Investigate the actions of countries accused of state-sponsored terrorism. Analyze the criteria by which the U.S. State Department judges state-sponsored terrorism. Think of the most recent example of terrorism you heard about. Describe the event in as much detail as you can. Then explain the motivations behind the action.
Students then share their responses.
Divide students into small groups of three or four. Using all available classroom resources, students research terrorist activities in or sponsored by their assigned countries in the past thirty years. Once research is complete, students write arguments on their case countries' positions to present at a mock International Court of Justice hearing, to be held in a future class. Explain what their country's government is currently doing to change its support of terrorist activities in order to stop the sanctions. Students will be evaluated based on their written journal entries, participation in class discussions, group research and written case reports, and participation in International Court of Justice hearing.