This document outlines different project categories for a history class including exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites, and papers. It provides descriptions and requirements for each category, things to consider when choosing a category, and important notes. Students must choose a topic, develop a thesis, and conduct research with primary sources to complete an original project in one of the categories. A project plan is due January 13 and projects will be presented the week of January 27.

1. PROJECT CATEGORIES

2. THE CHOICES
EXHIBIT
DOCUMENTARY
PERFORMANCE
WEBSITE
PAPER

3. EXHIBIT
“An exhibit is a visual
representation of a topic and its
significance in history, much like a
small museum exhibit. Labels and
captions should be used creatively
with visual images and objects to
enhance the message of the
exhibit.”

9. EXHIBIT
500 original words, including
titles
Size limits – 72” tall, 40” wide,
30” deep
Multimedia limits – 3 minutes
You get the materials

10. WHY DO AN EXHIBIT?
Your topic is very visual
You are creative with visual
spatial presentations
Your partners want to do an
exhibit as well

11. WHY NOT AN EXHIBIT?
Your topic is not very visual
You are not creative with
visual spatial presentations
You can’t fit it into the 500
word limit

12. IMPORTANT NOTES ON
THE EXHIBIT …
• Subtitles are necessary to
organize your exhibit
• Only use media if it helps
your thesis
• Organize first, glue last
• Easy to do … poorly

13. DOCUMENTARY
“A documentary may take the form
of a videotape, slide show, Power
Point presentation, or similar
types of multimedia presentations.
It uses images such as film, video,
or photographs and audio such as
music, excerpts from tapes, and
voice-overs to present a topic.”

14. DOCUMENTARY
10 minutes maximum
No footnotes needed for
script
No word limit
You can use Mac or PC
Check examples online

15. WHY DO A DOC?
Your topic has a lot of images
and multimedia
You enjoy using video editing
You can fill a good portion of
10 minutes of video
Opportunity for creativity

16. WHY NOT A DOC?
Your topic has few images
and no multimedia
You hate using video editing
Time consuming

17. IMPORTANT NOTES ON
THE DOCUMENTARY …
• Script first … then images
and video
• News headlines make great
images
• Interviews can (and should)
be included … but not too
long

18. PERFORMANCE
“A performance is a dramatic
portrayal of a topic and its
significance in history. It
should be original and
creative, not simply an oral
report or a recitation of
facts.”

20. PERFORMANCE
10 minutes max
No footnotes needed for
script
You do all costumes,
multimedia (if used),
performing, stage
Memorized

21. WHY DO A
PERFORMANCE?
Your topic has some great
drama
You can set up a great scene
or scenes for the
peformance
You enjoy performing in front
of others

22. WHY NOT A
PERFORMANCE?
Your topic doesn’t have much
drama
You can’t place your topic
into a scene or scenes
You do not enjoy performing
in front of others

23. IMPORTANT NOTES ON
THE PERFORMANCE …
• Script first
• MEMORIZED!
• Incorporate primary source
quotes
• Props and costumes are
important … but not as
much as the content

24. WEB SITE
A website is an interactive
hypertext and multimedia
based site of information
and images that relates the
importance of historical
research.

26. WEB SITE
Must stand alone – no external
links
100 MB max, including video
Multimedia – each clip 45
seconds max
1200 student created words max
Should be interactive

27. WHY DO A WEBSITE?
Your topic has a lot of nontextual materials - images
and multimedia
You want to use more than
500 orginal words
You enjoy technology

28. WHY NOT A WEB SITE?
Your topic has few images
and multimedia
Technology hates you

29. IMPORTANT NOTES ON
THE WEB SITE …
• More and more competitive
• Don’t include quizzes or
opinion polls … those don’t
support a thesis
• How can you get it
interactive?

30. PAPER
“A paper is the traditional form for
presenting historical research and
interpretation. As an alternative to a
research paper, students may
choose to write an historically-based
creative paper, such as a fictional
diary or an epic poem.”

31. PAPER
between 1,500 and 2,500
words
Must be footnoted in MLA
style (Ms. Walczack and Taft
will help)

32. WHY DO A PAPER?
You like to write
Your topic can be explained
without images or
multimedia

33. WHY DO A PAPER?
You don’t like to write
Your topic can not be
explained without images or
multimedia

34. IMPORTANT NOTES ON
THE PAPER …
• Footnotes, footnotes,
footnotes
• Proofread, proofread,
proofread
• Images and diagrams only if
it supports the thesis

35. ALL PROJECTS …
Must have a thesis
Must have detailed research
supporting the thesis
Must have primary sources as part
of the research
Must have an annotated
bibliography and process paper
Must be original

36. FINAL THOUGHTS
FIGURE OUT YOUR GOAL
ARE YOU IN IT TO WIN IT?
IF SO, MAYBE CHOOSE SOMETHING LESS COMPETITIVE

37. FINAL THOUGHTS
PROJECT PLAN – DUE BY
MONDAY, JANUARY 13
(earlier is better)
PROJECT DAYS – JAN 16 or 17,
ALL WEEK JAN 20-24
PROJECTS DUE WEEK OF JAN
27 – Times TBA

38. THE BIG DATE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4