Globalization
Op-Ed
Political Cartoon
Project Reflection
For this project, we explored what globalization is and then analyzed some specific aspects of it. We started out by learning about the actual concept of globalization and then we dove into learning about specific topics and issues surrounding globalization. We then moved from there into our actual individual projects. Our assignment was to write a 700-1000 word op-ed about a topic surrounding globalization as well as to create a political cartoon. The topic I chose was wealth inequality so I wrote an op-ed arguing for a progressive tax as opposed to a flat tax and then made a political cartoon that pointed out flaws with a flat tax.
I think before this project, I had a basic understanding of how the world has evolved from everything being separate, to everything being connected in a way, but not to the extent that I do now. From a broader perspective, I think I learned and understand what globalization is and how it is such a huge aspect of society today. Everything has moved towards being more connected and more a part of each other as time has gone on, driven mostly by technology. Specifically, I think I learned a lot about the topic that I wrote my op-ed and drew my cartoon about. I would say my understanding of tax systems and why we use the one that we do in the U.S. became a lot clearer, which I think is a very important thing to understand about society.
I actually really enjoyed writing my op-ed and I am really happy with how it turned out. I think one thing that worked out really well and helped a lot in my writing was not only the research I did, but also the planning I did through my outline. I spent a lot more time than usual planning where I would put what argument, where I would use each source, etc. and I think it really helped in the actual writing process. I think the main thing I noticed, especially from the feedback I got from my teacher, is that I’m really good at writing academic pieces but not nearly as strong in my writing with opinion pieces. I constantly used things that did not necessarily detract from my argument, but did add a lot to the length which can definitely detract from a piece. I learned that an op-ed is all about keeping your argument concise and clear and arguing your point in a way that doesn’t lose the reader's attention/interest.
I usually am not the best artist, so I am really happy with how my political cartoon turned out. One mistake I think I made was that in my process I made a lot of assumptions about what the viewer would know, both about what a flat tax is and how it isn’t fair. I think that someone who doesn’t necessarily know what a flat tax is and doesn’t have the background of what my op-ed says could be confused about what exactly the cartoon is trying to say. I definitely drew my cartoon to argue that a flat tax isn’t fair, but I think that in the future I could do it in a way that is more clear and more straight to the point. I do think that my drawing of the issue definitely strengthened my stance on the issue, but I think next time I would make my cartoon more clear in what it was arguing.
I think before this project, I had a basic understanding of how the world has evolved from everything being separate, to everything being connected in a way, but not to the extent that I do now. From a broader perspective, I think I learned and understand what globalization is and how it is such a huge aspect of society today. Everything has moved towards being more connected and more a part of each other as time has gone on, driven mostly by technology. Specifically, I think I learned a lot about the topic that I wrote my op-ed and drew my cartoon about. I would say my understanding of tax systems and why we use the one that we do in the U.S. became a lot clearer, which I think is a very important thing to understand about society.
I actually really enjoyed writing my op-ed and I am really happy with how it turned out. I think one thing that worked out really well and helped a lot in my writing was not only the research I did, but also the planning I did through my outline. I spent a lot more time than usual planning where I would put what argument, where I would use each source, etc. and I think it really helped in the actual writing process. I think the main thing I noticed, especially from the feedback I got from my teacher, is that I’m really good at writing academic pieces but not nearly as strong in my writing with opinion pieces. I constantly used things that did not necessarily detract from my argument, but did add a lot to the length which can definitely detract from a piece. I learned that an op-ed is all about keeping your argument concise and clear and arguing your point in a way that doesn’t lose the reader's attention/interest.
I usually am not the best artist, so I am really happy with how my political cartoon turned out. One mistake I think I made was that in my process I made a lot of assumptions about what the viewer would know, both about what a flat tax is and how it isn’t fair. I think that someone who doesn’t necessarily know what a flat tax is and doesn’t have the background of what my op-ed says could be confused about what exactly the cartoon is trying to say. I definitely drew my cartoon to argue that a flat tax isn’t fair, but I think that in the future I could do it in a way that is more clear and more straight to the point. I do think that my drawing of the issue definitely strengthened my stance on the issue, but I think next time I would make my cartoon more clear in what it was arguing.