Help students contrast the powers the U.S. president has with the powers that presidents have in other countries. For instance, the United States Constitution affords the president the power to support an army and call a country into war. The president also has the power to stop or start government programs. In an essay, have students explore the responsibility and authority of presidents in other democratic nations, such as Italy, Argentina, the Czech Republic, Norway, Costa Rica and so on.
Encourage students to compare human rights practices in Communist countries with human rights practices in democratic and/or monarchical societies. Have them examine the differences between how the countries handle human crises, the role of the United Nations in intercepting conflict and the role of writers and journalists in bringing human rights issues to the public's attention. Direct students to use exact examples in an essay to show how one country treats humanitarian issues regarding war, abuse and the prison system with another country, for example.
Students can contrast how the U.S. developed into one country and how Europe continues forming into a union. While controversy exists on what is going on in the European government, consider the beginnings of the United States---divided into north and south, for instance---and how slowly explorers and leaders slowly acquired states to become a whole nation. Instruct students to cite specific examples from the American story, such as federalists and colonialists, and nations resistant to fully joining the European Union (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain).
Encourage students to focus on slave labor by comparing and contrasting the ways Asian countries such as Japan and China have used slave labor with how Western European countries used slave labor up to the Middle Ages. Have them contrast the treatment of slaves from another nation, such as Africa, with slavery by caste system, such as it is currently in place in India and many other nations. Tell students to examine why slavery was used in the countries and what the public's reaction was, overall, to slavery. Make sure they compare the points of those who disagreed with slavery with those who promoted the enterprise.