Africa Research Paper Rubric
Category
4
3
2
1
0
Developme
nt and
Supporting
Evidence
(x2)
Includes
ALL
required
components
and
information
clearly relates
to the main
topic.
Includes
Three
required
components
and
information
clearly relates
to the main
topic.
Includes
TWO
required
components
and
information
vaguely
relates to the
topic.
Includes
ONE
required
component
s and
informatio
n vaguely
relates to
the main
topic.
Does not
include
required
components.
Information
does not relate
to main topic.
It includes
several (more
than 5)
supporting
details and/or
examples.
It includes 3-4
supporting
details and/or
examples.
It includes 23 supporting
details and/or
examples.
It includes
two cited
quotations,
including
ONE from
primary
source.
It includes
two cited
quotations
and/or fails to
have quote
from primary
source.
Information is
very
organized
(clear topic
and
concluding
sentences)
with wellconstructed
paragraphs
and
subheadings.
Also includes
introduction
and
concluding
paragraphs.
Information is
organized
with wellconstructed
paragraphs.
Information
is organized,
but
paragraphs
are not wellconstructed.
0-1 grammar
errors
2-3 grammar
errors
4-5 grammar
errors
0-1
2-3
4-5
It includes
three cited
quotations,
including
ONE from
primary
source.
Organizati
on
Grammar
Bibliograp
Also includes
introduction
and
concluding
paragraphs
Missing
either
introduction
or
conclusion.
It includes
1-2
supporting
details
and/or
examples.
It includes
one cited
quotations
and/or
fails to
have quote
from
primary
source.
The
informatio
n appears
to be
disorganiz
ed.
Paragraphs
do not
have topic
or
concluding
sentences.
It lacks
supporting
details and/or
examples.
Paper lacks
cited
quotations.
Information
lacks
structure.
Research
paper lacks
introduction
and
conclusion.
Missing
introductio
n and
concluding
paragraphs
Bibliographi
Bibliograp
6-7
gramm
ar
errors
More than 7
grammar
errors
More than 7
Total
Points
hical and
MLA
Formatting
Errors
Presentati
on
cal and
MLA
Formatting
Errors
Typed and
doublespaced
Typed and
doublespaced
Min. 5 sources
in
Bibliogra
phy
4 sources in
Bibliograph
y
1 map
indicating
geograph
ical and
political
features
of
country
1 map
indicating
geographic
al and
political
features of
country
hical and
MLA
Formatting
Errors
Handwritten
and/or
singlespaced
2-3 source
Bibliograph
y
1 map
indicating
geographic
al or
political
features of
country
6-7
Bibliographi
cal and
MLA
Formatting
Errors
Bibliogr
aphical
and
MLA
Formatt
ing
Errors
Handwritten
Handwritten
1 source in
Biblio
graph
y
No Bibliography
Missing Map
1 map
indicat
ing
geogr
aphica
l or
politic
al
featur
es of
countr
y
Africa Research Paper Requirements
Your research paper will have Three major components and you will be working on it in World History,
Science, and English.
Due dates:
May 14- Part I- Country Profile (World History)- Rough Draft
May 17 and May 18- Graph and Analysis (Math)
May 21- Part II- I-Search (English)- Rough Draft
May 27- Part III- Africa Global Change(Science)- Rough Draft
June 4- Final Draft
Part I Requirements (Roughly 5-6 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, with 1 in.
margins)
Geography (Approximately 150-300 words; ½ page to a full page double-spaced)
Important physical features native to the country
Examples of how the nation uses its geography (What are rivers, desert, rainforests used for? How
does the geography affect ways of life for that country)
Important crops and/or natural resources (Precious metals such as cobalt and nickel, diamonds, fruits
and vegetables that are harvested and traded).
Ancient History prior to 1800 (Approximately 250-300 words; 3/4 to 1 page double-spaced)
Native Tribes to the region
Native Languages spoken
ths
Religion and Culture
Examples and evidence of advanced civilization (trade, cultural diffusion, technology, and
infrastructure such as roads, bridges, aqueducts, etc).
Were natives taken for slaves and brought to the Americas? If so, when and why?
Recent (Post-1800) history (Approximately 500-700 words; 2-3 pages double-spaced)
What European nation colonized your country? (Only two African nations were not colonized by 1870.)
Why was it colonized? What was life like under colonial rule?
When did your nation become independent and what led to its independence?
What problems has your nation faced since independence? These may include:
Genocide
Human rights violations
Government Instability
Famine
Civil Wars
Your paper must also include:
1 map (may be taken from the Internet) of your country showing political and physical boundaries
An introduction and conclusion that provides an overview of your research and summarizes key ideas
Three cited quotations from your sources including one from a primary (someone who is directly
connected to your country) source.
Minimum of FIVE different sources, three of which must be from sites other than the Internet (books,
databases, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias)
You may use online newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Time
Magazine, etc as print sources)
Suggested Sources
See the Research Pathfinder- located on the library blog
Additional Sources:
Internet
www.worldbank.org/afr (Overview with links to different countries)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/default.stm (current events in Africa)
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa.html (website with current and past maps of Africa and various countries)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/ (excellent site with links to distant and recent
histories, use of geography, timelines)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html (World Factbook. Click on drop-down
menu under “select a country or location” to get you started).
http://www.hrw.org/en/africa (Website with overviews on human rights violations in Africa and the world)
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/history.html (Site with links to information about Africa past and
present. Also includes links to primary sources)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/africa/africasbook.html (Site with links to primary sources)
Books
Gourevitch, Philip. We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed with Our Families—Primary
accounts of Rwandan Genocide
Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold’s Ghost – Investigates European imperialism in Africa
Mathabane, Mark. Kaffir Boy –Details life in Apartheid South Africa
Meredith, Martin. The Fate of Africa: A History of 50 Years of Independence – Looks at modern African history.
Reader, John. Africa: A Biography of the Continent –General Overview of Africa
Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson. This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President.
—Autobiography that looks at recent history of Liberia and rise of first female president in Africa.
Rutherford, Kenneth. Humanitarianism Under Fire: The US and UN Intervention in Somalia. Details current
social and political problems in Somalia.
Periodicals
www.nytimes.com
www.washingtonpost.com
www.iht.com
http://www.world-newspapers.com/africa.html (links to online African newspapers)
www.time.com (Use their archives section to find past articles related to Africa)
www.newsweek.com (Again, you can search back issues)
www.wsj.com (Wall Street Journal)