Some possible questions to consider for this essay are:
What are the connections between the different histories, struggles and experiences? Whose struggles continue?
Why do they continue? Who are the protagonists in the documentaries? What are their defeats, or successes?
What do are your thoughts about the documentaries? What do are your thoughts about the readings?
What is your opinion of the origins of the nations of Latin America?
For this first essay, connect the readings from weeks 1-2 to the following documentaries:
1) 500 nations: Episode 2 of Disc 1 and Episode 3 of Disc 2.
2) When the Mountains Tremble
