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