Darnell-Cookman History Fair Project



Darnell-Cookman History Fair Project

U.S. History

In this packet you will find the instructions and grading sheets for this year’s History fair. Please read through this packet carefully and ask questions if something is unclear to you.

This learning adventure will take students deep into the history topic of their choice. The theme for this year’s history fair is “Exploration, Encounter & Exchange in History.” All students on all grade levels are eligible to take part in the school-wide History Fair, which will take place in the February. Winners from the school fair will then advance on to the countywide and potentially, statewide competition.

In addition to being an in-depth study of a topic of personal interest, this experience also teaches students about time management, organization, and research. Students will be given due dates for the project, dividing up each part, while completing the assignment outside of school. Additionally, students are encouraged to utilize the website for guidelines to expand into areas of website, documentary, written paper, performance, and may work in groups or individually.

Students will be expected to meet the deadlines for this major project on time without finding themselves in a frustrating time crunch when the project is due.  Besides the assignment schedule, you will find the requirements for the exhibit, the grading rubric to be used, and the contract.  The contract helps to ensure that you understand the importance of this project and demonstrates your commitment to see the project through to its successful completion.  Students can download and print a individual or group contract from Mrs. Regan’s website. It must be signed by the student(s) as well as the parent and returned by the assigned date.  

The grade for this project will be included on the 2nd quarter report card; the weight of the project will be the value of two test grades -- one grade for the process paper with an annotated bibliography (100 points) and the display/presentation (100 points).

Please read through this packet and the website carefully before you determine your topic and how you want to present the project. I hope you find the History Fair Project to be an exciting learning experience, not just regarding the subject you choose, but how the process works.

HISTORY FAIR PROJECT STUDENT CONTRACT Date Submitted: ______

Please return this contract to Mrs. Regan NO LATER than November 12, 2015.

I, (print name) __________________________________________, understand that all assignments are due ON the dates included on this contract.  I also understand that if I choose to do this project as a group, I am responsible for the final product and will share the grade earned. I understand and accept the risks of working in a group and make this choice knowing that the grade will be earned and shared accordingly. I cannot blame my partner(s) for missing components or if the presentation is late.

Carefully explore topics of interest that you can definitively link to the topic: Exploration, Encounter & Exchange in History. Before making a final topic choice, do some research to make sure you can find enough required sources (at least 2 primary sources and 2 secondary sources, but a total of 10 are required.)

My History Fair Topic will be ______________________________________

I verify that I have completed preliminary research and confirm that I will be able to find the required sources to complete research for this topic.

I will be working ____ Individually _____ In a Group Total members ___

All group members contracts must be submitted stapled together in one submission. No students may be added or dropped once the submission is made.

____________________________________         ______________________

Student Signature                                                                       Date

____________________________________          ______________________

Parent Signature                                                                          Date

Due Dates

11-12 Submit signed contract, including topic

11- 24 Submit minimum of 5 sources

12-18 Submit Annotated Bibliography  

1- 5 Final draft of 500 word process paper (including title page, essay

and annotated bibliography) or if a written paper the final paper. Presentation dates are assigned.

1-8       Presentations Begin

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

TITLE PAGE:  

A title page is required as the first page of written material.  Your title page must include only the title of your entry, your name, period number, and your presentation category (Individual Exhibit).  Note:  The title page must not include any other information (pictures, graphics, borders, school name, or grade) except for that described in this rule.

WRITTEN MATERIALS (except for written paper): 

All projects, other than the written paper, must include these materials in the following order:

1.  A title page as described above

2.  A Process Paper as described below

3.  An annotated bibliography as described below.

These materials must be typed or neatly PRINTED on plain white paper and stapled together in the top left corner.  Do not enclose them in a cover or binder.

PROCESS PAPER:  

A Process Paper is a description of no more than 500 words explaining how you conducted your research and created your display.  The Process Paper should consist of four paragraphs.  Each paragraph is devoted to the discussion of its own topic and must be presented in the following order:  

1st Paragraph … Explain why you chose the topic you selected.  

2nd Paragraph …Explain how you conducted your research. 

3rd Paragraph … Explain how you created your display.  

4th Paragraph … Explain how your project relates to the theme: Exploration, Encounter & Exchange in History.

Provide a word count at the end of your Process Paper. (i.e. WC: 487)

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

An Annotated Bibliography is required.  It should contain all sources that provided useable information.  List only the sources that you actually used for your project.  The annotation for each source must (1.) explain how you used the source and (2.) explain how it helped you understand your topic.  If you use a web site, you must also include a description of who sponsors the site.  

SEPARATION OF SOURCES: 

You are required to separate your annotated bibliography into primary and secondary sources.  Remember, you must have at least one primary source and all sources must be listed in alphabetical order by section in MLA style.

PRIMARY SOURCES

A primary source is a source written or produced in the time period being investigated.  Examples of primary sources would be letters, speeches, diaries, interviews, documents, photographs, or anything else that provides first hand accounts about a person or event.   Primary sources are generally used on the exhibit display.

SECONDARY SOURCES

A secondary source is usually published in books or articles by authors who were not eyewitnesses or a port of the historical event or time period being studied.  These sources are written by people who base their work on research and study.  Secondary sources should be sought out first to provide background information on the selected topic and will usually identify possible primary resources for the researcher to use on the exhibit backboard.

PLAGIARISM:  

Plagiarism is using the ideas of another person and presenting them as your own without giving credit to the real author. You must acknowledge in your annotated bibliography all sources used in the preparation of your project. Rephrasing is not enough to make the words your own; credit must be given to the originator of the words.

DISPLAY BOARD REQUIREMENTS:

1. Display is presented on standard tri-fold board, which opens to 36” X 48.” It can be cardboard, foam board, or designed at home from wood.

2. Display clearly addresses the project theme.

3. Title of the project is clear and visible.

4. Contains labels, captions, or subheadings for visual materials in the student’s own words, for pictures, timelines and graphs.

5. Has visual impact (museum quality) and shows interpretation of the topic.

HISTORY FAIR PROCESS PAPER GUIDELINES

Your finished Process Paper will be handed in during class on the assigned due date and should meet the following requirements:

1. The entire Process Paper is to be typed using no larger than a #14 Times New Roman or Ariel font.  If the paper is done by hand, it must be printed using blue or black ink.

2. The title page may use fonts larger than #14, but may not have anything on it other than what is stated in the instructions.

3. The Process Paper is put together with the title page on top, the four paragraph Process Paper coming next, followed by the annotated bibliography, and the Process Paper grading sheet (found in this packet) coming last.

4. The Process Paper is to be written in essay form.  That means the paragraphs follow one another and are not to be on a different piece of paper.

5. The Process Paper is not to be in any kind of folder or binder.  It is to be held

together by one staple in the upper left hand corner.

Note: You will want to keep a copy of your Process Paper for yourself.  You will need it as you prepare your two-minute oral presentation.

Process Paper Scoring Rubric for  _________________________period #_____

  (student)

GENERAL PRESENTATION

Title page meets requirements and the paper is in the proper order,

Including this rubric page. 10 pts._____

PROCESS PAPER

Paragraph one explains why the topic was chosen in a clear,

organized manner, with no spelling or grammatical errors. 10 pts._____

Paragraph two explains how the research was done in a clear

organized manner, with no spelling or grammatical errors. 10 pts._____

Paragraph three explains how the display board was organized

and constructed chosen in a clear, organized manner, with no

spelling or grammatical errors. 10 pts._____    

    

Paragraph four explains how the project relates to the theme in a

clear, organized manner, with no spelling or grammatical errors. 10 pts._____

Process Paper meets the length, font size, and double spacing

requirements 10 pts._____

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary and Secondary sources are separately listed 10 pts._____

The required primary and secondary sources are identified 10 pts._____

Sources are in alphabetical order and correctly annotated 10 pts._____

Citations are in MLA style, including correct indentions. 10 pts._____

                             TOTAL POINTS      ______

Comments:

History Fair Guidelines for Oral Presentations

The oral presentation is expected to be between two to three minutes in length.  There will be a grade reduction for presentations less than two minutes and more than three minutes.  This will require you to practice and time your presentation a number of times before making it in class.  Remember, most people usually speak a little faster when they’re nervous, so plan accordingly.

Each oral presentation will have three parts.

1. Begin by stating the name of your project and telling why your chose that particular subject for research.  Be specific.

2.  Your display board as a visual aid to help as you present the topic for the class.  You should point to the parts of your display as you tell us about them, but do not simply point to items and say things like, “This is a picture of a ______.”  In this part of the presentation you should also tell how your project relates to the general theme.

3. Close by telling what you consider to be the most important things you learned while doing your research. This should be something not apparent by the title or subject material, but rather something that reflects an important, researched discovery.

You may use note cards to help you remember important information, but you may not read the presentation.

Speak loudly and clearly.  Know how to pronounce any difficult words.

Be prepared on your assigned presentation date and practice, practice, practice!

Oral Presentation Rubric for _______________ Period ____

There are 30 possible points available.  The final score will be based on a total of

100% available for a 30 question test.

1.  The Display Board indicated a “museum quality” work effort

and clearly developed a connection to the theme. 10 pts._____

2.  The presentation began by giving the name of the project and

with a good explanation for choosing the topic. 3 pts. _____

3.  The presenter used the Display Board to tell the “story”

     of the project. 3 pts._____

4.  The presenter frequently pointed to or made specific references

     to the Display Board during the presentation. 3 pts._____

5.  The presenter explained how the project related to the

     general theme. 3 pts._____

6.  The presenter closed by telling something important which

      which was learned from the research. 3 pts._____

7.  The presenter spoke loudly and clearly. 2 pts. _____

8.  The presenter stayed within the prescribed time frame. 3 pts._____  

_________              

(time)

                                              TOTAL POINTS   _______

PERCENTAGE _______

Comments:

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