas with concrete evidence.  To post your blog, click on publish a comment.   Note that you are also required to respond to one of classmate's post. This blog post is a part of your grade.  Your post should consist of at least two paragraphs.  Your reply naturally may be shorter but should be meaningful and should encourage dialogue.

I love the dialogue this blog generated.  Wonderful.