Global political challenges
HL Presentations
The HL Extension Task
For HL Global politics, you have to give two 10 minute presentations, each on a case study of your choice. These presentations account for 20% of your final grade, and are a great opportunity for you to learn from each other about a wide variety of topics and examples that will come in handy in the exams.
Each presentation must fall under one of the following six broad topics, known as the global political challenges:
Environment
Poverty
Health
Identity
Borders
Security
You cannot submit two presentations on the same global political challenge.
Through the presentations, you will develop your independent research skills, analytical skills, and presentation skills.
- Developing Ideas
There are two approaches to choosing a case study for your presentation.
Choose one of the global political challenges. List as many global issues as possible that you connect to this umbrella challenge. Which issues are you most interested in? Choose one and find a case study
Or
2. Writing your draft
Look carefully at the assessment rubric.
The key question for the examiner is:
Does the student present a clear, focused and balanced analysis of the case study, highlighting a global political challenge?
A common issue is that students choose case studies that are too broad.
You can include lots of global politics theory and content, and make links to wider issues but are you providing a clear, focused and balanced analysis of a case study, highlighting a GPC?
Top tips from examiners:
Do
-demonstrate focused knowledge and understanding of the global political challenge you have chosen
-choose two/three key concepts and explore your global political challenge through these
-draw on a range of analytical tools, such as conceptual lenses, theoretical perspectives, local-to-global levels of analysis and multiple stakeholder perspectives, including data and quotations where appropriate
-analyse your case study within the wider context of global politics, rather than simply making links or drawing basic parallels to similar case studies
-many case studies are chosen by students frequently, try to be original
-think about the range of sources you use, news articles are helpful but you should also use academic articles/ books
Don't
-although global political challenges are interrelated, do not choose more than one
-many students choose case studies that are too broad, you only have 10 minutes
-choosing too many key concepts will likely lead to a superficial discussion
-presentations that are too short or too long will not be as successful
-the May 2021 examiners report clearly states that marks will be deducted when a student is reading a script. You are allowed note cards, you are not allowed to read from a script
-avoid using digital presentations, you don't get marks for using them. They should only be used if you really need to show a map or photographs
-a common issue for examiners is the quality of the recording. Make sure the microphone is close to you, minimise background noise and interruptions.
Classroom Activity Toolbox
A. No Interruptions
In random pairs label one person A and the other B.
Person A should speak for 2 minutes about their topic.
Person B should not interrupt or say anything.
Swap.
Write down one question for your partner to think about.
B. Dear Cassie
During some lessons you will be given time to work on your presentation. At the start of the class:
write a letter reflecting on your progress so far.
include comments on your effort and what you need to do next.
include any questions that you have for me.
I will reply to your letter during the class.
C. Post-it Chaos
1. Each student writes their chosen topic on a post-it.
2. Shuffle post-its in a box and each student selects one.
3. Students have 8 minutes to write:
A list of key questions about the topic;
How they would structure the presentation;
Which theories/ concepts you would recommend.
4. Ask students to organise themselves so they have their arm on the shoulder of the person who’s topic they are brainstorming. This may produce one large circle or multiple circles depending on the random selection.
5. Staying in a circle formation take turns to talk to each neighbour for 3 minutes, giving them your advice/ listening to their advice.
D. Hexagon Mapping
Use this sheet at the end of the research process to help clarify your ideas. This should then allow you to begin the write-up with confidence.
GloPo HL Extension Hexagon Map.pdfE. Dissecting Examples
This is an example script. You will watch a video in class and you should read along.
Task: re-read it and highlight the student's use of:
the global challenge
key concepts
key terms
theories and theorists
data (statistics/ dates etc)
specific names
At the end, annotate every time the student makes a new point/ argument.
Finally use the marking rubric to allocate a grade.