Natural+Resources+and+Violent+Conflict


 * Starting Activity: Group Discussion**


 * What does it mean when something is valuable?
 * Is value created or innate?
 * What are some examples of things that are valuable to you, your community, your country? What gives them value? Do others value them? Do others value them for the same reasons? Who benefits from their value?


 * TASK 1: Read & Write a Summary for the USIP's “[|Natural Resources, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution]” (Pages 3-12)**


 * Create a Google Document titled, "Natural Resources & Violent Conflict"
 * Organize it into MLA Format
 * Make sure the heading is correct
 * Structure into an outline (i.e., Summary, Literacy Circle Notes, Works Cited)
 * Read this article as a group, or individually to gain a basic understanding of the article
 * I would suggest breaking the article into manageable chunks while in class. In other words, everyone could take the first section of the article, assign roles for a small portion of the article...discuss what you read, share notes, and then dive back into the next section.
 * The complexity of the content and vocabulary have increased a bit from the last article, so please encourage everyone in your group to pay close attention to their assigned roles. These roles will become more and more important as we progress throughout the year.
 * Write a summary as the first section of your outline (Hint: Prove to me that you read the material)


 * TASK 2: Literacy Circle Notes & Discussion for the USIP's "[|Natural Resources, Conflict, & Conflict Resolution]" (Pages 3-12)**


 * Assign roles in your Literacy Circle and begin reading the article. Please, please make sure you take notes on the "big ideas" mentioned in the article. For example, pay close attention to "what" natural resources are exactly, and how they relate to conflict. Note specific examples (i.e., blood diamonds in West Africa).


 * TASK 3** __**After finishing**__ **Task 2, complete the following as a group:**


 * Create a concept map on a sheet of paper that visually represents your understanding of the interaction of natural resources, stakeholders, conflict, and peace. A concept map is a diagram that helps you organize and understand the relationships among complex ideas and explain those relationships.
 * HINT: Look for the article's skeleton. In other words, before it was a ten page article, it was more than likely an outline that explained an inter-connected idea (i.e., the relationship between natural resources and violent conflict). You should be able to use the article to create your concept map. Think about the big ideas and overall argument of the paper. How do natural resources, stakeholders, conflict, and peace interact with one another?
 * IMPORTANT: I will be using the output rubric for this and expect to see everyone working simultaneously on this assignment.

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 * TASK 4: "Natural Resources & Conflict: Case Study"**
 * Begin with reading through the case studies (You do not have to read the entire document - just the case studies) in "[|From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment]"
 * Did any of the natural resources or conflicts mentioned in the reading interest you more than others? Collect the following information about any conflict in this article, or the news. Explain why your case study is similar to the reading, or more interesting than the others.
 * parties involved in the conflict
 * natural resources at stake
 * role of natural resources in the conflict
 * other major issues in the conflict (for example, poverty or sectarian factions)
 * obstacles to resolving the conflict
 * parties that have been involved or might be involved in alleviating or ending the conflict
 * your ideas about how natural resources can be used to benefit conflict resolution
 * How does your research fit or change the concept map you created in Activity 1?
 * Use this table to organize your research


 * **Suggested Resources**
 * NC Live (www.nclive.org) -- password is "diaghype" (no quotation marks)
 * Internet Public Library (www.ipl.org)
 * Check Craven Community College's list of content-specific databases for materials related to your topic(s)
 * ABC News ([])
 * Associated Press ([])
 * BBC News ([])
 * CBS News ([])
 * CNN ([])
 * Fox News ([])
 * Google News ([])
 * MSNBC ([])
 * National Geographic (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/)
 * National Public Radio (www.npr.org)
 * New Bern Sun Journal (www.newbernsj.com)
 * New York Times (www.nytimes.com)
 * Newsweek (www.newsweek.com)
 * Raleigh News and Observer (www.newsobserver.com)
 * Time Magazine (www.time.com)