COUNTRY RESEARCH

GUIDE
DISCOVERING EMPATHY NAME: _______________________ PERIOD:______________

INSTRUCTIONS

You are a New York Times reporter investigating the impact of American
imperialism on a country’s economic, political, and social development. The
research that you gather will prepare you for a debate that you will hold with
a reporter of differing opinion on your podcast, Across the Aisle.
Websites to start your research:
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2018

CIRCLE THE COUNTRY YOU CHOSE TO RESEARCH

Liberia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic,
Haiti, Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Nicaragua.

Label and color your country on a map.

 STEP 2: COUNTRY DEMOGRAPHICS
Complete the boxes asking for information about your country
using the websites on page one. Cite the webpage where you found
the information at the bottom of each box.
DISCOVERING EMPATHY

ETHNICITIES (INCLUDE % OF POPULATION)

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION (INCLUDE % OF POPULATION)

NATIONAL LANGUAGE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT

NAMES OF POLITICAL PARTIES TYPE OF ECONOMY

TYPE OF CURRENCY:
IS THEIR CURRENCY TIED TO THE U.S. DOLLAR?
 STEP 2: COUNTRY DEMOGRAPHICS
Complete the boxes with information about your country using the
websites on page one. Cite the webpage where you found the
information at the bottom of each box.
DISCOERING EMPATHY

ANNUAL GDP:

LEVEL OF FREEDOM:

DOES THE COUNTRY HAVE

LITERACY LEVELS:
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE?

DATE OF INDEPENDENCE FROM RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED

UNITED STATES: STATES:

MEMBERSHIPS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OR COALITIONS?

 STEP 3: HISTORY
WITH THE U.S.
Summarize your country's relationship with the U.S., from
invasion, to freedom, to today. Include important battles, political
DISCOVERING EMPATHY leaders, and current economic and political alliances.
 STEP 4: CURRENT EVENT
-CHOOSE A CURRENT EVENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR
COUNTRY THAT DEPICTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. AND IS
RELATED TO POLITICS, ECONOMICS, OR SOCIETY AND ANSWER
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
DISCOVERING EMPATHY TITLE AUTHOR

Summarize the article:

CURRENT EVENT #1

Is the current event from the perspective of your country or the United
States? Explain your answer.

How does the article depict the relationship between your country
and the United States?

What is the tone of the current event?

 STEP 4: CURRENT EVENT
-CHOOSE A CURRENT EVENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR
COUNTRY THAT DEPICTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. AND IS
RELATED TO POLITICS, ECONOMICS, OR SOCIETY AND ANSWER
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
DISCOVERING EMPATHY TITLE WEBSITE

Summarize the article:

CURRENT EVENT #2

Is the current event from the perspective of your country or the United
States? Explain your answer.

How does the article depict the relationship between your country
and the United States?

What is the tone of the current event?

 STEP 5: CHOOSE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE
PERSPECTIVES OF IMPERIALISM FROM AMERICA'S
POINT OF VIEW AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS:
DISCOVERING EMPATHY TITLE WEBSITE

AMERICAN P.O.V. Summarize the article:

Is the author pro-imperialism or anti-imperialism? (Use evidence to support

ARTICLE #1 THE

claim).

How does the article depict the relationship between your country
and the United States?

What is one quote that best explains the main idea of the article?
 STEP 5: CHOOSE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE
PERSPECTIVES OF IMPERIALISM FROM YOUR
COUNTRY'S POINT OF VIEW AND ANSWER THE
FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
DISCOVERING EMPATHY TITLE WEBSITE

Summarize the article:

ARTICLE #2 YOUR
COUNTRY'S P.O.V.

Is the author pro-imperialism or anti-imperialism? (Use evidence to support

claim).

How does the article depict the relationship between your country
and the United States?

What is one quote that best explains the main idea of the article?
 STEP 6: SYNTHESIZE
AND MAKE A CLAIM
Use your country's demographics, your articles, and the primary
source documents to make a claim that answers the following
DISCOVERING EMPATHY
question that you will be debating on your podcast episode.

I think the United States positively/ negatively affected the development of my country for the
following reasons (cite two reasons with evidence):