This class focuses on a part of the world that does not regularly receive much media attention on the West. As a result, even generally well-informed individuals can easily miss important news stories and events occurring in the region. However, to become well versed in the political and social circumstances of South Asia as well as in using and engaging with various social media platforms, you will be required to contribute to the production of a class blog entailing posting short essays as well as commenting on posts made by your fellow cadets. Each post revolves around a specific task and requires different engagement on how to present it on the class blog:

• News article: You will need to write a post on a news article related to your assigned country by 1) briefly summarizing the article, 2) offering some analysis/ interesting questions that come out of the article, and 3) providing a link to the article. This post due during the month of September.
• Encryption: You will need to write a creative call for collective action aimed at criticizing the government of your assigned state in a manner that would circumvent any existing censorship laws or laws restricting political participation. This post is due on September 27.
• Blog: You will need to write a post on a blog produced by a resident from your assigned country by 1) briefly summarizing the blog, 2) offering some analysis/ interesting questions that come out of the blog, and 3) providing a link to the blog. This post due during the month of October.
• Tweets: You will need to write 2 posts on 2 separate tweets produced by a public figure residing in your assigned country by 1) briefly contextualizing the tweet, 2) offering some analysis/ interesting questions that come out of the tweet, and 3) providing a link/ full content of the tweet. These posts are due during the months of November and December.