Read the excerpts of Guy Delisle’s travelogues for North Korea and Burma carefully. Then, write a short paper in which you reflect on the different ways governments interact with their citizens by responding to the following questions:
(1) How is life different between North Korea and Burma? (E.g. How does the government interact with its citizens? Are there things one can safely do in one place but not the other?) Make sure to use multiple concrete examples you see in the travelogues.
(2) Where would you rather live, if you had to pick? Why?
Your paper will be evaluated based on 1) the presentation of a clear and persuasive answer to the questions, 2) your ability to support your argument with evidence from course materials, and 3) the clarity and logic of your writing.
Format:
4 pages, double-spaced, using one-inch margins and 12pt Times New Roman font.
General Tips:
You should rely only on the assigned reading materials. Therefore, there is no need for a bibliography.
DO, however, cite sources using the following format: (Burma, page#) or (Pyongyang, page#).
Start your paper with a set-up paragraph. Introduce the reader to the main themes of your paper, clearly state your answer to the questions, and how you will answer them. The set up paragraph should culminate in a thesis statement that clearly summarizes your main point(s).
Clarity and organization are your friends. Organize your points logically. Try to stick to one point per paragraph (state the point in the topic sentence, then build the point with supporting evidence), and make sure to have a short conclusion in which you draw together the strands that you have developed through your paper.
Do not use long quotations.