Family History Report
This report is to be done in several sections, each due on the given
date. The final presentation is done the week before finals.
Research part of your family’s history as it applies to immigration
into the United States. It may be easiest to focus on one specific
person to whom you are related. Carefully document each source;
use a minimum of 8 sources: one internet, encyclopedia, reference book,
personal interview, family primary document, and three other sources.
Bibliography and parenthetical references are in MLA format.
Drafts must be turned in with the report section on the due date.
Written Report:
1. The History of the country from which your ancestors came should be
2-4 written pages long and include the reasons, both political and
personal, that your ancestor(s) left their ancestral home and traveled
to the United States. It should also include a map and may be presented
as a travel log or brochure. The report includes a bibliography
of 3 or more sources. Due:_____________________
2. An interesting Person section of the report should be a biographical
sketch rather than a biography of that person. It is 2-3 written
pages in length and might include additional pages of pictures.
The bibliography should include a personal interview.
Due:_________________________
3. The Steps section of the report details the method of doing
something for which one of your relatives is well known. This
report includes the narrative “how to . . . “ including step-by-step
drawings and illustrations to tell someone how a task is done.
For example, Granny made rolls, or Grandpa milked a cow on the dairy he
owned, or Great Granddad drove team for the ice house and construction
companies, or Great Uncle Henry built railroad roundhouses, or Cousin
Mable (twice removed) quilted. Perhaps your relative was a
cobbler, cooper, cartwright, ferrier, tailor, milliner, or
stenographer. What did they DO? This report is 5-10 pages,
which include the illustrations. Bibliography should include an
encyclopedia and another reference book.
Due:______________________
4. The Interesting experience description is an observation essay
or autobiographical incident of 2-3 pages from a personal point of
view. You may write it from a personal perspective or from the
perspective of one of your family members.
Due:_______________________
5. The Interview is in “Question and Answer” or cartoon-strip format
and is 2-5 (or more) pages long. It should focus on one aspect of
your family’s history. Have a written set of questions before you
begin the interview; you may wish to record the interview live for
transcription later. At the end you should include your personal
reaction to this interview and a summary of what you learned from the
interview.
Due:___________________________
Presentation: Due:_________________________
Final presentation is done in front of
the class with a formal 3-5 minute oral report. The oral report
includes a description of the Steps part of the report and a summary of
one of the other sections. Extra credit would include costume
appropriate to the country from which your ancestors emigrated, ethnic
food, etc.
Bind all sections of the report together for
submission one last time with a completed bibliography.
Parenthetical references are within each report section.
Family History Project
Grading Rubric:
_____ 30 points: Travel Log or brochure
_____ 30 points: Ancestor - biographical sketch
_____ 50 points: Steps paper - How to with illustrations
_____ 30 points: Autobiographical incident (personal or ancestor's view
point)
_____ 30 points: Interview
_____ 15 points: Bibliography
_____ 15 points: Parenthetical references