Throughout the semester we have engaged several different methods of “doing history.” You should know that shows like “Drunk History,” interactive articles, and podcasts like the ones we have heard this semester represent only a small selection of the popular histories that exist alongside traditional academic history. For your final exam I want you to create your own form of popular history. You can choose the theme that you want to focus on and you can choose the important stories that you want to tell, but no matter what you choose you want to keep the history front and center! This is your chance to show that you have learned the material as well as the methodology of historians.
Here are some possible themes for your assignment (you can choose others that appeal to you):
Analyze the role of rebellion in the first half of American history – you must discuss specific rebellions and talk about their causes as well as their long-term impact.
Analyze the changes in the roles of women and gender norms from the pre-contact period through Reconstruction.
Analyze the political and economic developments in American from the pre-contact period through Reconstruction.
Analyze the impact of settlement and western expansion from the pre-contact period through Reconstruction – you must think about slavery and the indigenous people in this theme.
Analyze the evolution of slavery from the pre-contact period through Reconstruction.
You may address your chosen topic in one of the following ways:
A 5 – 8 minute podcast
An infographic using images and texts to teach the viewer the key points
A comic book or other artistic representation
Any other form that you think you would enjoy working on
For any of these methods, you should be thinking about who you would like your audience to be. Who do you imagine engaging with this project? (Don’t think about this as an assignment for a class, but instead as something that might be out in the world.
Please remember that no matter which option you choose, you will need to include these things:
A clear explanation for your theme and the thesis of your project.
Solid historical evidence to educate the viewer on your chosen theme. Use all the resources available to you from the course. Do not do outside research.
A one-page reflection that tells me about your intended audience and your thought process creating this project.
Citations for your information.
Creativity and fun!
