JOURNAL PROJECT

ARCHIVES: The dictionary describes "archives" as the records or historical documents of an institution or community. Most of the vital documents about the United States history reside in our National Archives in Washington, D.C. There one can see the surviving copies of The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, The Emancipation Proclamation, and thousands of letters, executive orders, and other important records historians use to interpret our nation's past. You are to research a person from the period 1787-1915  in American History. The facts you present must be accurate, and you are responsible for capturing the ideas, emotions, politics, and personal lifestyles of the people you research; the person must be real. Your research is to be presented in the form of a first person journal or a series of letters written by the person.  You will create a journal which will teach others about your topic.

REPORT: The report will follow formal guidelines but be presented as a journal; it will include cover, title page, annotated bibliography, and footnotes. It must be in a format that cannot be copy/pasted from the internet or other sources. Suggested formats include diary, letter exchange, newspaper, personal portfolio, etc. The report will be graded using the Report Evaluation form.

Requirements for grades:

Grade of “C”:

• Journal written in the first person
• 10 jounal entries
• Accurate facts and dates
• On time

Grade of "B"

• All requirements for a grade of “C”
• 15 journal entries total
• Portrayal of the character’s personality and a sense of his/her importance in history
• Decorative presentation

Grade of “A”:

• All requirements for a grade of “B”
• 20 journal entries total
• Portrayal of the character’s politics, humor, struggles, successes, failures
• Portrayal of the character’s reactions and emotions to all that occurs
• Artistic presentation to show a communications method typical of the times.

Each journal is to be accompanied by an artifact from the subject's life.