Library Resources
Virtual Reference Collection
eLibrary
Facts.com
World News Digest
Newsday
Proquest Historical New York Times (1851-)
Proquest Multiple Databases (includes NY Times-current and other newspapers and periodicals))
SIRS researcher
Gale Cengage Learning Databases
Student Resource Center
Online Catalog
Academic Integrity
NoodleTools Citation System
Citation Machine
Big 6 Information Skills
Introduction
Every day various news organizations report on events and trends that relate to this AP World History course. Careful analysis of such events will give you a better understanding history's recurring themes and the changes over time that have made the world what it is. This project is designed to help you attain such an understanding.
The Assignment
Select one of the following themes in world history we have followed throughout this course. Once you have selected your theme, check with various news outlets to obtain information on your topic. You will be required to:
-Find and analyze 3-5 articles
-Save each article and place all articles into a folder
-Write a 5-7 page, typed paper reporting on the theme and make a calculated prediction as to which way you think it will go in the near future.
Possible Themes
Migration/movement of people, refugees. Examples: immigration from Asia to Europe/U.S., immigrants trying to cross the Channel Tunnel, Mexicans heading to the U.S., Africans heading for Europe.
Ethnic/religious conflict. Examples: Northern Ireland/Irish Republican Army, Middle East/Palestine.
Environmental issues. Examples: global warming, pollution, ozone layer depletion, El Niño.
Medical and health issues. Examples: AIDS, cancer, Ebola, stem cell research.
Human rights. Examples: the Balkans/Kosovo/Serbia, Chechnya (Russia), Falun Gong (China), Tibet -- OR -- gender issues/women's rights.
Communications technology. Examples: communication satellites, cell phones, Palm pilots, satellite phones, Internet communication and business.
Recommended Sources: You are NOT limited to these suggestions!
New York Times newspaper
The Economist magazine
Time
U.S. News and World Reports
MSNBC.com
CNN.com
ABCNEWS.com
Discovery News
British Broadcasting Company
Task
Once you have compiled all the articles and have analyzed them thoroughly, you will probably have noticed several trends or commonalities. Even though the events you found occur at different places throughout the world, you will notice similar trends in a wide variety of locations. An example of this is the impact of AIDS in both Africa and Asia. Though these areas are vastly different culturally, politically, and economically, similarities in how each region faces the problem of AIDS will be easy to spot. If you choose ethnic conflict in Russia and the Middle East, the same parallels will emerge. This should work for any topic you select.
Some historical examples you may wish to consider when comparing your modern trend with the past:
Migration: Irish potato famine, Columbian exchange, Europeans and African slaves in the Western Hemisphere.
Conflict: the Crusades fought between European Christians and Arab Muslims.
Environmental issues: impact of the Industrial Revolution, European crops coming to the New World, New World crops in Africa and Asia, the potato.
Health: the Plague in Athens, Black Plague in Europe and Asia, smallpox in the New World, influenza pandemic after WWI.
Slavery: Arab slavery, Atlantic slave trade, caste system in India.
Communication: Egyptian hieroglyphs and scribes, Battle of Marathon, Great Wall of China, block printing in China, moveable type printer (Gutenberg), telegraph and telephone.
Paper
Papers will be 5-7 pages plus your bibliography. You MUST use 2-3 resources from the Library (Mr. Miller will introduce you to these resources).
10-12pt font Arial or Times New Roman
We will have 3 class days in the Information Center to work on your research and learn proper research and paper writing skills(Thursday, May 20, Friday, May 21 and Monday, May 24)
This paper can be compared to a Change Over Time essay, in that you will explain the issue, then write about it in the modern world and then research and report on its historical trend. Make sure you include changes and continuities!
Papers will be due NO later than Wednesday, June 9!!!! (Late Papers will lose 10 points for each day they are late!)
