Paper #2 Assignment: A Curriculum of Travel

English 1113

Paper #2: A Curriculum of Travel

INTRO: For our second conversation paper, I want you to become part of a ‘real world’ conversation about travel, one that could actually impact you here at ECU. Imagine that ECU, like many other universities, wants to institute a mandatory one semester travel-abroad requirement. This states that you have to spend at least one semester studying or serving in another country as part of your normal tuition. The idea behind this is that travel will help you become “a citizen of the world” (Steves), assist you in your personal “search for meaning” (Budd), and help us participate “in the illusion of another life” (Chayka).

PROMPT: The university has invited you, a first-year student, to weigh in on the discussion: should the class of 2025 be the first class to have this international requirement? In this paper, you’ll have to make a recommendation, responding to the conversation of travel as we’ve discussed in class. Your audience is other students who don’t yet know the conversation of travel and why they should care (or support) your views. How can you explain to them why it matters? Some questions to consider are:

• Does travel make you a better person? Who thinks so?
• Is travel an essential part of anyone’s “education?”
• Is travel a way to ‘give back’ to the world as a first-world country?
• Is it fair to make travel part of an already jam-packed curriculum? Is it more important for some majors than others?
• Could travel help you find your major and calling in life? Or would it simply delay your graduation?
• Is travel too dangerous and/or irresponsible in the age of COVID and climate change? Why contribute to more “overtourism”?
• How have your own experiences of travel shaped your response to this question?

SOURCES: You should use at least TWO primary sources from our book both to help illustrate the conversation and/or to provide NAYSAYER responses. Remember the Naysayer is the person who has another point of view than yours. If you think travel is important, think of people who might not agree with you and why (and some of our essays might offer this perspective). Similarly, if you’re against travel as part of the curriculum, why might people like Steves and Budd disagree? Or any of our previous authors? Additionally, you should use at least TWO secondary sources to help expand your conversation. These should be outside articles about travel, college, careers, COVID, climate change, etc. We’ll talk about finding sources in class on Thursday.

REQUIREMENTS

• At least 3-4 pages double-spaced, though you can do more
• Must use at least 2 primary and 2 secondary sources
• Use of a Naysayer as part of your conversation
• All sources cited according to MLA format with a Works Cited page
• Due TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12^th by 5PM