These are not your traditional 3^rd person written reports, but instead Role Playing (1st person) Oral Reports.  Please read the syllabus for a detailed explanation and "good" report tips.  The Report should include these 4 components:

1) Cover page w/ Artwork (Title; Country; Culture group if applicable; Your name; Class time period; Date); be creative with
your cover page.

2) Two (2) pages of text (no more than 2 ¼ pages) written in an autobiographical (1st Person) style. Tell your own story
based on your research. (you’re a fool for not reading “Good Report Tips” in the syllabus before writing)

3) Bibliography or Works Sited page (any style will do, but include the author, book/article title, and date published; website
addresses are acceptable to include author, original publication, etc.)

4) Make a 2nd copy for the instructor to read along with you in your oral presentation.

Synopsis of Possible Report Topics

Middle and South America

Rainforest - simply reveal the value of preserving the Rainforest tropical areas of the world that lie around the equator.  You can tap into the rainforest connection to the greater global ecosystems, the dense network of plant and animals who a threatened, and its value of the rainforest for we humans. (Amazon Sou.Amer; Borneo Indonesia; Congo Africa) . You can be a Native American living in the Amazon complaining about deforestation.

Racial, Ethnic or Class issues in Latin America – It’s a lot about inequality and ranking of groups within these societies.  Pick out 1 or 2 countries in Latin America, or look at the region as a whole, to decipher how these societies stratify (rank) their people socially/ economically (ex. rich, middle class, working class, poor) and how does race or ethnic/cultural categories come into play when looking at the society’s inequality, prejudice, or discrimination (pure blood Spaniard, mestizo, Indian, Black).

Eco-Tourism - It’s all about countries making big money off of selling nature tours and expeditions (rafting wild rivers, horseback riding, staying in jungle lodges, river tours of wildlife, visiting animal farms or reservations).  Many travellers seem to want an adventure these days where they learn about their surroundings and not just relax.  Is there motivation to protect their environments in a country like Costa Rica?  Does this tourism have some impact in and of itself?

Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, has been leading a new form of Socialism and Latino Nationalism in his country and throughout Latin America. Talk about his popularity and influence in the region. You can be Hugo, or one of his supporter, or one who is in opposition to him.

Spanish-Portuguese Impact on Native Americans - This is mostly a historical report.  Just reveal how these early colonists from Europe exploited the indigenous people of the Central and South America.  Bring in diseases, new economic patterns (plantation surplus), religion, etc.

Politics, Drugs, Oil, and corruption in Colombia - Reveal how corrupt and dangerous this country has become.  Expose the different rebel groups (political parties) that control sectors of the country.  What is the power and influence of drugs and oil in this country?  Can they stop the widespread corruption in government? The new president is trying to change things.

Chile’s economy is booming compared to most of Latin America. What are they doing right; or what do they have going for them. By the way, they elected a single divorced woman as President. Any women want to play this role?

Eastern Europe

Switching from Socialism to Capitalism - Talk about the economic transitions of moving from one radical form of economic structure to the other; its impact and change on the people.  (Poland or Czech Republic who’s doing well with it; or a Romania who struggles with the transition)

Gaining acceptance in the European Union or N.A.T.O. - most of these newly independent or newly democratic countries have recently been brought into the EU. How will it bolster their economies and trade, and create new political relationships.

Hungary - a people with a unique culture, language and history compared to “Slavic” eastern Europe.  Their ethnic Hungarian brothers/sisters in Slovakia and Romania struggle to be respected in those neighboring countries.

Africa

Human Origins in Africa - This is a real Anthropology subject.  I urge you to get most of your information from an Anthropology textbook looking at the chapter(s) on early human evolution from Australopithecines to Modern Homo Sapiens.  Only 2 sources are acceptable for this report.  The earliest finds (human remains/artifacts) still seem to come from eastern and southern Africa (Australopithecines through Homo Erectus).  Reveal to us the time line of human evolution.  Be an Anthropologist in Ethiopia or Kenya.

Diseases in Africa - Bring in the development of fatal and non-fatal diseases that are widespread throughout mostly Subsaharan African.  Diseases like Cholera, Typhoid, Malaria are widespread. How do each spread?  But the number one killer now, by far, is AIDS.  You can focus just on that if you like. Why does it spread and what are governments doing to slow down the spread of HIV?  Be from practically any country in southern and eastern Africa.

Kenya is in new political turmoil over the recent election. Update us on what’s happening there and what the differences were between the 2 candidates. Play a political role.

Colonialism’s impact on a country/region in Africa - Pick a country heavily affected by European colonialism (ex. Nigeria,Senegal,Ghana,South Africa,the Congo-formally Zaire, and so many more) or colonialism in Africa in general.  Reveal its many alterations to local culture and environment.  This is mostly a historical report.

Nigeria’s political and ethnic challenges - Ever since it’s independence in 1960 Nigeria has had a fair amount of political turmoil and overthrows of government.  Much of this stems from major ethnic rivalry (Nigeria is a very ethnically diverse country).  Bring us up to date on the economic/ political stability of the country, a country with great wealth potential.

South Africa’s new face - Start out mentioning the former Dutch Apartheid system of inequality and quickly move into the Mandela-African National Congress period of presidency beginning around 1990.  Take us through the 90's into the challenges and successes of the new multi-racial government and society.

Muslim-Arab influence in North & East Africa - Tell how Islam spread out of the Arabian Peninsula and into north and east-coast Africa through Arab traders (ship & land), Arab pastoralists (animal herders), conversion of local chiefs/kings, setting up Koranic(Qu,ran) schools, etc.  How pervasive or strong, culturally speaking, is this influence?

Tribal/Animistic Religions in Subsaharan Africa - These are pre-Christian/pre-Islamic religions of multiple spirits or forces in the spirit world ,who interact with humans and nature, still thriving in this region below the Sahara Desert.  These religions can usually break down into Ancestor worship, magic, witchcraft, sorcery, divination, medicene men or women (ie.Shamans), etc..  You probably need to look at some Anthropology texts or books to help you define and give examples to these religious practices.

Any Ethnic/Political/Factional war in a country or region of Africa - Just pick a country engaged in some level of current civil war and write about it.  Examples could be Sierra Leon, Sudan, The Democratic Republic Congo (formally Zaire), Ethiopia/Eritrea conflict, Western Sahara, Chad.  State the nature and reason of the conflict.

Southwest & South Asia

Origin and Diffusion of major Religions in the region - The region is the birthplace of several major religions (Islam,Christianity,Judaism,Hinduism,Buddhism).  Chart the origin place and the spreading out (diffusion) of these major 5 religions.  You don’t need to go into any depth of the religions themselves, just how and where they originated, and how and where they spread  geographically.

Population Pressures of Southern Asia and strategies to address overpopulation - We’re talking about the Indian Subcontinent, as its also known, consisting mainly of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.  You can just focus on one of the big three (India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh) if you want.  They’re all heavily populated and have strategies to deal with the problem.  Why do they have large populations to begin with?

Any particular Religion from the region of S.W. and South Asia - Just pick a religion (two paragraphs above) from the region and give us a general report on the history and influence of that religion on the cultures it has touched.  Very general report, but be objective and academic.

Pastoralism (animal herders) from the region - Talk about the lifestyle or cultures that herd animals in a nomadic (roaming around) manner (goats, sheep, camels, horses,etc).  They are independent people not usually connected to the loyalty of a country, but instead to their culture group.  Or, just pick one group and report on them (Baktiari of Iran, Bedouin of the Arabian Peninsula, Kirghiz of Kyrgyzstan, and many more in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region).

Women’s Roles & Status & Rights in the region - As you might have heard, women power and influence in these societies tends to be low compared to men.  Tell us in what ways are women seen, and treated, as inferior to men; or should we just write it off to cultural relativism?  You can focus on a particular country like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, or Saudi Arabia for example.

East Asia

Population Strategies of China in recent decades - China has dealt with a rapidly growing population in the second half of the 20th century.  As a result they are the most populated people and country in the world and suffer some of the pitfalls of overpopulation.  Since the late 1970's, how has the government dealt with this challenge?

China in Economic & Political Transition - Over the last 25 years or so since the death of Mao Tse-Dong, China has been slowing reforming its economic policies (and therefore political policies) to accommodate a growing population, economy, and mostly reaping the benefits of international trade.  They are letting Capitalism creep into their communist economic structure.  Talk about this transition.  Be the economic minister in China’s Communist Party.

Taiwan’s Economic/Political Situation - Taiwan was a refuge for people fleeing communist takeover after WWII.  They are mostly ethnic Chinese as a result.  China has since claimed Taiwan as part of China and threatened takeover on several occasions over the years.  Yet Taiwan has prospered economically as an “Asian Economic Tiger”.  Elaborate on this, and update us on their relationship in the world political community as a legitimate separate country.  Japan’s Volatile yet Resilient Economy - Tell us the keys to Japan’s economic success overall in this past century.  Since the beginning of the 20th century it has peaked and fell economically several times but overall holds the position of the strongest economy on the eastern Pacific Rim.  What’s their secret to success and their potential for economic fall?

Tibet (Xizang) - the culture, history and struggle w/ Beijing - As you probably know, Tibetans are a different culture group than those of China proper to the east with strong connections to their form of Buddhism (Chinese are supposed to be non-religious according to communism). So, for the past 40 years they have struggled with Beijing to become independent.  Tell the tale of that struggle as a professor in the city of Lhasa.

Three Gorges Dam (China) - (being built on the Chang Jiang/Yangtze River) Just tell us about the construction of the largest dam in history and the pros and cons to building a dam like this for Chinese from this region.  It’s halfway built right now for a project that takes about 10 to 15 years to finish.    Be a Chinese Engineer working on the dam.

Traditional vs.  Modern Cultures in East Asia - Cultures like the Japanese, South Koreans, Taiwanese and those in China have had to adjust to rapid modernization and western influence.  You can see it as a struggle between older traditional culture and lifestyles compared to the new.  What have they had to adjust to?  Pick a country in the region, or talk on the region as a whole.

Problems in the Korean Peninsula - We’re talking North & South Korea here.  A political line divided the country and culture 50 years ago this year which has changed the lives of the 2 Koreas dramatically and has put them at odds with one another (one communist totalitarian, the other a westernizing capitalistic democracy).  Elaborate on this topic and what is the potential for one country in the future.

Southeast Asia

Political Diversity of Southeast Asia - Simply reveal and identify the political diversity of this region, from Burma east to Vietnam & Philippines; from Thailand south to Indonesia.  The region is very diverse politically (communism,democreacy,monarchs,dictators,sultans,etc.).  Simple encyclopedia work.  Give a long paragraph per country and that should do it for 3 pages.

Singapore’s Success & Authoritarian Government - This can be a Pros & Cons paper revealing an authoritarian dominant and strict government who can boast a fair amount of economic success as well as very low crime and ethnic conflict.  Is the trade off of less civil liberties and democracy justified by the economic success and civilian peace?

Vietnam’s Current Status - Tell us in the report about the current political and economic status of Vietnam since the Vietnam War ended in 1975.  What has changed and what has stayed the same.  General report.  (Another communist country lured by international economic profit)

Ethnic -and/or- Religious diversity in the region - Either give us a broad overview of the ethnic diversity of the region (religion would be mentioned I assume), or simply stick with the religious diversity itself.  Buddhism tends to dominate the north and Islam the south, but there is a smattering of other Animistic and Christian religions as well.  You might have to take it country by country.  Encyclopedia, atlases with thematic maps, and your Geopak page on Southeast Asia are the bases to your investigation.

Indonesia’s New Government/New Elections - Indonesia has had only 2 dictators for the last 40 years up until 1999.  Now they have been struggling toward democracy and trying to maintain stability while holding together possible breakaway regions within the country.  Elaborate on this political transition and its new leaders.   Be the leader of a new Democratic Party in Indonesia.

Political / Economic Turmoil in the Philippines - The country has been troubled frequently since its independence after WWII.  Diversity of ethnic groups, bad shape morphology (islands), typhoons, earthquakes, volcanos all keep the economy disrupted as well.  They’ve had many overthrows of government and much government corruption over the years.  Build on this story of where they’ve been and where they’re going.  They have a newly elected woman president.

Oceania and South Pacific

Economic Transitions of Australia / New Zealand - These two countries have also struggled a bit to stay competitive on a world market with competition on their doorstep in East Asia, not just Europe and the U.S..  What is working for them and against them economically?  Just talk economics (raw materials, skills, types of industry, ranching/farming, exports, high-tech stuff).  You can just focus on one of the 2 countries above if you want.

Any Tribal or Indigenous People of the region - Most people pick either the Aborigines of Australia; the Maori of New Zealand; or a culture group from the island of New Guinea.  This is Anthropology work.  Investigate what the culture is all about and how well their doing surrounded by a modernizing world.  Just do a biography on the people you choose.

What does the Outback of Australia have to offer? - The Outback makes up most of Australia (central and western 3/4 of the country).  What’s out there in terms of people, nature, types of environments, plants & animals, economics, etc.. It’s a fascinating area, though tough to live in for westerners.

Life in the Pacific Islands - Pick an island (with people on it) out in the South Pacific (there’s a bunch of them) and do a report on the people and their environment.  Very general report.  Popular islands are Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Guam, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga, and many more.  What is their staple of economy, culture, population, stuff like that.

El Nino / La Nina - You need to be interested in large scale weather patterns for this topic.  It’s basically a movement of warm water and winds that move across the equator of the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia on one side to the Coast of Ecuador/Peru on the other side.  This movement causes major climate change for most of the globe depending whether its an El Nino or La Nina.