Name___________________________________ Per_____________

You will be reading Inside Out & Back Again in ELA about the Vietnam War and people
that have become refugees as a result of it. For Media class we are going to continue with this
theme and research other refugee situations around the world. You will be working in partners
to conduct research and analyze your findings about a specific refugee situation. I have provided
areas in which to focus your research. We will be using several different graphic organizers to
collect your information, use the one that works the best for how you operate. All organizers and
findings are going to be kept in your folders on the counter so we dont have missing work. If
you are uncomfortable with this topic, please see me to discuss selecting an alternate topic.
Through our research and writing we will use several different sources to discover
refugee situations. We will also discover information from print and digital sources, determine
the reliability of these sources, and use proper citation to credit the sources used. We will also
use information from texts to support your analysis of refugees in history. We will work on
creating clear and coherent writing that is appropriate to the task.
WHST 6-8.4, 6-8.5, 6-8.7, 6-8.8, 6-8.9

Your research should begin with these main questions:
What is a refugee?
o Why would a person become a refugee?
What is the location of your conflict?
o Country, continent, surrounding countries
o Historical aspect- who makes up the country; racial and religious background
Who are the two sides?
o Who are the people that became refugees?
o Who are the bad guys
o What are their differences?
When did this conflict happen?
What offenses were committed?
o Why did one group become refugees?
o How did things happen?
o How long?
Where did they go?
o Country (ies)?
o What type of settlement?
Camps?
Were they resettled?
What problems do they face?
o Medical
o Separation from family?
What are some organizations that help your refugees?
o What is being done to help your refugees?
o What other help do they provide?
How does your situation compare to Inside Out & Back Again?
o Similarities?
o Differences?

Grading
Writing 30%: Writing is clear and coherent and the organization and style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience
Research 30%: Sufficient research is conducted and collected in the form of graphic organizers
and notes
Citation 20%: Use of 5 different sources, cited in proper MLA form
Format 10%: Writing is in size 12 font, Times New Roman, black, and double spaced.
Editing 10%: Incorporating revision, peer editing, and rewriting

Research topics
1. Democratic Republic of Congo (1996-2003)
2. Sierra Leone (1992-2002)
3. Liberia (1989-2003)
4. Somalia (1991- present)
5. Sudan (1980s- present)
6. El Salvador (1975-1982)
7. Cuba (1959-1980)
8. Colombia (1965- present)
9. Afghanistan (1979-present)
10. Bangladesh/ East Pakistan (1971)
11. Iran (1979)
12. Sri Lanka (1983-2009)
13. Syria (2011- present)
14. Chechnya (1992)
15. Georgia (the country, not the state) (1992-1998)

In addition to writing about refugees, you can create a brochure about your event to share with
the rest of the class and bring awareness to your refugee situation. This should include an
overview of the main areas of research and should include pictures, songs, and quotes. You will
begin this assignment only if your writing is complete and I have given you permission to do this
assignment.

We will be working step by step through this. It may look overwhelming now, but it will not be
as bad as it sounds. We will build upon your skills with each class and you will become more
and more familiar with what is expected of you and hopefully more confident in your ability to
conduct research and write about your findings.


Great places to start your research online:
The History Channel
Time Magazine
National Geographic
CNN
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

If you have any questions outside of class or would like me to look at anything you have found
online that might be of help to you, please talk with me in class or email me at:
kara.foley@leominster.mec.edu.