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Web assignments
March 2003
ASSIGNMENT 1
Third Culture Kids
Scanning
Comprehension
Vocabulary
Writing activity
Individual/pair work
40 minutes
You read about 'Third Culture Kids', or TCK's, in the March issue of Alquin magazine. During this assignment you will learn even more about these children who grow up in between the culture of their parents and that of the country they live in.
PART A
Start of by visiting a website dedicated to TCK's: http://www.tckworld.com/
1. Click on 'What is the purpose of TCK world?'. Read the information provided and explain (in your own words) why Samuel L. Britten created the website.
2. Return to the homepage and click on 'What is a TCK?'. Read through the information and then answer the following questions:
a. According to Mark Twain, what are the advantages of travel?
b. Which factors influence the 'individual blend' of cultures that make up a TCK?
c. What kind of 'roots' do TCK's have?
d. Why do TCK's tend to be very independent people?
3. Explain the meaning of the following terms used throughout the site in your own words:
a. Business Brat
b. Expatriate
c. Home Culture
d. Military Brat
e. Missionary Kid
f. Repatriate
PART B
Compare and discuss your answers with a partner. Return to the website to check any discrepancies in your answers.
PART C
Now choose a country somewhere in the world and do some web-based research on the culture and customs there. Imagine a TCK who returns to your country after growing up in the country you researched: what might they find difficult or strange about your country? Write a short article explaining some of the differences and how a TCK might prepare for life in your country. Use around 150 words.
ASSIGNMENT 2 - Tippi
Feral children: fact or fiction?
Reading
Note taking
Speaking practice
Presentation (optional)
Individual/group work
40 minutes
You read about Tippi's adventures in the wild in the March issue of Alquin. The purpose of this assignment is for you to work with a small group to do some research about 'feral children' and to determine whether the stories about them are fact or fiction.
PART A
1. Work in a group of three.
2. Visit the following website: http://www.feralchildren.com/
3. Start off by having a good look around the website to find out what kind of information is available.
4. Once you've done this, click on 'list of children' (left hand column).
5. You and your group members should each choose two different 'feral children' from the list. Only select those with active links or else you will have to do additional research on your own.
6. Make a few notes about the experiences of these children and comment on whether or not (in your opinion) the story sounds authentic.
7. Each group member should choose one topic listed under 'development' (left hand column): Language, Physical or Social.
8. Read about your chosen topic and briefly summarise the most important information provided.
PART B
1. Discuss and compare the results of your research with your group members. Together you should decide whether or not 'feral children' are fact or fiction and include this in a concise group summary of your research results.
2. If your teacher wants you to present your findings in class you need to make an introduction (in which you state your opinion on whether feral children are fact or fiction), structure the order of information presented and also make a conclusion. Decide who will speak first, second and last. You all need to speak for roughly the same amount of time. You may use confidence cards (i.e. small cards held in your hand to help remind you of what you want to say) but you MUST NOT read directly from your research notes.
ASSIGNMENT 3
Eminem
Scanning
Note taking
Writing
Individual/Pair work
60 minutes
In the March issue of Alquin magazine you read about controversial rapper Eminem. For this assignment you will have to use your Internet skills to find information about Eminem, from his youth until today. You will look at various web sites and take notes about relevant information. You will use this information to write a brief biography about Eminem.
PART A
Get on the Internet and start searching. Remember to be economical with your time: be selective and try not to take notes about everything you come across. Remember that a good biography includes positive and negative information about a person so try to find out why so many people like Eminem and also why so many people dislike him. Keep a record of the websites you take notes from, as you need to include a list of these at the end of your biography. DO NOT print out excessive pages of information and DO NOT cut and paste information directly from websites. Your teacher will recognise written work that is not your own!
PART B
Now that you have your information you must organise it. Sketching a time-line of Eminem's life, highlighting important dates, will help you get started. Draw up a plan of what you want to include in your biography.
PART C
Once you have drawn up a plan of what you want to include in your biography, you can concentrate on how you want to write it. Your opinion of Eminem will influence the style and content of your biography. You must include an introduction and conclusion in which you describe and explain your opinion of Eminem. If you want to include pictures remember that 'less is more'. In other words, don't use too many. Your biography must be approximately 200 words long (one A4 sheet of paper).
PART D
After proofreading your own work, give it to a friend to read. Having someone else check your work is a great way of finding spelling and grammar mistakes. Make any necessary corrections. When you hand the biography in, include a list of the websites you used when gathering your information.
Web assignments archive