Modern Conflict

Task: Using Google Slides teach the class about a modern crisis. Be sure to answer the following questions:

• Why is the conflict happening? (Trace the root causes back to WWI or WWII)
• What impact has this conflict had on the people who live in that country or region?
• What does your group believe we should do about the conflict?

You will work in groups of 3.

This presentation should last 20-25 minutes.

As you structure your presentation please follow this agenda:

Verbal

• Grab their attention. (Why should your audience care?)
• Tell them what you plan on discussing.

Slides

• Present your Google Slides.
• All three people must present. See “goals.”

Group Lead Discussion

• Check to see if your audience “gets it.”
• Lead a 5-10 minute discussion (Prepare Talking Points/Questions)

*When you’re done your group will reflect on the discussion and whether the class understood: why the crisis is happening/the impact it has had on those that live in that country or region/what should be done about it. You will each write a paragraph summarizing three things your group could do differently to improve your presentation.

Topic Options:

• Israel/Palestine Conflict (Zionism, West Bank, Jerusalem, Gaza, PLO, Hamas, 1 state/2 state solutions)
• Cuba (Fidel Castro, Communism, and the Bay of Pigs)
• Iran (Shiite, Sunni, The Shah, Ayatollah Khomeni, Iraq-Iran War)
• Guatemala (Jacobo Arbenz)
• Al Qaeda (Soviet Afghan War, rise of the Mujahadeen, Osama Bin Laden, Saudi Arabia)
• Egypt (Suez Crisis, Six Day War, Yom Kippur War, Revolution of 2011)
• Iraq (Iraq-Iran War, Rise of Sadaam Hussein, Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom)
• Syria Refugee Crisis (Bashar al-Assad, Arab Spring, Refugees)
• ISIS/ISIL (U.S. Invasion of Iraq 2003, 2007 Surge, Arab Spring)

*You must use three books/online journals (not including your text book)

You must provide the teacher with your discussion questions a week before your presentation. You must also write out the answers you're hoping to get.

Goals:

• Create an annotated bibliography with 10-20 resources you plan to use for your project
• Create a visual diagram that depicts the conflict and the causes and effects
• Explain the necessary background to understand the conflict you selected
• Explain the role the United States played in this event
• Discuss the ramifications of U.S. involvement and the current state of that nation/region
• Develop presentation/public speaking skills
• Develop a greater understanding of current conflicts around the world

• You must submit an MLA formatted bibliography.
• The presentation should last 10-20 minutes.
• These projects should be high in quality, visually entertaining, and you should include some kind of audio or video (4 minutes max).
• It should also be written so that a person who has not done the research that you have will know what you are talking about.
• Make sure you check the rubric so that you can maximize your points.

Suggested Steps:

Step 1 (term 2):

• Start a project folder with your group in Google Drive
• Go home and read basic information about your topic for 30-60 minutes.
• Check the textbook for information as well.
• Go online and get a basic understanding of the event.
• Create a list of keywords that will help you find additional information.
• Go to the library and check out books on the topic and country.

Step 2 (term 2):

• Research…research…research.
• Create an annotated bibliography. It must include 10-20 sources that you could utilize for your presentation.
• Annotated Bibliography for High School Students from Totino-Grace High School Library (2 min)

Step 3 (term 3):

• Map out the story of this conflict from your background research. Make this visual. Illustrate clear connections to WWI and WWII.
• Delegate different sections of the research to the members of your group. They should become experts on this portion of your country’s history.
• Discuss with your group how you think you should teach this story to the class. Brainstorm those methods other teachers use that you find particularly effective and have a general plan regarding how you will present your topic.

Step 4 (term 3):

• Create discussion questions about the most important ideas you discussed. Have the students in the class answer the question in small groups and then share out those discussions as a class.

Step 5 (term 3):

• Write reflection paragraphs about how your group can improve moving forward.

Articles to Get Started

Israel/Palestine Conflict (Zionism, West Bank, Jerusalem, Gaza, PLO, Hamas, 1 state/2 state solutions)

• Birth of Israel / Arab/Israeli Conflict from NYT Upfront (article from 2008)
• Middle East, 1916 to Now from NYT Upfront
• Arab-Israeli Conflict 1948-1973 from Middle East Conflict
• PLO and Yasser Arafat from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide
• Jerusalem: Divided City from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide
• The Gaza Strip and West Bank from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide
• Zionism from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide
• One and Two-State Solutions
• What Recognizing Jerusalem Means for the US Role as Mideast Mediator (Dec 6, 2017)
• Europe's Strange Border Anomaly (possible successful model for Jerusalem?) from BBC

Cuba (Fidel Castro, Communism, and the Bay of Pigs)

• Cuban Revolution from NYT Upfront
• Bay of Pigs from NYT Upfront
• Cuba Today from NYT Upfront
• Cuba and the United States from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide

Iran (Shiite, Sunni, The Shah, Ayatollah Khomeni, Iraq-Iran War)

• Iranian Revolution from NYT Upfront
• Iran from Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
• Iran [1925-1979] from The Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
• Iranian Revolution from the Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
• Islamic Republic of Iran [post 1979] from Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World
• Iran-Iraq War from Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
• Iran from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide

Guatemala (Jacobo Arbenz)

• Guatemala from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide
• United Fruit Company Coup from Historic World Events
• Guatemalan Coup Orchestrated by the CIA from Encyclopedia of Labor History Worldwide

Al Qaeda (Soviet Afghan War, rise of the Mujahadeen, Osama Bin Laden, Saudi Arabia)

• Al Queda from Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction
• Soviet Intervention in Afghanistan from Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
• Afghanistan Invaded by Soviets from Historic World Events
• Al Queda from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide
• Osama bin Laden from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide

Egypt (Suez Crisis, Six Day War, Yom Kippur War, Revolution of 2011)

• Arab-Israeli Conflict 1948-1973 from Middle East Conflict
• Arab-Israeli War [Yom Kippur War] from The Cold War
• Suez Crisis from The Cold War 1945-1991
• 6-Day War (Israel-Palestine) from NYT Upfront
• Israel-Egypt Camp David Peace Accords 1979 from NYT Upfront
• Hosni Mubarak Resigns as President of Egypt, Feb 2011 from Historic Global Events

Iraq (Iraq-Iran War, Rise of Sadaam Hussein, Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom)

• Middle East, 1916 to Now from NYT Upfront
• Iraq from History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide
• Iran-Iraq War from Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East
• Saddam Hussein's Ride to Power from War in the Persian Gulf Reference Library
• Gulf War from Military and Defense Encyclopedia
• Operation Iraqi Freedom from War in the Persian Gulf Reference Library
• Prejudice in Iraq: Shiite, Sunni and Kurds from Prejudice in the Modern World
• Iraq War Update [2013] from Gale History in Context

Syria Refugee Crisis (Bashar al-Assad, Arab Spring, Refugees)

• Middle East, 1916 to Now from NYT Upfront
• Syrian Migrant Crisis from NYT Upfront
• Syrian Refugee Crisis from NYT Upfront
• Arab Spring from NYT Upfront
• Syrian Civil War and Chemical Weapons Accusations from Historic World Events
• The Arab Spring Begins from Global Events: Milestone Events Through History
• Refugees in Europe from The Economist
• Bashar al-Assad from Biographical Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa

ISIS/ISIL (U.S. Invasion of Iraq 2003, 2007 Surge, Arab Spring)

• Evolution of ISIS [5 minute video from The New York Times]
• Arab Spring from NYT Upfront
• The Arab Spring Begins from Global Events: Milestone Events Through History
• Can ISIS be Defeated? from NYT Upfront
• Are We Winning the War Against ISIS? from NYT Upfront
• ISIL/ISIS Militants Terrorize Iraq and Syria from Historic World Events
• The Iraq War Begins 2003 from Global Events: Milestone Events Throughout History
• Is the Surge Going to Fizzle? from The Economist

Cold War

• The Cold War 16-10-10