Ms. Fuller and Ms. Diana's SS Blog

Once you have completed and posted your country research, you must learn more about your country’s position on your issue.  Use the background guide (in manila folders) and the following link to do your research:

http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=457137

Your research questions are below.  Copy and paste them into a Word document.

• What is the problem? How does it affect your country? 

• What has your country done to combat the problem? 

• What are the various “sides” in the debate? 

• Which aspects of the issue are most important to your country? 

• If your country is not involved with the issue, how can it become involved?       

• How will your country shape the debate at the conference? 

• What arguments will other countries make? 

• How do the positions of other countries affect your country’s position? 

• Is there evidence or statistics that might help to back up your country’s position? 

Use this link to help you with your country research:

http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=457135

Please copy and paste the following list of questions into a Word document.  You will use these questions to organize your research.

Model UN Country Research

Answer the following questions about your country in as much detail as possible.  Use complete sentences.

• What sort of government does your country have (democratic republic, monarchy, etc.)?   

• What types of beliefs (political, religious or other) influence your country’s government?     

• Which domestic (national) issues might influence your country’s foreign policy?  What are the major issues or problems in your country right now?

• What are some major events in your country’s history? Why are they important?     

• Which ethnicities, religions and languages can be found in your country?     

• Where is your country located and how does its geography affect its political relationships?     

• Which countries share a border with your country?     

• Which countries are considered allies of your country?   

• Which countries are considered enemies of your country?     

• What are the characteristics of your country’s economy?   What are your countries strongest industries?

• What is your country’s gross domestic product (GDP) (this is how much money your country makes)? How does this compare to other countries in the world? Is your country one of the richest, one of the poorest, or somewhere in between? Explain.    

• When did your country become a member of the UN?      

• Does your country belong to any intergovernmental organizations outside the UN system such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)? 

• Does your country belong to any regional organizations such as the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU) or the Organization of American States (OAS)?     

• Does your country belong to any trade organizations or agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)?     

Here is a site with a list of links to find more information on your country.  If one site is too difficult to understand, or does not have the info that you need, try another site.  One resource is not sufficient.  You must look at multiple sources.

 http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=458799

As we discuss the war in Iraq, it is very important that you understand where the country is located and what other countries surround it.  What is the importance of this region of the world, the Middle East, to the United States?

Here is a map of the Middle East:

 http://rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/maps/largemap.pdf

Here is a map game that you can play to help learn where different countries in the Middle East are located:

http://rethinkingschools.org/just_fun/games/mapgame.html

Please post your responses to the film here.  You can ask questions, discuss, or post relevant information and links.  Please provide a summary of the site if you are posting a link.

 Can you find information that supports Michael Moore’s perspective?  Can you find any information that discredits (questions the accuracy of) his perspective?

Your assessment for this unit will be a persuasive essay.  Your essay will answer our essential question:

Is the war in Iraq an example of American Imperialism?

Remember our definition of imperialism: the policy (strategy) of expanding a nation’s power by getting territory (land) or by getting economic and political control over other nations.

You may post your initial thoughts on our essential question here.  As always, the more you discuss, the deeper your understanding of the topic will be!