Research Process

Directions to Students

  Scenario

The African Coalition of Economic Development is searching for foreign investors to establish an industry in Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia. You have been hired to select which country has the most favorable economic conditions for their venture. Your research will help the Coalition make recommendations to the team investors. In order to create and present your information, you will need to research each country.

To develop a perspective about the countries being considered, read the following background information African Voices. Use the sections

• Working In Africa
• African Wealth

Task and Product

You will work as part of a research team consisting of three members to gather information specific to each of the four country's economic factors in order to make recommendations to the Coalition as to which country would be most suitable for foreign investors to establish a commercial venture.

Your team will consist of the following three specialists:

• The Commodities and Resource Specialists will examine the industries, products, and resources
• The Trade Marketers will investigate imports and exports and distribution of goods and services
• The Population Analyst will identify population statistics, and the division of labor in agriculture, industry, and services.

Each team of three will produce an economic portfolio using one of the following formats:

• Power Point presentation or other multimedia product
• Pamphlet or brochure
• Other products as directed by your teacher

Assessments

You will be graded on your daily work on the research process as well as on your final product.
Research process:

Advertising / marketing portfolio:

Question

Essential Question guiding your team's research::

Subsidiary questions for each Coalition team-member:

Gather and Sort

Gather information from a variety of sources.

Record your findings using the appropriate chart for each team member:

Remember to cite your references. Check the MLA guidelines and examples for citing resources; however, your school may use a different format.

To avoid risking plagiarism, properly paraphrase and quote in your writing.

Organize

Analyze your research notes to determine which details will be most favorable for the establishement of a new business or industry. Present the strength and weaknesses of your research data to the other specialists.

Synthesize your findings by predicting the most favorable county for economic development and describe the factors that would have the most impact on a successful venture. Justify your country of choice: Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria or Zimbabwe.

Apply your findings to suggest a product or service that could be developed by the foreign investor. Justify your product or service based on availabe human, natural, and capital resources, and the impact of this economic venture.

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.

Create your portfolio. Use your worksheet to help in your preparation. Remember to include positive aspects only, since the portfolio will need to encourage economic development in the particular country.

Conclusion

Presentation

Your group will share your portfolio with the class.

As an audience member in the Coalition for Economic Development in Africa, after a group has presented their portfolio, challenge the selection of the particular country based on:

Reflection

Brief Constructed Responses (Scoring Tool for BCR)