 |
Group Project Assignment #2
“Enemies: Not always what they seem”
Due: Wednesday, March 17
This is a group project assignment. You’ll work in groups of four. Organize your own groups and divide your responsibilities as you see fit.
We'll have 6 groups of 4 plus one group of 5 in our class. You'll "present" your results in class on Wednesday, March 17. With 75 minutes in the class period, each group will have 10-minutes to present.
Preamble: In the rare air of international politics, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish "enemies" from "friends." You’re about to discover how difficult.
Research: With your group, choose one of the following "enemies." Research your "enemy's" behavior, philosophy, motivations and goals. Prepare a presentation to deliver in class on Wednesday, March 17, in which some members of your group portray your subject as "enemy,” while others make the case for your subject as "friend.” Your presentation may consist of “speeches” given by each side, or a “debate” between opposing sides, or, perhaps, in other creative ways. You may use props, costumes or anything else you deem useful. Some ideas:
- a “press conference” in which representatives of each view make their case
- a “prison cell” in which “prosecutors” attempt to obtain information from their captives.
- a “courtroom” in which the subject is on trial
- a “shouting match” or argument (TV talk show?) over tactics among dissidents in the subject itself
- a series of “news bulletins” conveying conflicting views of your subject
- a “panel” presentation to a classroom
- Feel free to dream up other formats!
Your presentation should aim at 10-minutes, but class on March 17 may extend a bit beyond the normal time to allow all student presentations to take place. Because of your limited time, you’ll have to be concise. Your presentation must make clear to the class the essential facts about your "enemy," the reasons they might be seen by the United States from different points of view, and the motivations for their behavior.
It won’t always be easy to see these individuals from two points of view; be creative and broad-minded. Don't limit yourself to military or political considerations; remember economic and cultural competition. In some cases, you may have to place yourself in the timeframe when these "enemies" were active; it may help you discern the “good-guy/bad-guy” distinction.
Write:
Your group must submit a written bibliography of sources used to develop your presentation, and a list of the members of your group and their responsibilities in your project. There is no other writing component to this assignment. You’ll be evaluated on your in-class presentation and your bibliography/list.
Select from the following list. You must receive approval for your selections so that we avoid duplicates in our class, and so we get a diversity of presentations. Feel free to suggest other ideas.
Note: These are in alphabetical order.
Belarus
Brazil
Cuba
Egypt
European Union
India
Contemporary Iran
Islamist fundamentalists (1979-1989)
Libya
Myanmar
Pakistan
Philippines
Russia
Sudan
You may choose others if you wish, but you must seek approval.
|
|
