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Canadian History: Final Project

Fall 2013

My Topic:

Task:

This final course assignment is worth 15% of your overall final grade, 7% for the essay, 5% for the myspace

portion, and 3% for your presentation/seminar. This assignment will constitute half of the required 30% put

aside for the “final evaluation”. Failure to complete this assignment will result in an incomplete grade. The

remaining 15% will come from the written examination.

Your task is to choose a significant person of Canadian history from the list provided below. From here, you

will be doing two things. First, you will be creating a myspace account from the perspective of the chosen

significant person in Canadian history, which you will update on a weekly basis for the remainder of the

semester. Secondly, you will be writing a 3-5 page essay describing the life of your chosen significant person.

Students will work individually on this presentation.

Students may select a significant figure from the accompanying list or select their own

WITH APPROVAL OF

THE TEACHER

. Only one student per figure. Students will present their figure by means of their myspace page

in a

20-25 minute

presentation to the class. Students must use the skills and abilities developed over the

course of the semester and apply them to their project. Students should strive to seek information beyond the

textbook, and for most of the people in the list, this will be unavoidable.

myspace Page:

You will be creating a myspace account from the perspective of the chosen significant person in Canadian

history. You will be posting a minimum of 2 posts per week. If you post less than two times each week on a

regular basis, your mark will be severely affected.

YOU ARE TO POST AS IF YOU WERE THE PERSON; THAT

MEANS ALWAYS POST IN THE FIRST PERSON.

You can post light-hearted posts as often as you would like, but it

would be beneficial to have actual importance in your posts. Let’s say this, you should have a minimum of two

significant posts each week, and an unlimited amount of light-hearted, fun posts. If your significant person has

funny hair, post about it. You should also introduce your chosen historical figure at the beginning of the

semester. That means, use introductory posts in the first couple weeks just so the class gets a good feel for

your chosen figure.

YOU ARE TO POST IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER (AS BEST AS POSSIBLE).

This means that

your posts at the beginning of the semester should be from the beginning of the persons life/career and the

posts at the end of the semester should be from the middle to end of the persons life/career.

Presentation:

The

20-25 minute presentation

must be composed of and include

ALL OF

the following items throughout the

semester:



An Overview of the significant figure



Significance within Canadian History

-

Students must state the reason why their chosen person is important in terms of Canadian

history. What impact did your person have on the country and its citizens of that time? What

were the lasting impacts on future generations of Canadians? What impacts do current

Canadians feel from this person?

WHY IS YOUR TOPIC IMPORTANT????

-

It is

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

that students specifically say “THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MY TOPIC

TO CANADIAN HISTORY IS…” during their presentation and in their essay. This will greatly add

to the impact of your presentation.



Visual – myspace account

-

This must be the major portion of your presentation. There should be enough information and

media on this page to fill at least 20 minutes of class time

-

The myspace account

WILL BE

referred to in your presentation, such as a quote or graph or

picture. Basically, you are explaining, in detail, your chosen significant figure through your

myspace page.

-

Each week, you are REQUIRED to post a minimum of TWO (2) times for your significant figure,

as if you were that person. It can be in the form of a tweet, a video, a song, or a status.



Handout for the class

-

One page

-

Informative, yet visually appealing

-

Point form, covering most important points and themes

-

Enough copies for the class (11).

If you only come with 5 copies, you will receive a 0 for the

handout portion of the project.



Presentation Skills

-

Do not read your presentation. This will be represented by a failing grade. Students are

expected to be experts on their topic and therefore should only need notes in a limited

manner. Know and understand your chosen figure. From studying that person all semester,

you will have become an expert on them.



Research Essay:

-

Your essay should be 1000-1250 words

-

Must present a clear thesis with strong supportive arguments

-

Reference using the MLA style (

in-text citation)

-

Must include a Works Cited

There will be a limit placed on the amount of time you can fill your presentation with video.

Limit: 15% of presentation – 20-25 minutes = 4 minutes of video

MLA Referencing

All students must complete a Works Cited for their myspace and essay on resources used

within each component of their final submission. Minimum 8 resources (at least 3 book

CHECKLIST

Step:

Criteria/Due Date

Step 1



Select Figure – October 21

Step 2



Create a myspace page and customize it – October 28

Step 3



Create a Thesis and Outline – December 6

Step 4



Research topic



Library/Class time will be provided, HOWEVER students will be required to

spend additional time outside of the time provided in class researching their

topic – Research classes will be December and January 2



Begin writing your essay, using MLA formatting as discussed in class

Step 5



Create a handout for your topic



Cite references used in your project using MLA format



Hand in Handout at least ONE WEEK before presentation for approval from the

teacher – this also allows time to make revisions



Photocopy handout for class (12 copies)

Step 6



Create display/PowerPoint

Step 7



Present your Topic



Hand in your Essay



Final Submission: Title Page, Thesis and Outline, Research Essay, Handout,

Works Cited, myspace link

Topic List – Each topic may only have one presenter.

1. Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier

2. Prime Minister Mackenzie King

3. Prime Minister Robert Borden

4. Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau

5. Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson

6. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker

7. Emily Murphy (Famous Five)

8. Agnes MacPhail (Famous Five)

9. Nellie McClung (Famous Five)

10. Frederick Banting

Rubric: Presentation

Criteria/Weight

Level 4

80% - 100%

Level 3

70% - 79%

Level 2

60% - 69%

Level 1

50% - 59%

Level 0

0% - 49%

Final Mark

Overview of Topic

(Knowledge)

(30)

Provides an overview of the figure with a

high degree of effectiveness

Provides an effective overview of the figure

Provides somewhat of an effective overview

of the figure

Provides a limited overview of the figure

Does not or Provides an ineffective overview of the figure

Significance within

Canadian History

(Thinking)

(20)

Accurately states the persons role within Canadian History with

a high level of proficiency

Accurately states the persons role within Canadian History at a

good level of proficiency

Accurately states the persons role within Canadian History with

some proficiency

Accurately states the persons role within Canadian History with

limited proficiency

Does not or ineffectively states persons role within Canadian History

Visuals

(Communication)

(20)

myspace page has a high degree of

effectiveness; presentation is enhanced to the next

level by the personal account

myspace page has a good level of effectiveness; good contribution to the

presentation

myspace page has some effectiveness; some contribution to

the presentation

myspace page has limited effectiveness;

limited contribution to the presentation

No myspace page OR myspace page makes

little contribution to the presentation

Presentation Skills

(Communication)

(20)

Student use of notes is limited with a high degree of confidence;

high level of eye-contact; good voice

Student use of notes is limited; good eye contact; good voice

Student uses notes; some eye contact;

good voice

Student relies on notes; limited eye contact; low voice

Presentation is read from notes; no eye

contact; low voice

Handout

(Application)

(10)

The descriptions show great detail/accuracy;

very visually appealing; divided by

subheadings; very clear

Descriptions show good level of detail/accuracy; somewhat visually appealing; divided by

some headings

Descriptions show some detail/accuracy,

could be better; visuals could be enhanced; some headings are present

Descriptions show lack of effort, including many historical mistakes; not visually appealing;

few headings

No handout

OR

Handout shows no effort, does not help

presentation at all

Rubric: myspace Page

Criteria/Weight

Level 4

80% - 100%

Level 3

70% - 79%

Level 2

60% - 69%

Level 1

50% - 59%

Level 0

0% - 49%

Final Mark

Historical Content

(Knowledge/

Understanding)

(25)

myspace page was filled with accurate and detailed historical

content; excellent knowledge level of significant figure

myspace page was full of accurate information; more

detail could be present; good knowledge of significant figure

myspace page was lacking some information; several historical inaccuracies;

knowledge could be better

myspace page was severely lacking historical content; full

of errors; knowledge was poor

No real historical content present; severely lacking information; knowledge was severely lacking

Analysis/Effort

(Thinking/Inquiry)

/25

Level of effort was excellent; clearly seen

in detail and analysis of all aspects of myspace page; historical significance

clearly stated throughout

Level of effort was relatively clear throughout detail and

analysis of figure; historical significance

somewhat unclear

Level of effort was lacking in certain areas, more analysis and detail needed in all aspects of page; historical significance

somewhat forgotten

Level of effort was very poor and this was clearly seen in lack of detail and analysis of all content; historical significance forgotten

Level of effort was clearly lacking; myspace page missing

most requirements; only portions of page

present

Style/Grammar

(Communication)

(25)

Excellent level of detail and effort seen in creative aspect of myspace page; excellent formatting/style/ grammar; no spelling/grammar mistakes; requirements are fulfilled each week

Good level of detail and effort seen in creative aspect; good

formatting/style/ grammar; 0-5 spelling/

grammar mistakes; requirements were met most of the time

Creative detail and effort could be improved; formatting and overall style could

be improved; 5-10 spelling/grammar

mistakes; requirements were met about ½ the time

Creativity and detail severely lacking; lack of effort clearly seen in

style/ formatting; 10-15+ spelling/grammar errors; requirements were not met more than they were met

Creativity and detail not really present; no

effort give; requirements were

barely ever met

Works Cited

[Proper MLA Format]

(Application)

(10)

myspace page is in chronological order for

the entire semester; effort is clearly seen

myspace page is often in chronological order, but does miss this element sometimes

myspace page lacks chronological order; effort lacks and this is

clearly seen

myspace page lacks any sort of chronological order;

much more effort needed

myspace space has no consistency and no chronological order

Rubric: Research Essay

Criteria/Weight

Level 4

(80%-100%)

Level 3

(70%-79%)

Level 2

(60%-69%)

Level 1

(50%-59%)

Level 0

(0-49%)

Clear thesis presented; demonstrates thorough/insightful understanding of figure; drew on excellent variety of

sources

Clear thesis presented; demonstrates average understanding of figure; drew on a reasonable level

of sources

Relatively clear thesis is presented; demonstrates average understanding of

figure; drew on reasonable level of

sources

Thesis is unclear; demonstrates little understanding of figure; drew on a small number

of sources

Thesis is basically non-existent; non-insightful understanding of figure;

drew on a small number of irrelevant

sources Analysis/Supporting

Evidence (Thinking)

/25

Essay reflects clear and effective analysis of figure;

strong evidence supports arguments; excellent use of

sources used.

Essay reflects good analysis of figure; relatively strong

evidence supports arguments; good use of

sources used.

Essay reflects unclear analysis of figure; arguments lack strong

supportive evidence; adequate use of sources.

Essay reflects poor analysis of figure; arguments don’t have

supportive evidence; poor use of sources.

Essay reflects complete lack of analysis of figure; no supportive evidence used; lacks potential for use of

sources.

Written Communication (Communication)

/25

Essay communicates information with high

degree of clarity; introduction is effective; body is clear with distinctive

arguments; free from grammatical/spelling errors;

conclusion restates thesis and supporting arguments;

3-5 pages

Essay communicates information with relatively

high level of clarity; introduction is somewhat effective; body is clear with distinct arguments; 5 to 10

grammatical/spelling errors; conclusion restates

thesis; <3 or >5

Essay communicates information with average

level of clarity; introduction is somewhat

effective; body missing clarity and arguments are

not distinct; 10 to 15 grammatical/spelling errors; conclusion misses

important elements; <3 or >5

Essay communicates information with poor clarity; introduction is somewhat effective; body

missing clarity and arguments are not distinct; 15-20 grammatical/spelling;

conclusion missing important elements; <3

or >5

Essay does not communicate

information; introduction is ineffective; body missing clarity and arguments are not

distinct; 20+ grammatical/spelling

errors; conclusion missing important elements; <3 or >5

Works Cited (Application)

/25

All references are cited correctly; all arguments relate to thesis; includes at

least 10 sources, at least 3 being text format

All references are cited correctly; most arguments relate to thesis; includes 8-10 sources, at least 3 being

text format

Most references are cited correctly; most arguments relate to

thesis; includes 6-8 sources, only 2 being text

format

Approximately half of the references are cited

correctly; some arguments relate to thesis; 4-6 sources; 1-2 sources being text format

Zero to 1/3 of the references are cited correctly; arguments do not relate to thesis; 2-4

sources; 0 sources being text format