1. Each student will select a COUNTRY that is of interest to you. It will be more interesting to the class if it is of current interest in the news or one that you have visited or lived in. Homework assignment: a list of 5 possible countries (including a statement of why you selected each country),  listed in order of preference must be turned in at the beginning of the 4th class period. I will assign countries according to your preferences and advise you soon thereafter.

2. You will research the country that you have selected. Use any and all sources of information including the Internet, the library, the newspapers, and radio/TV. Make sure that your sources are recent and accurate. Countries are changing rapidly! Make a list of your references.

3. At the assigned time, you will present to the class a 10 minute briefing on your country. The presentation should provide basic facts about the physical and cultural geography of the country (5 min), a brief history ( 2 min), and up-to-date information about current events and  human interest items (3 min). There will be a 2 minute question and answer period following the briefing.

4. Visual aids: Prepare overhead transparencies of maps of the country at both regional (small scale) and local (large scale) scales with important features highlighted to which you can refer during the presentation. Maps illustrating political and physical features of the country should be as simple and uncluttered as possible for legibility. You can get B&W transparencies made at the library. Use "Sharpie" pens to highlight features in color. Additional visual aids that illustrate items of interest such as data lists and graphics are encouraged.

5. This project will constitute 10% of your grade in the course, so don't procrastinate. The class is depending on you to present your briefing at the specified time. Failure to produce will result in a grade penalty.

6. The list below provides the format for your briefing. Your oral briefing and written summary must follow the sequence of items as given. A typed copy of your data should be submitted to me at the beginning of your presentation. Failure to do so will cost one letter grade. Your written summary must be two pages (font 10-12; single spaced; no title page; no cover sheet.) Use list form, NOT paragraph form.
 

1. NAME OF COUNTRY; STUDENT'S NAME; DATE OF BRIEFING:
2. NAME OF CONTINENT:
3. NAME OF NEARBY COUNTRIES, OCEANS, ETC:
4. SIZE OF COUNTRY (Compare size to U.S. or individual states of the U.S.):
5. PHYSIOGRAPHY: MAJOR RIVERS; MOUNTAIN RANGES; OTHER FEATURES:
6. CLIMATE: TEMPERATURES (AVERAGE, EXTREMES); PRECIPITATION (RAIN, SNOW):
7. CAPITAL:
8. POPULATION; POPULATION DENSITY:
9. ETHNIC COMPOSITION; LANGUAGES; RELIGIONS; EDUCATION:
10. TYPE OF GOVERNMENT:
11. PER CAPITA INCOME or GDP:
12. MAJOR CROPS:
13. MAJOR INDUSTRY:
14. EXPORTS; IMPORTS:
15. BRIEF HISTORY (LIST OF IMPORTANT EVENTS/DATES):
16. CURRENT EVENTS (VERY IMPORTANT; SHOULD CONSTITUTE 50% OF YOUR BRIEFING):
17. CONCLUSION: A STRONG STATEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR BRIEFING:
18. REFERENCES (MUST BE RECENT AND ADEQUATELY DETAILED):