Download File - LRHS Media Center

Davis
World History
Contemporary Issues Project
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(Chapter 32, 33 & 34)
Since the Cold War ended in 1991, many new problems have appeared throughout the world.
Some of these problems were created from historical events.
Some of these problems are variations of problems that have persisted throughout human history.
What: A better understanding of how historical forces have shaped the contemporary
world and to address issues facing the world today.
Value: 100 points
When:
How:
1. Select a contemporary problem facing the world.
Below is a list of some of the problems facing the world today, but it is not exhaustive.
If there is a topic that you would like to research that is not listed below, please ask me:
Global Warming and its effects upon animal species
(such as declining honey bees)
Global Warming and its effects upon human living
patterns (including natural disasters---hurricanes,
typhoons, flooding, etc.)
Effects of Overpopulation upon cities (within one country
or a region or the world; e.g. Pakistan)
Effects of Overpopulation upon the environment (within
one country or a region or the world; e.g. India)
Industrial pollution (such as the effects of the BP oil spill
in the Gulf of Mexico, fracking in Pennsylvania, industrial
dumping, OR describe one country or a region facing
great environmental damage)
Deforestation of the Brazilian Rain Forests
Political Terrorism (choose one specific group:
Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Colombian right-wing
death squads, Tamil Tigers, OR Chechnya rebels, etc.)
Eco-Terrorism (select a country that has been the target
of environmental terrorists)
Technology’s Effects on Society (choose one or two new
technologies and describe how they have affected
peoples OUTSIDE of the US)
Revolution in a particular country (e.g., in Egypt, Libya,
OR Syria)
War (choose one recent conflict, such as Russia’s
takeover of parts of Ukraine)
Human Rights abuses (choose one; such as Israel’s
persecution of Palestinian Arabs, China’s crackdown on
Tibet, Uganda’s discriminatory laws against
homosexuals, OR Turkey’s discrimination against ethnic
Kurds. etc.)
Contemporary slave trade/human trafficking (choose one
country or region)
Genocide in Darfur (Sudan, Africa)
Global Epidemic/Disease (choose one; e.g. AIDS,
MERS, OR avian flu)
World Poverty (choose one country facing great poverty
today, such as Sierra Leone)
Landmine removal in Vietnam
Arms control (such as attempts to prevent the Iran from
acquiring nuclear weapons)
Child Labor issues (e.g. in China, Vietnam, OR
Honduras, etc.)
Totalitarian Governments (choose one country, such a
Chavez in Venezuela)
Women’s Rights issues in a particular country (e.g., in
Iran, Iraq, OR Afghanistan)
Effects of Globalization and Multi-national Corporations
(choose one MNC OR choose one country or region that
has been affected by globalization, such as the US,
Mexico, OR China, etc.)
Instability in the Middle East (select one country, such as
sectarian violence in Iraq)
Instability of African governments (select one African
country, such as Ethiopia or Congo)
Instability of South America’s governments (select one
S. American country, such as Colombia)
Impact of Cold War policies on today’s world (such as
the effects upon Angola, etc)
2. After you have chosen and researched your topic, create an account on Voicethread.com.
(The Media Center specialist will provide a tutorial and be on hand to assist you.)
3. You will create a “digital slideshow and narration” using Voicethread (www.voicethread.com; there is also a link from the
LRHS Media Center’s website.) to describe your event and how it was a part of the Cold War.
4. Your Voicethread should include:
 An introduction briefly describing your event/topic
 Which countries were involved in the event/ topic?
 What major individuals were involved in the event/ topic?
 What caused the event/ topic?
 What happened during the event or topic?
 What was the event/ topic’s effects?
 Can your event/topic be resolved? If so, how? If not, why not?
5. Include 1 slide that includes your Bibliography. Minimum of 3 sources from LRHS databases.
6. When you complete your project, submit your Voicethread by clicking “turn in” on the Edmodo assignment, and
paste the hyperlink.
7. After completion of this part, I will provide instructions to the final part of the project, which will include you viewing and
commenting on two other Voicethreads from classmates.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for all requirements & grading procedures
NAME:_____________________________________
WORLD HISTORY: Contemporary Issues Voicethread Project
GRADING RUBRIC
GRAMMAR, MECHANICS, SPELLING, VOICE
VALUE
Spelling errors (-1 per error)
-2 each
Greater than 6 errors
-8
 This includes mechanics errors (run-ons, fragments, etc.), grammar
(punctuation, commas, etc.) errors AND voice (vernacular, personal
pronouns, contractions, transition, etc.) errors.
PLAGIARISM
 Each instance of borrowed or copied information and ideas will be
-8
penalized if missing proper citation/sources.
 Each instance of information/ideas copied from other classmates is
considered plagiarism, regardless of citation.
SCORE EARNED
VOICETHREAD
Chosen topic: _________________________________________
Does Voicethread have a brief introduction describing the event/ topic?
Does your Voicethread have a slide/ page for each of the following:
 Which countries were involved in the event/ topic?
 What major individuals were involved in the event/ topic?
 What caused the event/ topic?
 What happened during the event/ topic?
 What was the event/ topic’s effects?
 Can your event/topic be resolved? If so, how? If not, why not?
VALUE
6
6 = fully
described
with details/
examples
4 = partially
described
without
details/
examples
0=
incorrectly
described or
not included
Does each slide/page have:
 An image or linked video

A brief narration (text or oral)
Does each image/video/information box have your sources listed in a bibliography?
 Sources listed for each image/video/information
 MLA format
 Sources may include your textbook, books, magazines, journals or websites.
 Online sources may be from WCPSS-approved websites (but NOT Wikipedia).
(EXCEPTION: You may use any website for poster images.)
 EVERY IMAGE AND VIDEO MUST BE CITED.
 DO NOT COPY INFORMATION WORD FOR WORD; REWRITE
INFORMATION IN YOUR OWN WORDS
See me with any questions.
SCORE EARNED
COMMENTS:
1 pt. / slide
1 pt. / slide
24
(8 pts /
source)
80
PERIOD:_____
SCORE
SCORE
DAVIS
World History
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Contemporary Issues Voicethread Project
Part 2
Once you have completed your research and created your Voicethread presentation,…
YOU MUST TURN IT IN.
How do you submit your project?
Do both of the follow instructions:
o Go to Edmodo, click “Turn in” on the assignment post ---paste the hyperlink to your Voicethread.
o On Voicethread.com, click “Share”, & share it with Mr. Davis.
_____
After turning in your Voicethread project, choose 2 other classmates’ Voicethreads. You will comment on each.
Your comment for each should compare or contrast your Voicethread’s topic to the one that you are viewing.
Use the Grading Rubric below to make your comments and to complete this final part of your Contemporary Issues
Voicethread Project.
DUE:
VOICETHREAD COMMENTS
Select any 2 classmates’ Voicethread projects.
Post at least 1 comment on each selected Voicethread.
Your comment should:

Compare OR contrast your topic to the selected Voicethread

Provide at least 1 specific detail about your topic

Relate/ connect your topic to the selected Voicethread
VALUE
10 = fully described
with details/
examples
SCORE
8 = partially
described without
details/ examples
6 = incorrectly
described or not
included
0 = no comment
SCORE EARNED
DAVIS
World History




Contemporary Issues Voicethread Project
Part 2
Once you have completed your research and created your Voicethread presentation,…
YOU MUST TURN IT IN.
How do you submit your project?
Do both of the follow instructions:
o Go to Edmodo, click “Turn in” on the assignment post ---paste the hyperlink to your Voicethread.
o On Voicethread.com, click “Share”, & share it with Mr. Davis.
_____
After turning in your Voicethread project, choose 2 other classmates’ Voicethreads. You will comment on each.
Your comment for each should compare or contrast your Voicethread’s topic to the one that you are viewing.
Use the Grading Rubric below to make your comments and to complete this final part of your Contemporary Issues
Voicethread Project.
DUE:
VOICETHREAD COMMENTS
Select any 2 classmates’ Voicethread projects.
Post at least 1 comment on each selected Voicethread.
Your comment should:

Compare OR contrast your topic to the selected Voicethread

Provide at least 1 specific detail about your topic

Relate/ connect your topic to the selected Voicethread
VALUE
10 = fully described
with details/
examples
8 = partially
described without
details/ examples
6 = incorrectly
described or not
included
0 = no comment
SCORE
SCORE EARNED