Parts 1 of this assignment asks you to select a United Nations (U.N.) country that is active in foreign policy and global engagement.
That means you need to find background information on a U.N. country of your choice.
Background information is the foundational information you must know to create a research question or topic. Background information gives you an overview of basic ideas or concepts related to your topic. It also introduces you to the academic language that experts may use to describe your topic.
Background information can also provide:
- Definitions of the terms like NAFTA
- Introduction to key issues like human rights
- Names of people who are authorities in the subject field like Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo
- Major dates and events like the Operation Enduring Freedom
- References and bibliographies that lead to additional resources
The resources below can all be used for background information. Remember to:
- Start with keywords like foreign policy, international relations, sustainable development, etc.
- Use AND to connect ideas and concepts
- Browse tools in the database to learn more
-
CountryWatch
Profiles of countries worldwide with an emphasis on demographic, political, economic, business, cultural and environmental conditions. Includes interactive maps and news articles.
-
Credo Reference
Reference books including dictionaries, encyclopedias, quotations, and atlases, plus a wide range of subject-specific reference titles.
-
United Nations (U.N.) DataTIP: Select a country and look at data by section.
-
CIA World Book Facts - CountriesTIP: Look at Transnational Issues section of country profile.
-
Britannica Academic
Complete online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica, including Merriam Webster's Dictionary & Thesaurus, magazine and journal articles, videos, and notable quotations.
-
Freedom House Country MapTIP: Look at Human Rights section of Countries and Freedom in the World narrative reports by years for country information.
-
US Newsstream (Proquest)
News sources including newspapers, newswires, blogs, and news sites.
-
Newspaper Source Plus
Articles from more than 860 newspapers, and television & radio news transcipts.
ACTIVITY: COUNTRY RESEARCH
ACTIVITY: Add 1 Fact About Your Country to Padlet
Using the United Nations Country Research tab on the Research Guide, add one relative fact about your country to the Padlet map below. Look for government or international relations’ information like conflicts, human rights issues, trade, and transnational issues.
Open the Padlet using this URL: https://tinyurl.com/polisci103padlet