Samples of Coursework
SPAN 4090: Revolutions of Latin America
In this essay I focus heavily on the significance of the revolutions that occurred in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Cuba following their independence and the role that the United States played in all three. I touch briefly on the back-and-forth shift of power between conservative and liberal government leaders and explain that although these countries emerge from the same European powers, they each follow their own timeline and have different moving parts. Furthermore, during this writing process, I learned the importance of investigating historical events, patterns, and diplomatic relations in order to obtain a more well-rounded understanding of modern dynamics and values within and among different countries.
SPAN 3020: The Gauchos in Argentina
In this report I detail the history of the role the gauchos had in the development of Argentina as the perception of the group varied with the political climate. I offer reflections of the lifestyle and the polarized opinions as a third-party observer of the country and the culture, and I elaborate on my experience visiting a ranch and witnessing traditional folklore dances. After being able to connect what was learned contextually about the gauchos, from being marginalized to being a figurehead, to the tangible aspects, such as participating in traditional activities, I was able to learn more directly about how the past of the country is closely tied to its present conditions and relate that to modern social dynamics that influenced the health disparities seen in the country.