APUSH- FINAL FOUR PROJECTS


Ms. Clarke | CHS | Daily Devil

APUSH- FINAL PROJECTS - #1

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?

You are the host/hostess of a dinner party and need to design a guest list. Your dinner can take place in any time period you choose. If you think you have a period in mind, check out that chapter in your text or review book to be sure there are several key people to use.

1- The topics of conversation should be related to some main theme for the period (e.g. abolitionism or states’ rights in the antebellum period; role of government and reform impulses in the Progresive era). Your first task is to agree on a time period and theme(s). (You can use the Historical Eras graphic organizers you have.)

2-Choose eight people who had opinions, proposals, sponsored laws, took executive action, etc., on the theme(s). Your goal is to invite people of differing viewpoints to stimulate good conversation.

3-On the back of the sheet, begin to outline what topics will be discussed and what viewpoints each guest had. Then find sources of information in the Media Center or use the on-line research tools available such as Wilson biography, Google search, etc. to broaden your understanding of each person’s views and the issues involved.

  • As you do this, make notes from the sources you use – you can use paper or 3x5 cards. However you do this, take down page number(s), category and source for each note card/entry. Online sources will usually give you the format for the bibliographical entry and source citation.
  • Write a bibliography entry for each source (see extra handout)

4-Your final presentation should be typed and include:

  • The theme(s) and an explanation of how it fits into the period
  • A summary of about ½ or more page for each guest’s views and how that person was representative of others at the time and how he/she was unique
  • Your bibliography
  • A seating chart for your table-remember: a good host seats people so the conversation will be interesting!
  • Your notes

You may work with one or two other people (even if you are not used to doing this, you should do that for this project

APUSH – FINAL PROJECT #2

TERRORIZE FUTURE APUSHers: DESIGN A DBQ!

1- Select a time period that interests you and your groupmates. You can then take one of two approaches:

  • Do a search to see what documents might be useful (Google, use text or review book, check out Documents of American History in the Media Center or sites for cartoons, etc. NB-go to http://www.historyteacher.net or the apcentral site for APUSH also
  • The documents you find may suggest a question or topic
  • OR design a question and then look for documents to support your question

2-Fine tune your question so that it fits the documents you have and so that they will be useful in answering the question. Some good ways to start questions are:

  • To what extent did the……..
  • Analyze the validity of the following statement about….
  • Compare and contrast……
  • Analyze the causes of or effects of……

3- For each document you have – at least one must be some kind of graphic and you should have 7-8 documents:

  • Decide how to make a manageable excerpt if it is a text document without losing the context and meaning!
  • Cite the source of the document (see handout or if using an online source, most will give you the citation format)
  • Write a rationale for choosing each document: how does it fit the question and help answer it

4-Make a list of pertinent outside information you would/could use in answering the question.

5-Assemble all the above, typed, in DBQ format. After the last document, include your rationales, outside information and bibliography.

You may work with one or two other people (even if you are not used to doing this, you should do that for this project).

APUSH – FINAL PROJECT #3

OH THE PLACES WE CAN GO…!

1-Choose a place that interests you and your groupmates – must be in the United States – and preferably one that figures prominently in at least two time periods or in which at least 2 important events took place.

2-Search online, using sources in the Media Center, using your text, write a description of the place, its original purpose, changes that have occurred there, etc. As you take notes, either on paper or 3x5 cards, note the source (see handout for bibliographical citation), page number(s), information and subtopic if appropriate. This description should be at least one page.

3-Explain the significance of the place to each time period you have chosen (a page per period)

4-Include a map showing where the place is in relation to at least the state in which it is located, if not the larger area if appropriate.

5-Your final project should be typed and include:

  • Your reasons for choosing the place
  • Descriptions of its history, significance to at least two separate times or events
  • The map
  • A bibliography of your sources

6- You can use cities (Boston, NYC, etc.), parts of states (Dust Bowl, Northwest Territory) or you can use specific venues (the US Capitol, the Rockies, Charleston harbor, the Alamo, Fenway Park, etc)

You may work with one or two other people (even if you are not used to doing this, you should do that for this project).

APUSH FINAL PROJECT #4

HISTORIC U.S.A. TRIP

You and your partner are going to travel to San Francisco. You have 30 days in which to do this. Along the way, you must visit 10 historic places.

To be handed in (typed except for map):

  • A map of the U.S. plotting your journey marked in day stages
  • The itinerary of your trip: where you will be, when, miles traveled from stop to stop, driving time for each leg (be sure your daily drives are possible)
  • An hotel/place to stay-with probable cost- at each city
  • What gas for each leg will cost/cost for total trip including drive home OR airfare, bus fare, train fare for each leg and total cost
  • A description of what you saw and did at the historic sites (must be in 9 different cities/places and at San Francisco and be at least ½-1 page each
  • Citations of sources you used
  • Summary of your journey, problems, highlights, etc.

Some internet sites you may wish to visit:

    • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: www.randmcnally.com. At this site you can click on plan a trip (do not sign up to be a member) and you will get maps, mileage; at each city, click on things to do and check out “history/heritage; you can also check out places to stay to get prices, etc. The historic description will not be totally adequate, but it’s a place to start.
    • www.cr.nps.gov/nrhome.html - national registry of historic sites
    • www.mapquest.com – driving directions and maps
    • www.google.com –check out their maps