preparing a 800-word memorandum addressing an issue in the United States-Latin American relationship, providing a historically informed explanation, discussing the impact on U.S. politics and policies, and making a policy recommendation.

Each student will prepare an 800-word memorandum addressed to the President of the United States of America or another high-level official of the federal government. The memo will examine an issue that concerns the United States- Latin American relationship in regard to questions of crime, drugs, violence, migration, and human rights. The aim of the memo is to teach students how to build a historically informed argument in relation to present-day phenomena that have a considerable impact on U.S. politics and policies. I will explain in class how to structure the memo but in general the document should include a historically informed explanation of the issue, a descriiption of what is at stake for the United States, and a policy recommendation on how to address the problem. In order for a memo to be effective, it should be succinct, clearly written, and policy oriented. Tuesday, May 7 is the deadline to bring your final project before 12:00pm.