International Regulations

International Organizations: Alliances & Economic Agreements

Goals & Objectives

The student will . . .

SS.GOV.60.09 - Evaluate the effectiveness of international alliances and organizations from the perspective of the United States. (G2.1.2)
SS.GOV.60.09.a. - Explain the role of international organizations in resolving conflicts, aiding human rights, and solving social issues. (CS 6.6.12.3)
SS.GOV.60.09.a.1 - Outline the roles of the following major international organizations in resolving conflicts, aiding human rights and solving human issues: Security -- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), United Nations (UN); Economic -- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank; Humanitarian -- International Red Cross.
SS.GOV.70.02.a - Analyze various international organizations and treaties which link the United States with other nations economically, socially, and politically.

Introduction & Overview

Many governments are almost exclusively concerned with the protection of their nation's borders and their country's economic well-being. Given the growing interdependancy [mutual dependency] of the nations of the world, however, many countries have resorted to signing military treaties and/or economic agreements to ensure the protection of their people's interests. For example, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a military alliance initially intended to protect the nations of Western Europe. The North American Free Trade Agreement is an example of an ecnomic partnership between the three nations of North America; Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. These military alliances and economic agreements have had a profound impact on the security of the world and the global economy.

For this activity you will use the World Wide Web to find information about the interanational organizations intended to aid in the resolution of conflicts, and the resolving of human rights, social and economic issues: the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations (UN), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the International Red Cross. You will first organize your findings into a graphic-table organizer. You will then use this organizer to assist you in taking a short quiz on these international organizations. Finally, you will prepare an informational poster that describes one of these organizations in a meaningful, colorful, and artistic manner (your instructor may, or may not, assign you one international organization to construct your poster on).

Activities, Assignments & Links

Grapic-Table Organizer - When recording your findings on the international organization, be certain to be accurate and informative. Answer the following questions for each agency:

When was the organization established?
Why was the organization established?
What are the organization's major duties and responsibilities?
How does the organization's policies impact the interantional community and the United States?
What are two issues the organization is currently attempting to address?

Click here for a graphic-table organizer to assist you in recording your information.

Research Links - Below you will find links to various sites containing information on the international organizations. Each site will provide information on one or more of the organizations you are required to research. As you find information on each organization, you will want to record your findings into a graphic-table organizer. Remember you will need this data to be accurate and informative to assist you in taking a short quiz on the international organizations, as well as for completing your informational poster on one of the organizations.

ORGANIZATION	LINKS
NATO	North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Official Homepage NATO News
UN	United Nations' Official Homepage UN Development Programme (current issues)
NAFTA	North American Free Trade Agreement. FAS Online. North American Free Trade Agreement. InfoPlease.
IMF	International Monetary Fund's Homepage World Bank & IMF Libraries
World Bank	The World Bank Group World Bank & IMF Libraries World Bank Research Homepage
International Red Cross	International Committee of the Red Cross Homepage Internation Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
General Infromation and Current Event Links	MHS Media Center Link to Infotrac The Tech - online newspaper for current and old articles on organizations The Washington Post USA Today Newsweek

For additional information on current issues these, and other, organizations are working to resolve, use "Infotrac". This is a database of current newspaper and magazine articles. It is available from most Media Center Web pages. To access the Middletown High School's site, use the following URL: www.mhs.fcps.org/mhslmc/research.htm (click here or click above). If you are using a computer from home, the login information is as follows -- Username: fcpsmhs; Password: knights.

When you get to the Media Center Web page, click on the "Infotrac" link. This will bring you to the introductory page. Click on the "Proceed" button and then select "Student Edition" at the next page. This will take you to the Infotrac database. Type in the name of the organization. At the next screen you will be presented with some choices, one of which indicates a number of periodical references. Next to this choice is a botton that says "Narrow". Click on this button and the references are divided into specific headings. For your project you should look at "Cases" or "Investigation" to view issues the organization is currently working to resolve.

If you have any concerns or are experiencing difficulty with the links, e-mail your questions to my Frederick County Public Schools' e-mail account at daniel.wagner@fcps.org.

Short Quiz - Click here to take a short quiz on the international organizations. The quiz will be the method used to assess your completion of the research and documentation on the international organizations. You may use your graphic-table organizer to take the quiz.

Informational Poster - You are required to create an informational poster on one of the international organizations you have researched and documented. It is recommended that you use Microsoft Word (if you are using a computer) to assist you in the completion of this assignment. If you do not use a computer, your poster must be at least 11" x 17" in size. Your poster should be accurate and informative in regards to the international organization you (or your instructor) have selected. You should explain the purpose and duties of the organization, its impact on the international community and the United States, and any issues the organization is currently working to resolve. The poster should also be well-organized, original, creative, and artistic. You must include relevant clipart, photographs and/or picures in the poster as well (i.e., the organization's logo, photographs of the organization's employees at work, etc.). When you have completed the poster you may either print it and send it to your instructor's school mail box, or send the document as an e-mail attachment to your instructor (use the e-mail address above).

Rubric

This assignment will be assessed according to the following criteria:

	0	1	2	3	4
Describes the Purpose and Current Issue(s) or the Agency	The assignment is not complete or turned in.	Information is completely inaccurate or over-simplified.	Information regarding the organization is not very informative or accurate, and does not fully explain the duties and current issues.	Information is mostly informative and accurate, and expains some of the duties and current issues of the organization.	Information regarding the international organization is informative, accurate, and explains the duties, affects, and current issues of the organization.
Well-Organized, Original, Creative and Artistic	The assignment is not complete or turned in.	Poster is not the currect size, and is not original and creative for the individual student.	The poster shows very little orginality and creativity.	The poster expresses some originality and artistic creativity.	The poster is original and creative for the individual student.
Includes Relevant ART to Enhance Presentation	The assignment is not complete or turned in or no clipart is included.	The art included is irrelevant and not related to the international organization.	Clipart, photographs and/or art is somewhat relevant and related to the international organization.	The art included is mostly relevant and and related to the international organization.	Clipart, photographs and/or art is extremely relevant and related to the international organization.