a WebQuest for 9-12 World Geography

by Casey Meredith

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion  

Introduction

This project is designed for you to introduce yourself to the People's Republic of China (PRC) through creative and interesting research. The size, both in area and population, the seemingly varied physical characteristics, and the capabilities of the countries and regions you have studied to this point tend to pale when compared to the P.R.C. The world's most populous country is also quickly becoming a major economic power, destined to become a significant competitor on the world economic scene. It will soon rival Japan and Taiwan in the Far East and will eventually compete with other economic powers such as the United States and Western Europe. The U.S. and the remainder of world will soon have to contend with China's place as a significant world power economically, politically, and militarily. Your personal knowledge of this geographical giant will help you to much better understand its integration into the world scene as a major world power. This knowledge will also help you to become a more informed and capable member of society, allowing you to become a much more relevant contributor and participant to the success of the United States in the future.


The Task

You, in a group organization, will research a variety of sources to process and transform information gathered by preparing a multi-fold travel agency brochure which reflects current physical and cultural information on the People's Republic of China that a potential tourist, businessperson, or politician would like to know for the planning of a possible vacation, business trip, or political visit to China.

Resources

CHINA - GENERAL

Def. Minister Elaborates Def. Pol. http://www.china-embassy.org/Cgi-Bin/Press.pl?197

China-Taiwan dispute http://www.nando.net/newsroom/nt/312cxchiqa.html

General Info of China http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/~china/tour/general_inform.html

Information on Tibet http://www.peacenet.org/ict/tibet.html

China books http://www.hrw.org/hrw/pubweb/Webcat-25.htm

About China http://www.china-embassy.org/China/china.htm

Background Notes: China http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/china_1196_bgn.html

Learn Chinese http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/ctutor.html

Tour in Shanghai http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/~china/tour/sh.html

Tour in Beijing http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/~china/tour/bj.html

Excite Travel: Destination: China http://www.city.net/countries/china/

CHINA - PHYSICAL

Three Gorges Proj http://www.china-embassy.org/Cgi-Bin/Press.pl?105

China map http://www.cnd.org/Other/china.jpg

China, World's No. 1 Coal User, Pollution Solutions http://www1.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/health/110296/health12_15893.html

CHINA: Growing Cities Foul Up the Environment http://www.oneworld.org/ips2/dec/city.html

Three Gorges Dam Update http://www.irn.org/programs/threeg/update971101.html

China: Geography http://www.theodora.com/wfb/china_geography.html

Country Profile: China http://www.abcnews.go.com/reference/countries/CH.html

CHINA - CULTURAL

Religions and Religious Beliefs in China http://www.china-embassy.org/press/religions.htm

China's Major Religions http://www.insidechina.com/underst/christm.php3

Safeguarding Human Rights or Interfering in China's Internal Affairs? http://www.china-embassy.org/Cgi-Bin/Press.pl?67

China's 1992-1996 Socioeconomic Development http://www.china-embassy.org/Cgi-Bin/Press.pl?449

The Revolutionary: Deng Xiaoping http://www.pathfinder.com/@@qAS@SkJjmwEAQL2n/asiaweek/95/20greats/deng.html

Destruction of a Culture: Tibet after the Chinese Conquest http://www.afn.org/~afn20372/pol/wrp.html

Tiananmen - 1989 http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sdc/tiananmen.html

China Photos http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/scenery.html

 

China: People http://www.theodora.com/wfb/china_people.html

China: Gov't http://www.theodora.com/wfb/china_government.html

CHINA - OTHER THAN THE INTERNET

Books on China

Periodical Articles on China

Newspaper Articles on China

Encyclopedia Articles on China

Travel Books on China

Classroom Geography Textbook


The Process

 The procedures you will use to complete the process requirements of this lesson are as follows:

  1. First, you will be divided into groups of __ students.
  2. Next, each of you will select a different role (roles, possibly 2) to play from the following list as you do your research:

    a. Businessperson - concerned with the capitalist, socialist, etc., economic conditions or opportunities of a particular country or region;

    b. Clergy person - concerned with the tenets of specific religions of a particular country or region ;

    c. Geographer - concerned with the physical, human, economic, and cultural aspects of the world;

    d. Historian - concerned with the documenting of people, places, and events in history ;

    e. Government Official - concerned with the successful operation of a political division of the government;

    f. Sociologist - concerned with the study of human relationships and behavior;

    g. Geologist - concerned with the composition of the physical structure of the earth;

    h. Anthropologist - concerned with the origins of humans and civilizations;

  3. After deciding on the individual role you will play within your group, and using the above resources, research China and discriminate the information acquired from your particular roles(') point of view.
  4. As a group, decide on a multi-fold format that would best display your group's collective information.
  5. As a group, discuss the individual information each member has acquired from the point of view of its relevance to a travel brochure. Emphasize information that would motivate particular individuals or groups to travel to China.
  6. As a group, decide on the amounts and the specifics of information that will be included in your group's brochure.
  7. As a group, decide on the order and the format in which the information in your brochure will appear. Consider using checklists, charts, tables, maps, or other graphics in addition to narrative comments.
  8. As a group, develop an informational travel brochure, in the multi-fold format of your group's choice,that emphasizes physical and cultural aspects of China that may be of interest to persons possibly traveling to China on a vacation, business trip, or political visit.


Evaluation

  You will be evaluated both on the quality of the completed brochure and your contribution to the group coordination process.

Beginning

Developing
Accomplished
Score

GROUP

Overall visual appeal

0 points

There are no graphic elements in the layout.

5 points

There are a few graphic elements. There is some variation in type size and layout.

10 points

There are appealing graphic elements included appropriately. There are differences in type sizes and color is used.

 

Process

0 points

Process is not followed.

5 points

Some process procedures are followed, but there are missing steps.

10 points

Process procedures are completely followed.

 

Role Assignment

0 points

No separate roles assigned.

5 points

Some separate roles or tasks are assigned. There is some variety in activities performed.

10 points

Different roles and perspectives are taken. A variety of activities are performed.

 

Resources

0 points

Few online (0-4) or additional (1-2) resources are used.

5 points

A moderate number of online (5-9) or additional (3-4) resources are used.

10 points

Many online (10+) or additional (5+) resources are used.

 

INDIVIDUAL

Gather Information

0 points

Does not collect any information.

5 points

Collects some relevant information.

10 points

Collects a significant amount of relevant information.

 

Share Information

0 points

Does not communicate any information.

5 points

Communicates some relevant information.

10 points

Communicates a significant amount of relevant information.

 

Listens to Other Group mates

0 points

Always talking. Never allows others to speak.

5 points

Does much talking. Sometimes listens and allows others to talk some.

10 points

Listens and speaks an appropriate amount each.

 


Conclusion

Knowledge of any part of the world will be an asset for any individual trying to understand, operate and exist in the economic world of the future. The United States will no longer be able to operate as the sole economic leader of the world. It is presently being challenged as the leader by Japan and Western Europe. China is economically pushing these big three. South America and Africa are also emerging to challenge the developed countries economically. In order to be competitive in the world economic market in the future, the United States must understand international cultural and economic geography. In order for the United States to achieve economic success, the people of the United States must also be aware of and have a working understanding of the peoples and economies of other major world countries.

 

Last updated June 21, 1999

Based on a template from The Webquest Page.