Quick Answer
Your global issue should be significant (matters locally and globally), specific (not just 'war' or 'love'), and genuinely present in both your texts. The best global issues allow for deep analysis and multiple perspectives, not just surface connections.
What You'll Learn
- Specific is better than broad
- Must connect authentically to both texts
- Should allow for multiple perspectives
- Local relevance AND wider significance
What Makes a Good Global Issue?
A strong global issue has several characteristics that allow for sophisticated analysis:
- Specificity: 'The ethics of digital surveillance in democratic societies' rather than just 'technology'
- Scope: Significant at both local and global levels
- Debatable: Allows for multiple perspectives and interpretations
- Present in both texts: Genuinely explored, not superficially tagged on
- Analytical potential: Rich enough to sustain 10 minutes of discussion
Watch Out
Avoid issues so broad they could apply to almost any text. 'Love' or 'war' are too vague - what aspect of love? What dimension of conflict?
Examples of Strong Global Issues
Here are some examples of well-formulated global issues:
- The psychological impact of displacement on identity formation
- How gender roles are constructed and challenged in different cultural contexts
- The tension between individual freedom and collective responsibility
- Representation and erasure of marginalized voices in historical narratives
- The ethics of scientific progress versus human dignity
- How power structures perpetuate or challenge inequality
Connecting Your Texts Through the Issue
The global issue should genuinely connect your literary and non-literary texts, not force them together artificially.
- Both texts should explore the issue substantively
- Consider how each text offers different perspectives
- Look for points of comparison and contrast
- The connection should enable analysis, not just thematic labelling
- Ask: Does this issue illuminate what's interesting about both texts?
Pro Tip
If you're struggling to connect your texts, consider whether you need a different global issue or different texts.