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DP Global Politics: Global Politics

A guide to support the IB Diploma course: Global Politics

Smart Searching

   Search Tips:

  • Combine Keywords from your course materials with a current event, a country, an issue to create a "search string" 
  • Search for exact phrases by putting quotations marks around them, for example: "mutual reliance"
  • Search for files and scans using " filetype:pdf" in a search
  • Limit results by domain: .gov  .edu  .pe 
  • Limit to terms in the title of a site or article with "intitle:"
  • Weed out irrelevant results by using a minus sign and the word(s) that are mucking up the search
  • Get all versions of a word with truncation (*) For example: Child* 
  • Get variations of a word with wild cards (?) For example: Analy?e

Sample Search String:

  • "amnesty international"    iran   intitle:execution*    site:http://.gov    "cultur* impact"    -oil

Make a game of it. Try BOOLIFY - a puzzle-style google search

Command Terms for Global Politics

  • Analyze - Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure
  • Compare - Give an account of the similarities between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout
  • Compare and contrast - Give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout
  • Contrast - Give an account of the differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout
  • Define - Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity
  • Describe - Give a detailed account
  • Discuss - Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence
  • Distinguish - Make clear the differences between two or more concepts or items
  • Evaluate - Make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations
  • Examine - Consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and interrelationships of the issue
  • Explain - Give a detailed account including reasons or causes
  • Identify - Provide an answer from a number of possibilities
  • Justify - Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion
  • Outline - Give a brief account or summary
  • Suggest - Propose a solution, hypothesis or other possible answer
  • To what extent - Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound argument

Recommended Databases

Opposing Viewpoints (password HERE)

  • See the "War & Diplomacy" section for a list of topics
  • Link to amersol to save sources

Global Issues in Context (password HERE)

Explora (password HERE)

  • See "Current Events"

News Sources

Recommended Websites

Statistics

Need numbers for evidence? Try these:

UN Data

Statista (free on campus)

CIA: The World Factbook 

  • Don't miss "Country Comparisons"

EuroStat

  • Statistics for Europe

Offstats

  • Country statistics via U of Auckland