AFRICAN COUNTRY

RESEARCH PROJECT

Name:
________________________
World Studies Period:
___________
Assigned Country:

______________
Final Project Due Date:
__________

Introduction
Throughout the unit we are learning about many different cultures and
civilizations from Africas past. These different cultures were shaped
by several factors including climate and geography, cultural diffusion,
and colonization by European nations.
For this research project you will be assigned one African country to
research. You will find information about your countrys geography,
economy, and political system, and also examine many of the cultural
beliefs, customs and traditions, and daily life practices of people
living there. Finally, you will research a current issue that is impacting
peoples lives in that country today.

You may choose from the following options to showcase your research:

A 3-5 minute Photo Story video that combines recorded narration

with images about your country.
A Power Point about your country accompanied by a 3-5 minute oral
presentation.
A tri-fold exhibit or a poster about your country accompanied by a
3-5 minute oral presentation.

Other Project Details:

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You will have a total of three days in the Media Center to conduct your
research and complete this notes packet. You will be expected to conduct
additional research and create your final project at home.

You will cite the sources you used as part of your research in a bibliography
created with Noodle Tools.

This project replaces a final exam grade for the second quarter.

Research Resources (Also on class

website)
Name

URL

U.S.
Department
of States
Country
Background
Notes
U.S.
Department
of the
Armys
Country
Studies.
United
Nations
Cyberschool
bus

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/

CIA- The
World
Factbook
Culture
Grams

Description

http://countrystudies.us/

http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/ind
ex.shtml

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworld-factbook/

http://online.culturegrams.com/

Click Country
Profiles drop-down
box on right side
Scroll down to select
your country.

NOT ALL COUNTRIES IN

AFRICA ARE REPRESENTED. IF
YOUR COUNTRY IS NOT
LISTED, YOU CANNOT USE
THIS SITE.

Click Country at a
Glance link on left
side of page.
Select your country on
the map of Africa.
Click on continent of
Africa on world map.
Click on your assigned
country to view
information
Use World Edition. Click
on the continent of Africa and
then your country.
Username: mcps
Password: mcps

Britannica
Online
School
Edition

http://school.eb.com/

Username: mcps
Password: search
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KMLFactbook

http://www.kmlfactbook.org/#&db=ciafb&ta (Does not work on school

computers.)
ble=2002&col=2008&
Use Google Earth to display 3D models of statistical data
from countries around the
world.

If it Were My
Home

http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/#featured

Gapminder

http://www.gapminder.org/

Compare your country to the

United States.

View visual displays of data

comparing countries from
around the world.

Africa Current Issues Websites

The following websites are good places to find information for the Current Issue portion
of your project.

SIRS Knowledge Source: www.sks.sirs.com (START HERE

FIRST!!)
To access from school:

Go to 7. Media in the School Menu.

Open the Online Resources folder.

Open SIRS Knowledge Source Quick Search.

Click on SIRS Renaissance.

Enter your country name in the search box. You will be directed to a list of various topics
on the country.

Click a topic to browse articles.

To access from home: Go to http://ars.sirs.com/denied?sks.sirs.com/%3F

You will have to enter the User ID and password below:
User ID: mcps
Password: mcps

Africa Online News: http://www.afrol.com/

Scroll down to Archives on the left side of the page and click By Country. Click the name of
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your country or your country on the map of Africa to view an archive of news articles.

Human Rights Watch Africa: http://www.hrw.org/en/africa

Click Countries. Select your country on the map of Africa to view reports and articles dealing
with Human Rights topics.

All Africa: http://allafrica.com/

Click the Regions/Countries drop down box on the right side of the page. Choose your country
to browse articles on various topics.

Project Checkpoints
You will receive a homework grade on the following days for having
each part of the project completed. These grades are separate from
the final project grade, and are intended to ensure that you are
keeping up the pace on the project.
Section of Packet Due

Due Date (Portion

of packet will be
checked)

The Geography and Climate

The Economy
The People: Demographics
Colonial History and Political
System
Culture
Current Issue
Pictures (You do not need to
bring in the actual picturesonly
the picture description sheet in
this packet)
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Bibliography (minimum of four

sources; name, date, and period
at top of the page)
You will hand this bibliography
in to me on this date.
A minimum of 7 note-cards due
for presentation OR Photo Story
storyboard (You will practice
your presentation in groups and
receive peer feedback)
Class Presentation Date: Photo
Story, PowerPoint, trifold, or
poster due

(Exam Review Day)

(Class Exam Day)

Power points must be submitted

using the Submit Assignments
page on the class website 24
hours before your presentation
date. Save the ppt as your
name. Photo Story must be
exported to a Windows Media
File and saved to your own flash
drive.

Terms to Know
Review the terms belowthey are important to the research you will be
conducting about your country.

Demographics: The statistical characteristics about the people living in a country.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): the total value of all goods and services produced
within a country during a given period. GDP is often used as a measure of the
economic strength of a country. GDP is measured in U.S. dollars.
GDP per capita: the value of goods and services per person produced in a country.
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Poverty Line: the minimum level of income necessary to have an adequate standard
of living in a country.
Life Expectancy: the length of time in years the average person is expected to
live.
Literacy Rate: the proportion of the population over the age of 15 that can read
and write.
Infant Mortality Rate: The number of infant deaths (before 1 year old) per every
1,000 births.
Colony: a territory under direct political control by a country in another part of
the world.
Cultural Diffusion: The process in which culture spreads from one society to
another.

Steps for Creating a Noodletools Account

Requirements:

A minimum of four sources cited in bibliography (All websites used for information or
pictures should be included)

Uses MLA Starter format (Selected when you first created the bibliography)

Entries are in alphabetical order by the first letter of each entry (Noodletools does this
automatically when you export your bibliography to a Word Document)

Follow the steps below to create a free Noodle Tools account. THE NOODLE
TOOLS ACCOUNT YOU CREATE CAN BE USED FOR ALL FUTURE PROJECTS YOU
CREATE IN ANY CLASS, ANY GRADE, THAT REQUIRE BIBLIOGRAPHIES. (This will
come in very handy)
URL to access Noodle Tools from home:

http://noodletools.com/login.php
To access Noodle Tools from school:
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1. Go to #7 on the school menu (Media)

2. Open the Online Resources folder
3. Double-Click on Noodle Tools icon

To set up a free Noodle Tools account:

1. Click the Create Personal ID button under the Register or Sign in section.
2. Select An account linked to a school/library subscription or trial and click
register.
Enter the Username and password below in the corresponding boxes:
School/Library Username:
School/Library Password:

mcpsrparks
mcpsmd

3. Select I am a student or library patron

4. Fill out the rest of the registration page. You must create a Personal ID and password
it is recommended that you use the same login information you use to access the
school computers.

Write down your ID and Password! I will not have access to this
information!
ID: _____________________________________________________________
Password: ________________________________________________________
Creating Bibliography Entries with Noodle Tools
MAKE SURE YOU SELECT MLA STARTER FOR YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY!
1.

Once logged in to your Noodle Tools account, click Create New Project in
the top right corner of the screen.

2.

Select MLA Starter and name your Bibliography Africa Project in the
Description box. Click Create Project.

When you sign in to Noodle Tools in the future, your bibliography will be
saved as Africa Project. Just click the link to open it and edit it.
3.

Click the Bibliography icon in the bottom left of the screen.

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4.

Choose a citation type by clicking the drop down box that says Select a
Citation Type. Choose Website and click Create Citation.

5. Enter the following information ONLY for the website. Leave all other boxes
blank.
a. Specific Page or Article Title (Written at the top of the website
article. In most cases it is the name of your country)
b. Name of Website (Written in italics on page 3 of this packet)
c. Publisher or Sponsor of the Site (Organization that created the
website)
d. URL (http://)
e. Date you Viewed it (The date you viewed the site for information)
6.

When all information is entered, click Generate Citation. Your entry has
been saved. Rememberyou need a minimum of three citations for the
project.

7.

To print your bibliography when all citations have been created: Click
Print/Export and select Print/Export to Word. This will send your
citations to a Microsoft Word Document. Add your name, date, and period to
the top, print it out, and turn it in to me on the day of your presentation.

The Geography and Climate

Describe the physical geography of your country. (Include information about the
landscape: mountains, lakes, rivers, plains, etc.)
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_________________________________________________________________________________________
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What is the climate like in your country? (Describe the temperature, precipitation,
seasons, and other important information about the climate).
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What is one major physical feature in your country? (One of your pictures for this
section should be a picture of one of these physical features.)
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The Economy
What agricultural products and industries are most important to your countrys
economy?
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What is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in your country? Where does
your countrys GDP per capita rank among other countries in the world?
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_________________________________________________________________________________________
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What percentage of your countrys population lives below the poverty line?
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What is a major economic problem your country is facing? (YOUR CURRENT ISSUE
SHOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THIS ECONOMIC PROBLEM)
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The People: Demographics

What religions are practiced and what percentage of people practice each religion?
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What is the life expectancy in your country?
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_________________________________________________________________________________________
_
How many years of formal education do the average citizen of your assigned country
receive?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_
What is the literacy rate in your country?
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_
What is the infant mortality rate in your country?
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_
Describe one significant health issue affecting the people in your country? (YOUR
CURRENT ISSUE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THIS HEALTH PROBLEM)
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Comparison to the United States: Use the website, If it were My Home and describe
four interesting facts that compare your assigned country to the United States.
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Colonial History and Political

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System
Which European nation controlled your country as a colony? What was the name of
the colony?
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When did colonial rule begin and how long did it last?
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When did your country win independence? Briefly describe how it won independence
(war, treaty, etc.)
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What type of government does your country have?
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Include a picture of your countrys flag. What do the patterns, symbols, or colors on
your countrys flag represent? (ONE OF YOUR PICTURES MUST BE A PICTURE OF YOUR
COUNTRYS FLAG)
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_________________________________________________________________________________________
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The People: Culture

What are some customs and traditions in your country? (Provide at least five specific
examples of your choosing)
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Include at least five details describing significant characteristics daily life/lifestyle of
people living in your country. (May include recreation, diet, marriage, housing, the arts,
etc.)
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Describe two examples of how cultural diffusion has influenced people in your
country. (Past or present)
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_________________________________________________________________________________________
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Current Issue
Identify an important issue or problem affecting the lives of people in your
assigned African country. The current issue you choose may be one that is
currently in the news, or has affecting peoples lives within the past few
years. Refer to the Africa Current Issues Websites page of this packet for
links to websites with current news articles about your country.
Examples of Significant Current Issues Include:
-AIDS, Malaria, or other
diseases and health problems
-Access to supplies of clean
water
-Education and literacy
-Human Rights violations
-Womens rights/gender
inequality
-Civil War (war between
different groups within a
country)
-Desertification

-Deforestation (logging)
-Poverty/unemployment
-Wildlife Conservation
-Urbanization
-Government Corruption
-Population Growth
-Religious/ethnic/cultural
conflict

Issue:
________________________________________________________________________
Describe what the issue is and how it impacts people living in your country:
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
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The Pictures
You are required to include a minimum of twelve pictures with your project. THESE SHOULD NOT BE
CLIPART IMAGES, BUT SHOULD BE PHOTOGRAPHS OR OTHER VISUALS THAT RELATE
SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR COUNTRY.
See the breakdown of images you are required to have in your project in the chart below. Access
pictures from the following resources (Google Images is not the best method to find images for this
project.):

Britannica Image Quest http://quest.eb.com (Username: rosaparksms Password: learn)

Culture Grams (See Photo Gallery link on the right hand side of the page)
http://online.culturegrams.com/ (Username: mcps Password: mcps)

Section of Project

Description of Picture(s)

Source (Culture Grams,

Image Quest, or other)

The Geography and

Climate
(Minimum of 1 picture
must be of major physical
feature in country)
The Economy
(Minimum of 1 picture)
The People:
Demographics
(Minimum of 1 picture)
Colonial History and
Political System
(Minimum of 1 picture
must be of the countrys
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flag)
The People: Culture
(Minimum of 6 pictures
illustrating customs,
traditions, or daily life
practices)
Current Issue
(Minimum of 1 picture)
REMEMBERTHE MORE IMAGES YOU INCLUDE, THE MORE INTERESTING YOUR
PROJECT WILL BE FOR THE AUDIENCE!!

SOME TIPS FOR YOUR PROJECTS/PRESENTATIONS:

Projects:
1.

Avoid large paragraphs of text and small font sizes in the

Power Point or poster/tri-fold. Stick to the essential text, but
elaborate on your information in the presentation.

2.

Feel free to use animations, sounds, etc. in your Power Point,

but do not let these distract from your presentation.

3.

Make pictures large enough for the audience to see. (A full

page in Power Point is recommended)

4.

You may organize your information any way you likeyou do

not have to use the order supplied in this packet. Organize
your information in a way that makes sense to you.

5.

If you are recording narration using Photo Story, remember to

speak clearly into the microphone and check to make sure the
audio is set to a reasonable level.

Presentations:
1.

Use note-cards with easily-readable, essential information on

each. Use only the front side of the note-cards and number
them in the order you will present the information. Do not
cram too much information onto the note-cards, and do not
simply read a speech from the cards. Glance down at them
periodically to find key information or see where your
presentation will go next.
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2.

Practice in front of the mirror or a group of people multiple

times. This can help you confirm you are using eye contact, will
ensure that you speak clearly and do not stumble over words,
and will help you reduce fidgety movements during the
presentation.

3.

Begin with an engaging introduction that introduces your

country. Perhaps you show your countrys location, read a few
interesting facts, etc.

4.

Elaborate on information in your presentation. This will help

keep the listener engaged. Do not simply spout out
information, but instead make meaning of it. Anybody can
simply say, 80% of the people in my country live below the
poverty line, but go furtherwhat does this mean for the
people and what does it say about your country.

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