MDC/LDC PROJECT
Overview: For your summer project, you will be assigned a specific More Developed Country (MDC) and a Less Developed Country (LDC) to research. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL TO FIND OUT WHICH COUNTRIES YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED. Contact Mr. Sherwin if you did not get an email [email protected]. For the summer, you will create a Google presentation (Powerpoint, Keynote or Prezi are also acceptable) comparing and contrasting your two countries. This analysis will be based upon specific geographic information and graphics that the AP Human Geography team has developed. During the school year, you will gather information about your countries and organize it into a portfolio. The goal of this project is to help you become an expert on your specific countries, while simultaneously helping you to understand concepts of Human Geography in greater detail. We will have various “checkpoints” due at the end of the each six weeks during the year. But for now, let’s focus on the summer. General Details For Your Summer Project: • Each student will be randomly assigned two different countries to research. No student will be allowed to change his or her country once it is given out. • You should use a variety of sources to research your countries, but you may NOT use Wikipedia or any other similar website. A number of reliable Internet sources have been provided for you throughout the project. • You will need to fill out data sheets for your countries. These will provide your research data and an organization for your presentation. • You will need to present the data in your Google presentation in an organized and effective manner (each slide should have a picture, chart, or graph along with the data): a. Country Intros: 1 slide for each country b. Population: 4-­‐8 slides total (data, graphs, charts) c. Culture: 4-­‐8 slides total (date, graphs, charts and pictures -­‐ You will need to add 8 pictures or more that reflect the culture of your country: dress, dance, music, religion, language, etc. d. Conclusion: 4 slides explaining how these countries compare to each other based on your research. • You will need to get a good regional map off of the Internet for each of your countries. • You will need a briefly phrased caption under each visual aid describing (in your own words) the purpose of or identifying the visual aid. • You will turn in your data sheets, your completed Google presentation and a two-­‐page, double-­‐
spaced, and type-­‐written paper (12 point font) comparing your two countries. THE DUE DATE IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW SCHOOL year, so don’t procrastinate! You will be graded on the following: -­‐ Completed Data Sheets 10 points (5 points each) -­‐ Organization of presentation 10 points -­‐ Accurate Detail of presentation 20 points -­‐ Creativity of presentation 10 points -­‐Paper Analysis 20 points Total 70 points LDC Data Sheet - 1
Internet Resources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
http://geography.about.com/od/countryinformation/Country_Information.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/countries.html***
Name of Country ______________________________________________________
COUNTRY INTRO
Neighboring Countries
________________________________________________
Population of Capital(s) ______________________/_______________
Area (Size) ___________________ Arable Land % ________________
Terrain/Climate______________________________________________________
POPULATION
Population
___________________ Population Density ______________________
Age Structure ___________________________________________________________
Crude Birth Rate_______ Crude Death Rate_______ Growth Rate _______
Net Migration _______________
Urban Population ______________
Life Expectancy
Rate of Urbanization _______________
Male_________/Female_________
Infant Mortality Rate ___________________
CULTURE
Ethnic Groups
___________________________________________
Languages
___________________________________________
Religions
_________________________________________
SOURCES USED: _________________________________________________________
MDC Data Sheet 2
Internet Resources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
http://geography.about.com/od/countryinformation/Country_Information.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/countries.html***
Name of County ______________________________________________________
COUNTRY INTRO
Neighboring Countries
Capital(s)/Population
________________________________________________
______________________/_______________
Area (Size) ___________________
Arable Land % ________________
Terrain/Climate______________________________________________________
POPULATION
Population
___________________
Population Density ______________________
Age Structure ___________________________________________________________
Crude Birth Rate_______ Crude Death Rate_______ Growth Rate _______
Net Migration _______________
Urban Population ______________
Life Expectancy
Rate of Urbanization _______________
Male_________/Female _________
Infant Mortality Rate ___________________
CULTURE
Ethnic Groups
___________________________________________
Languages
___________________________________________
Religions
_________________________________________
SOURCES USED: ______________________________________________________________________
Less Developed Countries (LDCs): a term used for the majority of the world’s countries and populations,
which includes countries in transition from socialist to capitalist economies, traditional agricultural to industrialbased economies, and relatively poorer countries (also referred to as the Global South).
1. Afghanistan
2. Bangladesh
3. Brazil
4. China
5. Chile
6. Cuba
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
8. Egypt
9. Guatemala
10. Haiti
11. Mexico
12. Nigeria
13. North Korea
14. India
15. Indonesia
16. Iraq
17. Iran
18. Kazakhstan
19. Pakistan
20. Philippines
21. Saudi Arabia
22. Somalia
23. South Africa
24. Syria
25. Turkey
26. Vietnam
27. Zimbabwe
More Developed Countries (MDCs): the higher level in the hierarchy of countries, which includes the marketoriented economies of the mainly democratic states; also characterized as high-income or rich countries, the
Global North, or industrialized and post-industrial countries.
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Belgium
4. Czech Republic
5. Denmark
6. United States
7. France
8. Germany
9. Greece
10. Hungary
11. Ireland
12. Israel
13. Italy
14. Luxembourg
15. Netherlands
16. Norway
17. Poland
18. Japan
19. Russia
20. Singapore
21. South Africa
22. South Korea
23. Spain
24. Sweden
25. Switzerland
26. Ukraine
27. United Kingdom
KEY TERMS
Population
This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on
statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or
sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future
trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential
impact of the country on the world and within its region.
Population Density
Population density is an often reported and commonly compared statistic for places
around the world. Population density is the measure of the number per unit area. It is
commonly represented as people per square mile (or square kilometer), which is derived
simply by dividing…total area population / land area in square miles (or square
kilometers)
Age Structure
This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age.
Information is included by sex and age group (0-14 years, 15-64 years, 65
years and over). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key
socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage
under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older
populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the
health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential
political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population
unable to find employment can lead to unrest.
Crude Birth Rate
This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000
persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The
birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population
growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the
population.
Crude Death Rate
This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000
population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while
only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately
indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is
significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually
show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in
mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.
Population Growth Rate
The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus
(or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and
leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a
factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by
the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals,
housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid
population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.
Net Migration Rate
This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of
persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons
(based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is
referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an
excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26
migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution
of migration to the overall level of population change.
Urbanization
This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a
population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total
population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The second, rate
of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of
the urban population over the given period of time. Additionally, the World
entry includes a list of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban
agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the
suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to,
the boundaries of the city
Life Expectancy
This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of
people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the
future. The entry includes total population as well as the male and female
components. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of
life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be
thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital
and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.
Infant mortality Rate
This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given
year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate,
and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of
the level of health in a country.