2015 Africa Unit Study Guide
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Answer each question on a separate piece of paper.
It may be as long as you would like.
I recommend typing it up, so it is easier to read and use during the test. And if you lose it, you
can print up another copy to use for preparing for the midterm.
When you answer the questions, you should do it in outline, chart, or use bullet form.
Writing in paragraph form is not user-friendly and takes up too much time and makes it
harder to use on the test.
If you complete the study guide fully, you can earn up to 10 points extra credit added to your
MIDTERM SCORE. And if you complete the second half of the study guide fully, you can earn
up to 10 points extra credit added to your End of the Africa Unit Test score.
Academic A: You may use your completed study guide on the midterm and the end of the unit
test.
Geography Lesson Questions:
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What are the key characteristics of the location and size of the continent of Africa?
What is the Great Rift Valley? What impact has this had on the geography of Africa?
What are the great lakes of Africa?
What are the main rivers of Africa and their defining characteristics? What impact has each
major river had on Africa?
What are the water issues of Africa? What are the causes? What are the effects?
What are the main mountain ranges of Africa?
What are the defining characteristics of the rain forest regions in Africa? What are the
problems facing the rain forests?
What are the defining characteristics of the savanna regions in Africa? What are the effects of
the savanna on Africa?
What is the Sahel? What are the unique physical and cultural characteristics of the Sahel?
What are the effects of the Sahel on Africa?
What is desertification? What are the causes? What are the possible solutions? What impact
has this process had on Africa?
What are the natural resources Africa is rich with?
MIDTERM Short Answer Question: How has the physical geography of Africa contributed to
the contemporary problems and issues of the continent?
MIDTERM Short Answer Question: How has the physical geography of Africa benefited the
continent?
Religions and Tribalism Lesson Questions:
1. What are the main aspects of traditional African society and tribalism? What impact has each
had?
2. What is Animism? How does this religious belief differ from Christianity and Islam? What
role has Animism played in Africa?
3. How did Christianity arrive on the continent? What impact did it have?
4. How did Islam arrive on the continent? What impact did it have?
5. Examine how traditions and tribalism dominate an African’s daily life.
Imperialism Lesson Questions:
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What were the differences between Old and New Imperialism?
How was the desire to explore, experience adventure, and danger a cause of imperialism?
How was the Industrial Revolution and new technology a cause of imperialism?
How did Direct Control of colonies work?
How did a Protectorate colony work?
How did a Sphere of Influence colony work?
What happened at the Berlin Conference? Why was the impact of this?
What were the British colonies and how were they treated?
What were the French colonies and how were they treated?
What were the German colonies and how were they treated?
What were the Belgian colonies and how were they treated?
What were the Italian colonies and how were they treated?
What were the Portuguese colonies and how were they treated?
What were the Spanish colonies and how were they treated?
How did African resist imperialism? What were the results of their efforts?
What were the benefits or positives of imperialism?
What were the negatives of imperialism?
Be able to identify, explain, and give examples for each of the causes of Imperialism.
Be able to analyze maps and political cartoons on imperialism.
Be able to examine the positives and negatives of imperialism?
Midterm:
Decolonization and Independence Lesson Questions:
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What were the causes of Decolonization?
How did African Nationalism develop?
What were the phases of Decolonization?
What problems did the newly independence African countries face and why?
How did the British handle decolonization and what happened in each of their colonies?
How did the French handle decolonization and what happened in each of their colonies?
How did the Belgians handle decolonization and what happened in each of their colonies?
How did the Italians handle decolonization and what happened in each of their colonies?
How did the Portuguese handle decolonization and what happened in each of their colonies?
Possible Short Answer: Be able to compare and contrast the decolonization process between
two of the European colonies in Africa.
Apartheid in South Africa Lesson Questions:
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What was the policy of Apartheid?
What were the causes of Apartheid?
How was Apartheid carried out politically, economically, socially, and culturally?
How did the black South Africans fight against Apartheid in violent and non-violent ways?
Who was Nelson Mandela and what role did he play?
Who were the other key figures who played a role in ending Apartheid in South Africa?
7. What problems does South Africa face today after the end of Apartheid and why?
8. Possible Short Answer Question: Be able to examine and respond to political cartoons or
written primary sources on Apartheid.
Contemporary Issues Facing Africa Lesson Questions:
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What are the causes of poverty in Africa? What are the effects?
What are the health issues facing Africa? What are the causes? What are the effects?
Why are there so many dictators in Africa and where? What impact have they had?
What are the causes of civil war in Sierra Leone? What are the connections to Blood
Diamonds? What effects have they had on Africa and the world?
What has been happening in Somalia and why? How has this affected the United States and
the world?
What are child soldiers? Why are they used? Where? How? What effects have they had?
What is genocide? How has it happened in Darfur? Role of the world? Impact?
What is genocide? How did it happen in Rwanda? Role of the world? Impact?
What are the causes of famine in Africa? Where? What are the effects?
Possible Short Answer: Be able to identify and explain in depth at least three different issues
facing Africa today.
Possible Extra Credit Activities For The Africa Unit:
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These will be due the either five days before the end of the second marking period or when
the Africa Unit Notebook is collected.
They must be typed and done in color.
1. Write an Acrostic Poem for AFRICA’S GEOGRAPHY. Worth up to 15 Points.
a. Each line should start with the given letter.
b. Each line must be a well-developed sentences that identifies, explains, provides
examples, or examines causes and effects.
c. Do not repeat concepts.
2. Create a Metaphorical Representation on Triangular Trade and Slavery or on European
Imperialism and its Impact on Africa. Worth up to 30 Points.
a. The assignment was: done neatly, in color, on a blank piece of paper, and the
paragraphs were typed, spell-checked, and grammar-checked. Watch for
capitalization errors! The assignment reflected good effort and thought.
b. The student created a Metaphorical Representation on one of the above topics. You
must come up with your own metaphor, simile, or analogy.
c. Under the chosen metaphor, simile, or analogy, the student illustrated a scene that
supported the literary comparison:
i. The student incorporated specific historical information into the drawing using
key terms and words.
ii. The student incorporated specific historical information into the drawing using
historical images from the computer and also hand-drawn.
iii. You must include the positives and negatives within the art portion.
iv. Do this in color and on a blank piece of paper.
d. On the back of the Metaphorical Representation, the student wrote TWO typed, welldeveloped paragraphs. In the paragraphs, the student:
i. Explained the literary comparison using referring to the specific historical
elements in the illustration and explaining their relationships to your literary
comparison.
ii. Used specifics from your notes.
iii. Did not write vague or general statements.
iv. Do not keep repeating the same information or point to make it appear
longer.
v. Provided analysis of the supportive illustration as well.
vi. Each paragraph was a minimum of four well-developed sentences.
3. Create a Political Cartoon on Imperialism, the Decolonization Process, Apartheid in South
Africa, or one of the Contemporary Issues. Worth up to 30 Points.
a. Writer’s Purposes: You are to create a political cartoon that takes a critical stance and
examines and evaluates the causes or events of the chosen topic.
b. FCA One: The political cartoon uses sarcasm to make a commentary on your chosen topic.
 It must focus on a specific aspects of the theory and address the hypocrisy of
action, the stupidity of the action, or abuses of power with historical specifics.
c. _FCA Two: The political cartoon has specific historical information on the chosen topic
integrated into the cartoon itself using HISTORICAL IMAGES (A Required Political Cartoon
Strategy) from Ms. Barben’s Powerpoint or online.
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You MUST USE HISTORICAL/RECENT IMAGES WITHIN YOUR POLITICAL CARTOON.
IT CANNOT BE ALL HAND-DRAWN.
THIS MUST BE DONE IN COLOR.
d._FCA Three: You must use a minimum of TWO different political cartoon strategies in your
political cartoon:
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Required: Caption or Title that shows the irony of the idea---Powerful
Commentary
Optional: Select ONE
o Symbols
o Exaggeration/Distortion
o Labeling
o Analogy
o Metaphor
o Caricature
o Satire
o Stereotypes
o Humor
o Irony
e._FCA Four: On the back, the students provided THREE TYPED and well-developed
paragraphs (four to six strong sentences) explaining:
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Remember a well-developed sentence should identify and define, explain and provide
examples, or connect and analyze.
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First Paragraph:
 Review the historical concepts, people, positives and negatives about your
chosen Arab Spring Revolution.
 DO NOT JUST LIST INFORMATION but explain in your own words.
 Make connections between the historical content to how you used sarcasm
and historical information within your political cartoon.
Second Paragraph:
 Explain how you developed the caption or title for your political cartoon.
 What historical point is it to drive home? Why?
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What message is it to convey to the reader? How does your caption do this?
Third Paragraph:
 Explain how you chose your other TWO political cartoon strategies.
 Why were they chosen? How were they used in your political cartoon?
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