African Research Project

Students will research one of the following events/crises in Africa: Egyptian political upheaval of early 2011, the Sudan/Darfur genocide, the Rwanda-Burundi genocide, and the South African apartheid. Research and the presentation will be done in groups. Tasks should be delegated according to students’ strengths and interests. The project is worth a total of 60 points. Presentations will last from Monday, March 7th, to Thursday, March 10th.

Content (30 points)
• Include a map showing where your country is in Africa
• Brief background of the country’s history (Include what led up to the event/crisis you are studying)
• Be able to answer the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How questions for your event/crisis
• Many visuals, such as photographs and/or video clips (Content must be appropriate, such as no nudity, swearing, etc. If you’re unsure if something is appropriate or not, ask your teacher before sharing it in your presentation.)
• Discuss how this event/crisis impacts the country, continent, and the world

Presenting (10 points)
Student presentations will last the entire class period (about 40 minutes). Students should take turns sharing during the presentation. Photographs can be shown in a PowerPoint slideshow or simply in an MS Windows slideshow. If video clips are shown, they should not dominate the presentation. Instead, they should emphasize and illustrate a point or points made in the talk. Videos are limited to a maximum of 10 minutes of the overall presentation.

Students are welcome to bring in songs, show artwork, bring in food, etc. to supplement their presentations if they choose, though these are not necessary.

Points will be given for a well-organized presentation with good flow of material. In other words, one segment should segue nicely into the next. (Good transitions!) The presentation should be informative, very visual, and engaging. Students should confidently share about their topics, which shows understanding of the material. Also important are good eye contact with the audience, and a clear, loud speaking voice.

References (10 points)
Students should provide a comprehensive list of all sources used for the presentation. Sites like Wikipedia are not sufficient. Students are encouraged to use both Internet and non-Internet based sources. Be sure to only cite credible sources for your research. References should be listed in APA format. (See attached sheets for how to use APA for references.)

Create a Quiz (5 points)
The group should create 15 multiple choice questions (with answers) that will be used to give a test after all groups have presented.

Group Work (5 points)
All students are expected to participate in the project. It is important that tasks are delegated. No one should sit by and let everyone else do the work, nor should someone do all the work himself/herself. Students will grade their classmates on their participation in the project.