Exploring South America

Group Project Details

The Problem

One of your classmates is trying to decide where to attend university.

She/he has limited her decision to 8 countries in South America.

Your job is to research 1 of the 8 countries and decide which is best for she/he.

Experts

Each team will have 3 members:

Geography Expert

Cultural Expert

History/Government Expert

2 teams will have 4 members. These teams will split the History/Government

Expert position between two students.

Resources

You can use any resources you like as long as they are accurate.

Here are a few examples:

Canadian Cultural Profile Site http://www.settlement.org/cp/english/

CIA Factbook http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Altapedia http://www.atlapedia.com/index.html

Geography Expert Responsibilities

Find a map of South America and include it in your presentation. Name the country you are researching and show where it is located in

South America? What other countries and major bodies of water surround the

country? What are some of the major landforms and water forms of the

country? Describe the climate and terrain (landscape) of the country. List some of the major cities in this country and include pictures in

your presentation. List some of the major agricultural products and industries of the

country. Include some pictures of these. List the major exports and imports of the country.

Cultural Expert Responsibilities

What is the population of the country? What are the languages spoken in this country? What religions are practiced in this country? What ethnic (cultural) groups live in this country? Describe the culture of the country. What are some of the foods unique to this country? Describe family life in this country. What is education like in this country? For example, Is education

important in this country? Is education free? How long do children attend school? Does the majority of the population obtain some kind of education?

What are some of the major sports and recreation in the country?

History/Government Expert Responsibilities

Give a brief description of any historical dates celebrated each year. For example, Independence Day.

Describe the flag of the country. Include a picture. What type of government does the country have? In which city is the capital located? Include a picture. What is the leader of the country called? Who is the current leader of the country and how long

have they been in office? Briefly describe any significant historical events that have

occurred in this country.

PowerPoint Storyboard

Using the research conducted by each member of your team, you will use the PowerPoint storyboard to write out the information you will put into each slide.

This will be the first part of your assignment and will be due at a later date.

Use the information on each slide to choose the best image.

Images

Using Google Images Search or some other image search, look for an image that you will use for your slide.

Typically you will not want to use more than one image per slide.

PowerPoint

You will use PowerPoint to create your slides.

Begin by creating your text, using

bullets or numbers to organize the information you will share.

Add images or objects to your slides.

Video

I would encourage you to use video only if you have the capability to download and insert video into your PowerPoint.

PowerPoint

Review your slides and consider how you want your classmates to see them presented.

Consider using some slide animations or transitions

But remember to keep it simple and professional.

Presentation

Your presentations must be at least 10 minutes and no more than 20 minutes.

Each member of your team must contribute to the research and participate in the presentation.

You will submit your presentations to me before you present to the class.

This project is worth 100 points and will contribute to the Projects/Essays portion of your overall grade.

Remember, your presentation is meant to share important information to help your classmates understand a new country and appreciate it as a possible home.

Advice

Make this presentation appealing to people your age.

Use music, images, video, etc.

Your presentation should be exciting and interesting.

It should make someone want to live in that country.

It should also make them aware of the negative side of living in that country.

Evaluation

Unsatisfactory

Needs Improvement Satisfactory Excellent

Research Shallow research,

Too few sources

Below average research

Somewhat varied sources

Well researched

Many sources

Complete research

Many sources

Many points of view

Storyboard and planning

Little or no planning

Some planning Minimum amount of planning

Very well planned

Content Lacks detail Some detail Good detail Excellent detail

Use of technology

Non-creative with no purpose

Some creativity with some purpose

Good creativity and an obvious purpose

Excellent creativity and a guided purpose

Overall final project

Inconsistent and inappropriate

Somewhat

consistent and

appropriate

Consistent and

appropriate

Consistent,

creative and

appropriate

TEAM AND COUNTRY ASSIGNMENTS

Argentina

Jana Al Bahar: Geography Expert

Jena Al Essa: Cultural Expert

Mohammad Al Thaher: Government/History Expert

Bolivia

Khaled Al Barqawi: Geography Expert

Maryam Mulla Ali: Cultural Expert

Mariam Al Sayegh: Government/History Expert

Brazil

Ahmad Al Mutawa: Geography Expert

Lulwa Al Ghanem: Cultural Expert

Lulwa Zainal: Government Expert

Aziz Al Sabah: History Expert

Colombia

Aisha Al Saqabi: Geography Expert

Faisal Al Wazzan: Cultural Expert

Hana Al Munayes: Government/History Expert

Ecuador

Mohsen Abdulrazaq: Geography Expert

AlZain Al Marzouq: Cultural Expert

Dina Al Qusous: Government/History Expert

Peru

Mohamed Al Rashed: Geography Expert

Bader Al Essa: Cultural Expert

Dima Al Tawari: Government Expert

Farrah Al Saleh: History Expert

Uruguay

Bandar Bouresly: Geography Expert

Mariam Al Mutawa: Cultural Expert

Noor Al Mukhled: Government/History Expert

Venezuela

Shurouq Al Hunaidi: Geography Expert

Rawan Al Monawer: Cultural Expert

Yasmine Dustour: Government/History Expert

Storyboard

See example handout.

Bibliography

Entire Website

Author, A. A. (Year, Month day). Title of web site. Retrieved from http://homepage URL

Example:

McLean, B. (2006). Child and adolescent psychology services: Learning disability & ADHD assessment for children and adults. Retrieved from http://www.newfoundlandpsychology.com/

Page/Document on a Website Author, A. A. (Year, Month day). Title of page/document. In Title of web site. Retrieved from http://URL to specific page/document

Example:

Rose, C. (2012, February 8). How to write citations and bibliographies in APA style. In Memorial University libraries. Retrieved from http://www.library.mun.ca/guides/howto/apa.php

Important Dates

We will spend October 8 – 10 researching in the library.

You should also plan to research at home. I will also give you some class time to research. Your PowerPoint storyboard and

bibliography will be due October 11. Each expert will submit their own storyboard

and bibliography. Your finished presentation will be due to me by

October 14.

Reflection

After all presentations are finished, each student will write a 1-page, in class essay telling me which school you would pick for university based on class presentations.