Project X – Topic Selection
STUDENT MATERIALSSTUDENT MATERIALSS-1FINAL PROJECT – TOPIC SELECTIONWORLD HISTORY PROJECT - AP / LESSON 7.0 ACTIVITYPreparation• Access to Our World in Data website: https://ourworldindata.org/PurposeThis activity will help you select the topic of your final presentation. This is a brainstorming activity that will help you identify your interests and where those interests intersect with the available charts on Our World in Data (OWID). Selecting the right topic can be tricky. You need to select a topic that’s meaningful to you and that has world-historical significance. You also need to be sure that there’s enough evidence available on your topic to sustain your final project. This activity gives you a chance to explore the OWID website and gather information about two possible topics of your choice. ProcessIn this activity, you’ll be picking your final project topic. Begin by exploring the OWID website to identify two topics that are meaningful to you. Next, you’ll fill out a worksheet in which you reflect on why these topics are important and record the resources available on the OWID site. Finally, you will select one of the two topics as the subject of your final presentation.The first step in this this activity is to explore the OWID website. Spend about five minutes exploring the OWID website, clicking on links and images you find interesting. Once you’re familiar with the website, find the Articles by Topic menu and hover the cursor over it.Notice that each topic (for example: Health, Demographic Change, Food and Agriculture) has several subtopics to choose from. For example, the Health topic includes Smallpox, Life Expectancy, and Vaccination among its subtopics. Take another five minutes to explore the topics and subtopics that are most interesting to you.In addition to selecting a topic that is important to you, your topic also needs to be significant in a world-historical context. This means that the topic deeply affects lots of people over a long period of time. Once you’ve identified two subtopics that are meaningful to you and significant in a world-historical context, take out the Topic Selection worksheet and answer the questions for each of your two chosen subtopics.Once you have completed the worksheet for both subtopics, review what you’ve written and choose the subtopic that you think is most meaningful and significant. Record your choice on the worksheet. Congratulations! You have a research topic.
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-2FINAL PROJECT – TOPIC SELECTIONWORLD HISTORY PROJECT - AP / LESSON 7.0 ACTIVITYDirections: Record the two subtopics you chose and answer the following questions for each:QuestionSubtopic 1: Subtopic 2: Why is this topic meaningful to you, personally?How does this topic help you to understand the contemporary world better?How might understanding this topic better prepare you for something you might have to do in the future?Why is this subtopic significant in a world-historical context?
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-3FINAL PROJECT – TOPIC SELECTIONWORLD HISTORY PROJECT - AP / LESSON 7.0 ACTIVITYQuestionSubtopic 1: Subtopic 2: How many charts does the OWID website have for your subtopic? List the titles of the five charts that you think are the most important for understanding this subtopic.1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. List at least three other subtopics on OWID that might contain charts that are related to your subtopic.1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Final project topic: