According to course requirements, all students must contribute the following required elements to the online project. Each of these should include written analysis plus relevant images, maps, online videos, etc..
- At least two personal reflections on things that we did on the trip. Focus for this material can include: What did you learn? What surprised you? How did the actual experience of a site visit or tour reflect or challenge your assumptions? How did an experience on the trip confirm, challenge, or complicate something that you learned in the course readings, lectures or discussions? These should be about 200 words in length and can be added as “comments” to each day’s itinerary.
- An annotation and/or critical analysis of a text, image, or other artifact that we work with in class. We will have a range of artifacts available on the website and you should pick one as your focus (let us know your choice by July 7). The written analysis and annotations should be about 400-500 words in length.
- A mini research or creative project of your own choosing. This will give you the opportunity to pursue deeper research on a historical or contemporary issue in Ireland that you’re interested in or that connects to your other academic work (e.g. an academic minor or some other outside interest). We would like to see a range of creative and inter- or multi-disciplinary projects (and you can look at what other students have done for our classes by checking out the projects from earlier classes here). There are essentially unlimited opportunities here, but some examples include:
- A research project on the history of a building, landmark, or institution that we encounter on the trip (e.g. a research project on Cornelia Wadsworth and Glenveagh Castle or a critical review of the exhibit on Plantation at the Derry Guildhall).
- A critical analysis of a historical document, novel or short story, collection of poetry, or work of music or visual art that connects to Irish Studies but is not on the course syllabus (e.g. a discussion of how a novel by Roddy Doyle or Colm Toibin presents Dublin city life, an analysis of a piece of artwork by Jack Yeats, an account of the recreation of Francis Bacon’s studio at the Hugh Lane Gallery, etc.).
- A mapping project that geographically situates a literary text or historical issue (e.g. a map of famine villages in Connemara, or an analysis of historical maps of Derry from the 16th century to the present).
- A research project on an issue of contemporary relevance in Ireland (e.g. a photographic essay that shows the impact of the 1990s-early 2000s economic boom and bust on the Dublin riverfront or an analysis of the politics of genetically modified food and Irish agriculture).
- A creative project that connects the trip to your own skills and interests (e.g. a thematic photo essay based on an experience or issue that you are interested in or a portfolio of watercolor sketches made during our trip).
- A record of an interview consisting of 4-5 questions asked of someone you meet on the trip who is not from the United States. If you are nervous about an interview, talk to us we can help you develop an alternative.