In this activity, students will select a topic related to globalization and analyze it through four lenses: history, humanities, natural/applied sciences, and social sciences. For their topic, students will write a 1-2 page paper applying each lens by using the language and perspectives of that discipline. Specifically, students will describe their existing knowledge of the topic, then analyze it through the history lens by discussing relevant events and dates. Next, they will apply the humanities lens to discuss the topic's cultural meaning and human expression. Then they will apply the natural/applied sciences lens to examine how the scientific method could be used or how it relates to the physical world. Finally, students will apply the social sciences lens to discuss who

1. Overview In this activity, you will select an issue or
Overview In this activity, you will select an issue or event in globalization and explore it
through the four general education interdisciplinary lenses. By viewing the issue/event
through these lenses, you will gain insight into how the interconnected nature of
globalization affects society. The four general education interdisciplinary lenses are history,
humanities, natural and applied sciences, and social science. History is the study of the past
and its connection to the present. It encompasses content, memories, and events situated in
time. Humanities is the study of cultures’ creative expression and contemplates metaphor,
experience, and meaning. Natural and applied sciences study the material world grounded
in the scientific method. Social sciences study human relationships and social structures
grounded in demographic and statistic measurements. When we look at an event in our
lives, we often jump between different frameworks to make sense of it. For instance, if we
attend a music concert we might move from an artistic lens (How did they create the
musical score?) to a technical lens (How does all the lighting work?) to a financial lens (How
much money do the performers earn?). Similarly, looking through the general education
interdisciplinary lenses can help us see things from other perspectives by giving us a
conscious way to analyze them, helping to broaden our perspective. This assignment
prepares you to choose a topic and lens for your project by first applying all four lenses.
Before completing this activity, review the Project Guidelines and Rubric to know exactly
what you will be working on. You may still change your choice of topic until the next
module. Directions For this activity, you will write a short paper on a globalization topic of
your choice. It could be a topic to globalization that you have personally experienced or
that you are interested in knowing more about. Review the module resources and visit the
IDS 401 Library Guide for guidance on selecting and narrowing a topic. After selecting your
topic, do some preliminary research to ensure that you can address the required elements
of your project. In your paper, you must apply each lens to your topic by using its language
and perspectives. You are not required to answer each question below the rubric criteria
but may use them to better understand the criteria and guide your thinking and writing.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria: Describe your existing
knowledge about your topic in globalization. You might describe your personal experience
with the topic, what you learned in school, or what your assumptions are about the topic.
Ask, what do I know (or think I know)? Apply the history lens to your topic. Using the
language of history as it is defined in your resources and academic journals, how would you
write about your topic? What events and dates have occurred that are important to your

2. topic? Has the significance of the topic diminished or shifted with time? Who are the
authors of the historical record(s) to your topic? Apply the humanities lens to your topic.
Using the language of the humanities as it is defined in your resources, and as it is used in
humanities-focused journals, how would you write about your topic? What meaning does
your topic have within cultures? How do people express themselves with regards to your
topic? What are people’s lived experiences with your topic? Apply the natural and applied
sciences lens to your topic. Using the language of the natural and applied sciences as it is
defined in your resources, and as it is used in natural and applied sciences–focused journals,
how would you write about your topic? How might the scientific method be used to
examine some aspect of your topic? How might your topic relate to the physical or material
world? Are there any challenges to viewing your topic objectively? Apply the social science
lens to your topic. Using the language of the social sciences as it is defined in your resources,
and as it is used in social science–focused journals, how would you write about your topic?
Who is affected by your topic? How might your topic affect interpersonal relationships?
What social structures and systems relate to your topic? What to Submit Submit your short
paper as a 1- to 2-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New
Roman font, and one-inch margins. Sources should be cited according to APA style. Consult
the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.