Final Project

AP US History

For the remainder of the year, you will have one final assignment in AP US History. You may choose any of the following options.

1. Choose a significant topic from US history. Write a lesson appropriate for an AP US History class on that topic. Teach that lesson.

· The lesson must last forty-two to forty-five minutes.

· The lesson must teach students new material. (A review activity is not sufficient.)

· The lesson must include an activity that helps the class learn the material. (The more actively engaged the class is, the more successful the lesson is likely to be.)

• The lesson must follow a standard model for instruction such as Robert Gagne’s Events of Instruction (see http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art3_3.htm ) or Madeline Hunter’s ITIP model (see http://www.csd509j.net/staff/sherwim/AP US Page Docs/ITIP.htm ).

· The final product must include any necessary transparencies, supplemental readings, or other materials.

· You must arrange in advance for any equipment or props you might need.

· For this option, you may work in a group of up to four.

· Note: Powerpoint presentations have not generally been successful lessons in the past.

· Note: If you want to use video as part of your lesson, keep that to a maximum of three minutes.

2. Choose a topic from US history that the class or text touched on only slightly and that you would like to explore further. Research that topic and write a paper on it.

· The paper must be thesis-based. That is, it is not sufficient to present information about the topic. Instead, the paper will present information and then take and defend an arguable position on the topic.

· The paper must be typed, double-spaced.

· The paper must be at least seven pages long, not counting the title page or the Works Cited page.

· The paper must include at least fifteen in-text citations following MLA format. (See the CV Library page for MLA format.)

· The Works Cited page must include at least five sources you actually used in the paper following MLA format.

• For paper format, see the Purdue On-Line Writing Lab page: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ . Here is a link to a sample paper so you can see what your paper should look like: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20091250615234_747.pdf .

· This is an individual project.

3. Museum exhibits are powerful tools for explaining the past to the public. This option requires that you design a museum exhibit to tell a story from US history. Select a specific historical event (Trail of Tears, Watergate scandal, etc.) or a specific decade in US history that is of particular interest.

• You may present your exhibit on paper, as a Powerpoint presentation, or on a web site you design and construct. (If you submit this on a USB drive, please put in an envelope with your name on it.)

• Begin with a brief (1-2 pages) introduction that explains the main theme or central idea of the exhibit. This should make clear what the exhibit is about and why it is important.
• Select at least a dozen items (images, artifacts, sound clips, video clips, etc.) that you think best represent the story you want to tell. (Twenty or so items would probably be better.) Include (show, quote, describe) these items in the most effective order. For each item, make it clear what we are looking at. Then provide more detail (a paragraph or two) regarding the context and significance of the item.
• Since this is not an actual physical exhibit, do not feel constrained by money or space. If you think a Model T car is necessary for the story you want to tell, include it.
• Provide a sketch or series of sketches (floor plan, wall plan) that depict how you would visually organize the exhibit with an explanation of why you arranged the items as you did, both for content and visual impact. How does this arrangement reinforce the main theme of the exhibit?
• You may also want to include one-paragraph transitions between different parts of your display.
• Be sure to include a bibliography of sources used. (Formats for bibliography can be found on the class website.)
• If you submit this in an electronic format, please provide any necessary instructions for viewing (correct file name, etc.) If you submit this on a USB drive, please put the drive in an envelope with your name on it.
• This will be evaluated on insight, intellectual coherence, historical accuracy and completeness, quality of writing, and appropriateness of the items selected.

· For this option, you may work in a group of up to four.

4. Your own idea.

· This must be related to US History.

· This must be comparable in scope to the other options.

· This must contain a written component.

· This may be an individual project, or you may work in a group of up to four people.

· This must be approved in advance by the instructor.

· Note: Humorous videos have generally not been successful projects in the past.

Each of these options is worth 100 points for the final product and 25 points for your use of class time.

Some class time in the computer lab or library will be provided.

You will need to have two five-minute conferences with the instructor. At these conferences, be prepared to show what progress you have made and to indicate the next steps you plan to take.

Off-Campus Research

If you want to use class research time to work at the OSU or public libraries, you must do the following:

• Have your parents fill out and sign the Transportation Permission Form. I need to have that form before you leave for off-campus research.
• Check in with me on the day you want do off-campus research. You must talk with me directly; a note in my box is not sufficient. The best time is before school, between classes, or during my prep period.
• On days when conferences are scheduled, you will need to complete the conference before you leave campus.
• At the beginning of the next class period, show me at least one full page of notes from your research. This means notes that you have taken, not pages downloaded, articles photocopied, or books checked out. This will enable you to earn the points for use of research time.

You must be responsible in your use of research time. If I learn that you are not doing so, your grade for the final project drops a full grade, and you lose the opportunity to do off-campus research.