For the final project and presentation you will work in a group (2-6 people) to investigate and
conduct research into the longer history behind a major event, injustice, or issue in the world
today to find the deeper meaning and context behind it. You will use the 5 Cs of history (change
over time, context, causality, complexity, and contingency) in your analysis, and give a
multimedia presentation at the end of the semester. Keep in mind that this history must remain
within the last 500 years. In the spirit of both what we are learning in class and in our reading,
the theme of this project will be “a people’s history.” This means that a major element of your
research and presentation will be on the experiences and histories of common people, and their
struggles to fight for justice. In summary, you will need to provide:
● A written out research proposal that explains what your topic is, and what you plan to
research (1-2 paragraphs).
● A slide presentation to the class. Everyone must speak during this presentation
● A multimedia aspect. This may include creating a short newsletter/newspaper, a video,
a social media account you create to showcase this history, poetry/play/creative writing,
a podcast or audio recording. Be creative with this!
● A works cited page of at least 8 sources (including A People’s History of the World).
You must use a combination of books, articles from scholarly journals, news articles,
primary sources, and one film/documentary. (You may not use Wikipedia or
Encyclopedia Britannica as your listed sources, but are allowed to use them to start your
research.) Use this guide for MLA formatting and feel free to go to the Learning Center
for additional help.
More specifically, you will also be graded on addressing the following in your research,
presentation, and multimedia project:
1. The 5 Cs of history.
2. An element of “people’s history” or “history from below” which will include:
a. Looking at three key individuals in this history (a common person, revolutionary,
activist, political dissident, etc.).
b. Looking at movements for social/economic/political change (protests, social
movements, organizations, rebellions, revolutions, etc.).
c. The role that at least three of the following have played in your history: the rise
of capitalism, colonialism, imperialism, war, state power, a class system,
patriarchy, racism / white supremacy, enclosure of the commons.
3. Directly quoting and/or referencing Jeff Horn’s A People’s History of the World and at
least three other additional sources.
