1. Write 6–8 sentences about Post-Soviet Russian history, summarizing the information in this chapter’s text. Use at least four connecting words and phrases from section 36–4.
   
2. Organize your sentences into a well-structured paragraph, using the cohesive devices in 36–18.
   
3. Work with a partner to edit the paragraph. Pay special attention to sentence structure and look for places where you can elaborate or expand.

«Олигарх» (“Tycoon”), 2002, режиссёр Павел Лунгин (Pavel Lungin) — 123 min. This film is about the rise of a fictitious oligarch in the economic transition between communism and capitalism.
«Свадьба» (“The Wedding”), 2000, режиссёр Павел Лунгин (Pavel Lungin) — 114 min. This film is about the relationships in a small town after the collapse of communism (the reestablishment of Russian family ties).
«Окно в Париж» (“Window to Paris”), 1994, режиссёр Юрий Мамин (Yurii Mamin) — 87 min. This film is about Russians’ views of the West in the post-communist era.

1. How does the film you watched convey the atmosphere of the post-Soviet era in Russia?
   
2. Select one scene that you consider to be a critical turning point for the film’s narrative and prepare a short presentation explaining why this scene is critical.
   
3. Consider carefully the role of the hero or heroine in the film you watched and describe how his or her motivations are governed by realities defined by the collapse of communism.
   
4. If this film were to have been made in accordance with the principles of socialist realism, how would the plot have been different?

Государственные символы Российской Федерации
Внешняя политика Российской Федерации
Русско-китайские отношения в постсоветскую эпоху
Изменения в социальной структуре российского общества: «новые русские»
Организованная преступность в России (конец 1980-х–1990-е гг.)
Дефольт 1998 г.
Выборы президента Российской федерации в 2004 г.
Реформы на российском телевидении: канал «НТВ»
Исторический портрет: Михаил Горбачёв, Борис Ельцин, Геннадий Зюганов, Владимир Жириновский, Ирина Хакамада, Владимир Путин, Григорий Явлинский (на выбор)

1. Identify your topic and formulate the main questions that you will answer in your presentation. These questions will guide your research.
   
2. Look at sources relevant to your questions and gather information; take notes in Russian. Consider also images you may use to illustrate your presentation.
   
3. Write an outline that could become a PowerPoint presentation to use during your talk.
   
4. Make a list of vocabulary items from the text that you want to use. If you need more vocabulary, limit yourself to no more than 5 words that you look up in the dictionary.
   
5. Expand your outline by writing a paragraph for each item.
   
6. Review your presentation for coherence; use at least four cohesive devices from section 36–4 in your presentation.
   
7. Create a PowerPoint or other multimedia presentation to illustrate your talk.
8. Practice delivering the paper orally. Time yourself, and make your delivery of the presentation as smooth as possible. Record yourself while practicing the delivery of your oral presentation and review your recordings to help improve your delivery. When practicing, use notes, not the whole text. Each time you practice giving the presentation, reduce the amount of written text you are using; your goal is to be able to give the presentation from just a few written notes or the outline of your talk in the PowerPoint presentation.