Ø   Purposes:

A. To increase students’ social awareness and research abilities by:

1. selecting a carefully defined social phenomenon/event which they can “observe” personally by participating in it, doing interviews and surveys.
(Note: examples of not feasible topic 1) too broad -- “The difference between Japanese culture and Taiwanese culture”;
2) very difficult to observe: “Iranian college students’ dating ritual” since you may not have access to many Iranian students)      

2. analyzing their experience/data, with the support of academic articles or newspaper discussion;

B. To continue to develop students’ abilities:

1. to work closely with their group mates, and 

2. to present their findings and analysis vividly and engagingly to their fellow students.