“Although an exact definition is
debated, historical fiction is a genre most often determined by setting and the
inclusion of authentic historical events and characters in a fictional story.
In general, its purpose is to bring “history to life” by fictionalizing the past
and reflecting a specific time period.”
Excerpt from
http://www.sru.edu/PAGES/4590.asp
Historical fiction
consists of novels that are set in a particular historical place and time, but
have characters that did not exist in real life. For your 1st
trimester historical book report, you will read a historical fiction novel at
least 100 pages long, written at an appropriate reading level (in our library,
these novels have a picture of a covered wagon on the spine). The book must be
read during the 1st trimester of the current school year and may NOT
have been an assigned reading for another class. You must read a
novel set in Medieval or Renaissance
World History between 500 a.d. to about 1700 a.d.
Any novels
set in U.S. History will receive an automatic zero. The website cited above has some suggested
novels, but you may choose any that fit the stated criteria. (You may show your
book to Ms. Varela in advance if you are unsure whether it meets the criteria or
not.) You will then word process (or type) a report consisting of the following
elements:
1. A summary of the novel, which is
at least 250 words long that completely describes the setting, main characters,
and plot.
2. A description of what you learned
about Medieval or Renaissance World History through reading the novel, which is at least 100
words long.
3. Complete bibliographic
information:
Last name of author,
first name of author. Title. Publisher, place of publication, date of
publication, number of pages.
4. The following statement must be
written at the bottom of your report by a parent/guardian and signed by a
parent/guardian:
<Name of Student>
completely read the novel described above and completed this report on <her/his>
own.
<Parent Signature>
<Date>
This book report is
due on This book report is
due on Friday, October
15, 2010.
No late book reports will be accepted!
Ø
Your historical book report must be typed.
Ø
The preferred type of Font: Times New Roman
Ø
Size: 12 point
Ø
Spacing: double
Ø
Margins: 1 inch top, bottom, left, and right.
I If
you do not have word processing capability at home, you may use the computers in
the library, D-5 Computer Lab, or the B-Pod Mini-Lab before or after school (if
you need to use the B-Pod Mini-Lab after school...see Ms. Varela FIRST for an
appointment!!!) You MAY NOT use the B-Pod
Mini-Lab on Friday,
October 15th!
1st
Trimester Report Rubric
Graphic
Organizer
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There is, of course,
not enough time in this course to cover every event in World history. You will,
therefore, research one event in Medieval
or Renaissance World History between 500 a.d. to about 1700 a.d
and create a PowerPoint presentation in which you will teach the class about
your event. (Any events set in U.S. History will receive an automatic zero.
)
Your event should be narrow in scope (for example, “the
Incident at Belgrade” rather than “the Crusades”), historically significant
(important), and original (not a common topic such as “The Black
Death”). The PowerPoint project is due
Friday, February 5, 2010
at the end of the period. The final bibliography and script are due
Monday,
February 5, 2010
·
Your topic may be any historically significant event in
Medieval or Renaissance World history between 500 a.d. to about 1700 a.d. (note,
you may not do a project on one person, i.e. a biography…this will get you an
automatic zero). Choose a topic that is small enough to be adequately covered
in the time allotted and something that you have not learned about before (ask
your parents and older siblings for ideas). You must have my approval before
you begin your project (duplicate and unoriginal topics will not be
approved).
·
You will create a PowerPoint presentation that will run a minimum
of 4 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes, which will be presented to the class.
You will give an oral report to the class as you show your presentation.
·
Your project must teach the class about the following:
o
Topic’s summary – explanation of the facts of the event
o
Analysis of why the event occurred (causes)
o
Analysis of outcomes of the event (effects)
o
Explanation of why the event was important
·
Your PowerPoint presentation must include a selection of
photographs, maps, and/or illustrations with captions and a minimum
of 10 sources (written in a bibliography…not added into the PowerPoint).
·
You must follow the research project timeline that is on the back
of this paper and turn in elements of the project (such as a storyboard, script,
and bibliography) on each due date.
I You
will have time in class to work on your PowerPoint project, but much of your
project will be researched and/or brainstormed at home. Computers will be
available in the B-Pod Mini Lab most mornings from 7:45 - 8:25 and after school
by appointment only. Good luck!
Click
here for the
Timeline of Due Dates.
Click
here for the STORYBOARD
Download as many as you need!!!
Click here to view an example of a
Bibliography
-Below you will
find a list of websites that may help you in your research project. Feel
free to use them as you wish! Good luck and happy hunting! ~Ms.
Varela
http://citationmachine.net/
This is probably the BEST one out there!! It is so easy to use! I
used it when I had to complete my research paper for my Master's Degree!!
http://www.ipl.org/
An online library that you can use to search for
information.
http://www.actden.com/pp/
Step-by-step website on how to create a Power Point presentation. In case
you don’t know how!
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Directions: Read
a biography on an historical figure from any country (except from the
USA
) within the Medieval Period or Renaissance period (500 ad – 1800 ad).
Choose someone who has made an impact on history and can be seen as a
role model.
You may not choose a person that you have previously done a
project on in this or any other class.
As you read the book, gather all the information you can about the age in
which that person lived.
Look for information about how he/she looked and dressed.
You may not be able to find an exact picture, but you should be able to
make some decisions about how he/she dressed from your research.
Learn as many details as you can about the person’s life and why he/she
is historically significant.
Part I – Pringle Person:
You will construct a doll, called a
Pringle Person, which looks like the person whose biography you read. A Pringle
Person should be made from items that you have at home – Pringle potato chip
cans, water bottles, soap bottles, etc. Your person must be freestanding. Hair
can be made from cotton, mops, strings, yarn, etc. Clothes can be made from
scrap material, construction paper, etc. Be creative! Arms and legs can be
made from coat hangers, or maybe rolled up and taped newspaper. Heads could be
taped up light bulbs, or a
sock stuffed with a tennis ball. You could even paint
your figures. You may not, however, use any perishable items or items
that would attract bugs.
Creativity is emphasized in this
project. You are urged not to spend money, but time working on it. If you put
it off until the last minute, then you will be tempted to take the easy way out
by purchasing materials. Apparent effort and student work on the project and
not money spent will be given the most consideration in grading. Do not
buy plastic dolls and dress them up!
Part II – Biography in a Bag:
Using the biography you read, you
will research and explore the life of your heroic historical figure. You will
think of and physically bring to class in a bag decorated to reflect your
historical figure’s life, 10-15 items which represent the biography of this
person.
Example:
If you chose to read a book about Leonardo da Vinci, you might include the following
things in your Biography in a Bag: (note: since he is my example, you may
not choose Leonardo da Vinci!)
1.
an umbrella, since he was born on April 15, 1452
2.
paint brush, since he was a painter
3. a
notebook, since Da Vinci's greatest work was his notebooks on which he wrote his
one and only book, The Painter , as well as a legion of notes on technology,
science, human anatomy, architecture, as well as sketches of all these things.
4.
a picture of the Last Supper since he's the person who painted it.
5.
a small parachute, since In his notes, Leonardo remarks that, with a linen
curtain shaped into a pyramid having a base 12 yards across and equally deep, if
it is stiffly held open, (anyone can jump from no matter what height without any
risk whatsoever).
6.
a paper airplane, since Da Vinci’s imagination was filled to capacity
with ideas for flying machines, including several gliders equipped with
flappable wings.
7-15. etc…add more items and ideas
Part III – The Oral Presentation:
During an oral presentation that will
be 3-4 minutes in length (DO NOT go over 4 mins), you will present your Pringle Person and Biography in
a Bag to the class. You will share with the class the significance of your bag
and its contents as it related to the biography of your historical figure. You
may use note cards during your presentation. To liven up your presentation and
make it unique, you may include food, music, a video, etc. in addition to your
bag and its contents. These additions must depict something important about
your historical figure. At the conclusion of the presentation, be prepared to
answer any questions the class may have.
Due
Date and Grading:
You must tell Ms. Varela the name of
your topic by Friday, March
12, 2010.
Only one person will be allowed each topic, and it will be first come, first
choice, so register your topic as early as possible! All three parts of the
project will be due on Tuesday, May
25, 2010. The project
will be worth a total of 110 points. It will be graded using this
RUBRIC.
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