Learn Diplomatic Terms with the Frayer Model
ACTIVITY
Activity: Learn Diplomatic Terms With the Frayer Model
TEACHER NOTE: This resources is set to “view only.” Please make a copy to modify the resource and use it with your students.
In this activity, students will use the skills of diplomacy listed below. Learn more about all 9 skills of diplomacy on our website.
Analysis - Study and think critically about situations. |
Communication - Articulate your position and listen openly to others’ viewpoints. Determine where interests overlap. Confirm positions and use clear and appropriate language to avoid misunderstandings. |
Collaboration - Incorporate the ideas of others and find common ground. Take cues from others when formulating responses and making proposals. |
Leadership - Make decisions using what information is available. Keep the big picture in mind. Take steps to fill gaps in knowledge and understanding. |
Innovation - Formulate alternatives and be flexible in responses to unanticipated circumstances. |
Teacher Instructions
The Frayer Model provides a multi-modal approach to learning vocabulary. Teachers can use this activity separately or in conjunction with one of our educational videos. Additional information on the Frayer Model tool, including variations and use with students, is available here.
Step 1: Select a video and a set of terms for students to define by selecting slides in the slide deck. Each slide includes the term and four boxes for a student to complete: definition, image, example, and non-example. These slides come pre-filled with possible answers and the corresponding educational videos where these terms are found are in the speaker notes section. Terms are listed according to the order they are mentioned in Foundations of Diplomacy videos. The corresponding video is noted in the speaker notes.
Step 2: Make a copy of the slides you are using and delete the information for categories you want students to complete.
Step 3: Watch the selected video.
Step 4: Assign terms to students and ask them to complete the blank categories. Students can work individually or in groups.
Step 5: Within each slide, students can provide a definition, an example, a non-example, and/or draw an image that corresponds to the term.
Additional ways to use this activity
Note: Terms/concepts may come with two definitions that are differentiated by complexity. Teachers are invited to use the definition that is better for their students.
Video: What Is the State Department?
International
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Non-Example: Officials from the United States meet together to discuss trade within their country.
Example: Diplomats from around the world meet together to discuss international trade between countries.
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Alliance
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Non-Example: Instead of working together, the two nations acted on their own.
Example: The United States has alliances with Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other nations.
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Government agency
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Non-Example: A for-profit company that makes money for itself and its employees is not a federal agency.
Example: The U.S. Department of State, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Education are federal agencies.
Definition:
Foreign affairs
Non-Example: Policies and actions that impact a country’s internal institutions, like National Parks, are considered domestic affairs.
Example: When an ambassador meets with leaders from other nations, they will discuss foreign affairs and how the countries can work together on issues of mutual concern.
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Advisor
Non-Example: The diplomat didn’t provide advice to the President, as it was not his place to offer.
Example: The President asked for and received input from his cabinet, who were his trusted advisors.
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Diplomat
Non-Example: A government official who focuses on work within their own country is not a diplomat.
Example: Embassies around the world have many skilled diplomats who represent their countries.
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Bureau
Non-Example: The leader of a country does not guide a bureau.
Example: The U.S. Department of State has a bureau to address refugee issues.
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Innovation
Non-Example: Doing the same thing over and over again does not show innovation.
Example: The telephone was an innovation that allowed diplomats to immediately talk to each other across long distances.
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Humanity
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Non-Example: Animals and plants are not part of the collective humanity.
Example: People who live in countries around the world are all part of humanity.
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Complex
Non-Example: Since there was only one option, it was not a complex decision.
Example: James discussed the complex possibilities and outcomes regarding international trade.
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Video: What Does the State Department Do?
Manage
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Non-Example: Ignoring relationships with a country is a management failure.
Example: The U.S. embassy in France’s capital, Paris, manages relationships with the French government and people.
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Function
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Non-Example: Blake was a new employee and was uncertain about what she was supposed to do.
Example: The team worked well because everyone knew what to do and what their functions were within the embassy.
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Prosperity
Non-Example: The country’s industry and trade was damaged by war and environmental disaster.
Example: The new international trade policy resulted in prosperity for the United States and its citizens.
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Nationality
Non-Example: Jordan identified with his favorite sports team more than the country where he is a citizen.
Example: The Olympics has teams based on athlete’s nationality.
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Tact
Non-Example: Jonah lacked tact; he never said “please” or “thank you”.
Example: Hayden showed great tact when he asked all the volunteers about how they and their family were doing.
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Entrepreneur
Non-Example: Peyton is not an entrepreneur, as she has never started or run business, but she frequently shops at small businesses.
Example: Leah is an entrepreneur, as she started her business in 2015 and recently expanded it.
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In accordance
Non-Example: The meeting fell into chaos because no one was acting in accordance with the rules.
Example: The diplomats agreed to participate in the meeting in accordance with the rules, which meant no talking out of turn.
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Perilous
Non-Example: The old building was updated with new smoke alarms and clearly marked fire exits.
Example: The fire created a perilous situation for the people who were stuck in the building.
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Values
Non-Example: Parker knew that saving the sea turtles is important, but it was not one of her personal values.
Example: Hayden grew up having lots of pets, and animal care and well-being was something he valued.
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Imperative
Non-Example: Brooke wanted to talk about next week’s party during the emergency meeting.
Example: It was imperative that the group agreed on how much money to spend at the emergency meeting.
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Video: What Is Diplomacy and How Does It Work?
Diplomacy
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Non-Example: If a U.S. diplomat did not communicate or seek out the views of diplomats in other countries, they would not be practicing diplomacy.
Example: U.S. diplomats practice diplomacy to reach agreement on issues of mutual concern with their counterparts around the world.
Definition:
Analysis
Non-Example: The ambassador didn’t have an analysis of the problem, so when a journalist asked for a solution, he could not answer.
Example: The diplomats took time to research and create a full analysis of the country’s economy before making a recommendation.
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Awareness
Non-Example: Emily didn’t know about the traditions of the country, so she accidentally offended the taxi driver when she waved goodbye.
Example: Ivan had awareness of the country’s traditions because he studied the country before arriving.
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Communication
Non-Example: Instead of sharing ideas, Remy remained silent.
Example: Timothy used social media to communicate and advertise the embassy event.
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Collaboration
Non-Example: Instead of forming an alliance, the country acted by itself to try and fix the problem.
Example: The collaboration between countries meant that they all were able to create a treaty that everyone could agree to.
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Leadership
Non-Example: It did not matter what was being said, Evan would blindly follow any instructions.
Example: Ava showed leadership as she heard everyone's perspectives on how to approach the foreign diplomats about climate change.
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Composure
Non-Example: Alexa could not keep calm, and she yelled at the city council members.
Example: Even though they were criticized, the diplomats practiced their composure during the meeting.
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Advocacy
Non-Example: Lucy thought the school lunches were good, so she stayed silent when people said they wanted a change.
Example: Levi advocated for the U.S. to be a part of the negotiations.
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Management
Non-Example: Ignoring relationships with a country is a management failure.
Example: The U.S. embassy in France’s capital, Paris, manages relationships with the French government and people.
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Video: What Are Embassies, Consulates, and Missions?
Relationships
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Non-Example: Cameron did not yet have a relationship with his new coworkers.
Example: Because of their strong relationship, the diplomats easily found a solution to their shared problem.
Definition:
Embassy
Non-Example: Nora went to the meeting at the town hall about the new garbage collection schedule.
Example: Washington, D.C., has many official buildings called embassies where diplomats from other countries work.
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Consulate
Non-Example: The restaurant was a favorite meeting spot for the diplomats.
Example: There are consulates that represent different countries in major cities that aren’t capitals, like New York City and Los Angeles.
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Mission
Non-Example: The group took a tour of the government building to learn about its history.
Example: The diplomats were sent to New York to represent the United States at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
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Ambassador
Non-Example: George was a general in the army.
Example: As the lead diplomat to Indonesia, the Ambassador works at the embassy in the capital city, Jakarta.
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Commerce
Non-Example: There is no transaction of money when volunteering at the local food bank.
Example: The commerce website helped customers get the best deal by showing where to buy products for the cheapest price.
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Culture
Non-Example: The group of people were of all ages and came from all over the world, so it was difficult for them to find anything in common.
Example: As a sign of respect and hospitality, it was part of their culture to offer tea to those visiting their home.
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Symbol
Non-Example: Since there were no arrows or symbols, visitors had to stop and read every sign before knowing which way to turn.
Example: Julia did not know where she was, but she followed the signs that had the symbol for the hospital.
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Non-governmental organization
Non-Example: The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Justice are government agencies.
Example: The Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Amnesty International are all nongovernmental organizations.
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Institution
Non-Example: Jaimie represented himself at the conference, instead of a company or other institution.
Example: NCAA sports and the United Nations are both institutions.
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Video: What Are Treaties and Alliances?
Treaty
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Non-Example: When the U.S. government passes legislation impacting domestic issues, this is usually called a law, act, or executive order, not a treaty.
Example: The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by the United States in 2015. The United States left the agreement in 2020 and returned to it in 2021.
Definition:
Territorial boundaries
Non-Example: The town was located in the center of the country, so people there were less concerned about the country borders.
Example: The fence marked the territorial boundaries between the two countries.
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Human rights
Non-Example: The government did not respect basic human rights, as seen by its decision to not allow people to choose their religion and speak freely.
Example: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document stating that all people are guaranteed basic rights and freedoms.
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Law enforcement
Non-Example: A non-governmental organization like the Red Cross is not law enforcement.
Example: The police, FBI, and the justice system are different law enforcement agencies.
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Environmental
Non-Example: The highways were not included in the environmental report.
Example: A country’s weather, mountains, forests, and lakes are part of its environmental makeup.
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Process
Non-Example: Adrian took the test for becoming a dance instructor, not knowing that there were classes he had to take beforehand.
Example: It was a long process to become a lawyer, but Taylor studied for her classes, found a mentor, and passed her tests to become certified.
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Outcome
Non-Example: The meeting had to be cut short because the fire alarm went off, so there was no clear outcome.
Example: The outcome of the group discussion was that everyone agreed on a solution to fixing the water quality issue.
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Mutually binding
Non-Example: The country didn't want to offer money to the neighboring country if there was no agreement which stated they would be paid back.
Example: The allied countries came together after the flood because they belonged to a mutually binding aid agreement.
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Formal
Non-Example: The ambassador asked her staff to call her Alex, instead of Ambassdor Garcia.
Example: The two nations signed a formal agreement to cooperate in how they combatted climate change.
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Video: What Is Foreign Policy?
Foreign policy
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Non-Example: The relationship the government of the United States has with its 50 states and territories impacts “domestic” policy, not foreign policy, because those places are part of the same country.
Example: The relationship the United States has with the United Kingdom is a distinct foreign policy.
Definition:
Interests
Non-Example: The new mayor wanted to remove the town’s parks, which was not in the interest of local parents and kids.
Example: The diplomats worked out a plan to promote free trade, which was important to the small business owners and in the interest of the whole country.
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Security
Non-Example: The military base did not have enough people to protect it, so it was prone to attack.
Example: Nations have military treaties to ensure their security in case of threatening situations.
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Dynamics
Non-Example: All players from last year remained the same, so the team was predicted to win the championship again.
Example: When Naomi and Piper were introduced, the team dynamic changed and everyone started to get along more.
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Bedrock
Non-Example: Ariana started acting out without any basis of reasoning.
Example: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution form the bedrock of U.S. democracy.
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Infectious
Non-Example: Diabetes is not an infectious disease, since it cannot be passed from person to person.
Example: Behaviors and political movements can be infectious, spreading to other places.
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Tandem
Non-Example: Ian worked alone on getting the house ready for the party.
Example: Dominic and Maya worked in tandem because they each had to make something for the picky eaters at the party.
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Coherent
Non-Example: Skylar did not explain the rules of the game well, so the group did not have a clear idea of how to play.
Example: Before the meeting ended, every diplomat involved could understand the next steps because of the coherent plan discussed.
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Video: What Is the Foreign Service?
Minister
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Non-Example: Josiah was a new economic officer and did not high enough rank for an official title.
Example: The minister attended a meeting with the country’s president to discuss the new trade treaty.
Definition:
Merge
Non-Example: Since no one wanted to merge their work with Alyssa, she remained the only person on the team.
Example: After the earthquake, countries merged their resources to help citizens in need of food, water, and medical supplies.
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Recruit
Non-Example: The embassy was fully staffed, so no new workers were needed.
Example: The embassy was expanding and needed to recruit more people to work there.
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Competitive
Non-Example: Since Jesse was the only one who wanted the job, it was not competitive and he easily got the position.
Example: The workers were all skilled, so it was a competitive interview process.
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Evacuate
Non-Example: The diplomats remained in place during the earthquake drill.
Example: The diplomats evacuated the embassy during the potentially dangerous situation.
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Fraud
Non-Example: The officials verified that the signature was real and authentic.
Example: When someone lies on their visa application, they have committed fraud.
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Technologies
Non-Example: Fearing change, the office used outdated ways of communicating and working.
Example: Looking for ways to innovate, the department spent money on new technologies to help improve performance.
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Persuasively
Non-Example: The ambassador’s speech about forming an alliance was unconvincing and too short to persuade his audience to work with his country.
Example: The ambassador’s speech was persuasive because he and his team put together a convincing argument for the countries to work together.
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Formulate
Non-Example: Unprepared, the diplomat did not formulate any plans to express how the two nations could work together.
Example: The meeting about the trade deal was important, so the team formulated their plans and goals beforehand.
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Definition:
Video: What Does the Secretary of State Do?
Cabinet
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Non-Example: Supreme Court justices are not part of the president’s cabinet.
Example: The secretary of state, secretary of education, and secretary of energy are three people in the president’s cabinet.
Definition:
Chief
Non-Example: Lucy was a young recruit who had the lowest rank in the bureau.
Example: The U.S. president is also the commander-in-chief of the military.
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Implement
Non-Example: Lorna could not implement her idea because it was too expensive.
Example: Jordan created and implemented a new system of tracking visitors at the embassy.
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Effectively
Non-Example: The meeting was ineffective because the participants were unclear about their goals and left the meeting feeling like nothing was accomplished.
Example: The meeting was conducted so effectively that all participants left understanding their goals and what they needed to do.
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Counsel
Non-Example: Eli did not want to offer his advice or counsel his boss on the situation.
Example: Embassies work well when the staff can counsel each other on issues of importance and possible solutions.
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Confirmation
Non-Example: Isabel’s new position at the State Department had not yet been confirmed because it was was still under review by the Senate.
Example: The ambassador was able to start their position once they were confirmed by the Senate.
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Succession
Non-Example: The position was eliminated after the chief officer resigned.
Example: If the U.S. president is unable to lead due to illness, the vice president steps in, or succeeds the president.
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Video: What Do Diplomats Need to Do Their Job?
Ultimate
Non-Example: Leo decided to help out with the color scheme, which was the least important part of the group project.
Example: The secretary of state told the ambassador what her ultimate, or most important, goal was during her time at the embassy.
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Context
Non-Example: The diplomats were confused at the meeting because the context, the nation’s migration crisis, was never mentioned.
Example: Before discussing the immigration issues, it was important to identify the contexts of the territories that were impacted.
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Audience
Non-Example: The boycott of the band meant nobody went to the concert, meaning there was no audience.
Example: The ambassador was happy to see the audience of 400 people at the embassy for his speech.
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Negotiate
Non-Example: The country’s unwillingness to talk with neighboring nations meant that negotiations never started.
Example: Diplomats train so that they can be prepared to compromise and find solutions when they negotiate with their counterparts.
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Favorable
Non-Example: Olivia was unhappy about the weather because the conditions were unfavorable for the outdoor concert.
Example: The president was excited for the signing of the treaty, because it outlined favorable and profitable trade deals for her country.
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Adversary
Non-Example: The allies worked toward achieving a beneficial agreement for both nations.
Example: Negotiations failed to bring the adversaries to a mutual agreement, so the war continued.
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Interaction
Non-Example: There were few opportunities for diplomats to communicate and interact because the meeting was so short.
Example: The ambassador was very attentive and made sure he spoke with and interacted with all his guests.
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Accords
Non-Example: Without a shared agreement, such as accords, the countries continued to work in isolation.
Example: The accords were the first step toward improving global health care and were agreed upon and signed by almost 100 countries.
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Democratic
Non-Example: The nation’s leader was selected by the military for twenty years.
Example: The United States has democratic presidential elections, meaning the public votes for and determines the next president through the Electoral College.
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