Documentary on Tudor and Stuart Monarchs (1485-1714)
Your group will fill the role of television producers by creating a documentary on an influential monarch from the Tudor or Stuart family that is informative and entertaining. Your documentary may take the form of a video presentation or an in-class skit. Feel free to be creative and present your material in one of the following formats or to combine a few: drama, sitcom, biography, newscast, interview, talk show, commercials, soap opera, game show, etc. The goal of the
documentary is twofold: 1) to trace the steps toward (or possibly away from) democracy and 2) review for the upcoming test. The following monarchs will be covered:
Tudors
Henry VIII
Mary I
Elizabeth I
Stuarts
James I
Charles I
Charles II
James II/William and Mary
Requirements:
Your documentary should be 5-10 minutesand address the following questions:
1) Who ruled before the monarch you are covering? Who ruled after? Under what conditions
was the monarch you are covering succeeded?
2) What important events occurred during the reign of the monarch you are covering? What
important decisions did the monarch make?
3) What did the monarch you are covering believe in? How did he or she view themselves and
the world around them? Did they believe in divine right? What was their attitude toward
Parliament? How did they view their relationship with the people of England?
4) Discuss the impact of religion on their reign.
5) How did the monarch you are covering contribute to or hinder the development of
democracy in England?
Group Mechanics:
Each group must have 4 or 5 members who will fill the following roles. Remember, in order for a group to run smoothly, individuals must shareroles.
Producer: coordinates the group's work; serves as group leader to make sure all tasks are completed; helps video engineer edit final product
Researcher: finds background information on monarch; helps editor write segments of documentary
Editor: in charge of writing all segments of documentary
Set Designer: works with editor to choose sites for taping; in charge of costumes and any other necessary props
Video Engineer: films scenes; in charge of editing final product
Actors: EVERYONE!!!
Planning in Stages:
Below are the recommended steps you should take to put your project together.
1. Conduct research.
2. Brainstorm ideas for documentary.
3. Write out a script and gather costumes and props.
4. Rehearse/Film.
5. Edit. (Be sure to leave yourselves plenty of time for this stage!)
Important Reminders:
1. Most of the work for this project will be done outside of class time. This will be the most time intensive and demanding project that you do in the first semester. So start setting up meetings
as soon as possible and don't wait until the last minute to complete this project!
2. The library has 5 video cameras available for checkout. Before you can check out a
camera, you must have a parent sign a “video camera contract.” A copy of the contract is available on the library web site under the link “Pathfinders and Handouts.” Here is the direct link
Remember you will need to provide your own video tape.
3. The library has two Macs with editing software. You can use them during regular library hours on a first come basis. They are for editing only. Also, the Social Studies Department has 5 Mac labtops with editing software that float among teachers. These are also available on a first come basis and cannot be taken home and must be used in Mr. Sheehy’s classroom. In both cases you will need a digital camera and a fire wire cord to make use of the editing software. If you are interested in using the Social Studies Department’s Mac lap topsmake an appointment with Mr. Sheehy. In all cases, be sure to be early and polite.
4. Before you start filming, be sure that the camera you are using is compatible with a computer that has editing software on it. You don’t want to film and then have nowhere to edit your footage!
5. You are required to use at least two sources from one of the library’s digital databases. You will cite these sources using NoodleTools and submit them to Mr. Sheehy electronically.
You should use Chicago or Turabian style.
6. How do you submit your bibliography electronically? NoodleTools calls a bibliography a “Project.” NoodleTools calls the submission of the Project to the teacher “Sharing.” To share a project with a teacher, a student needs to:
- Click the “Share” button on their Project’s “Dashboard.”
- Type the name of the “Assignment Drop Box” provided. The name is Sheehy and the number of the period you are in. For example, “Sheehy 1.”
- Click the “Share Project” button.
7. You may put your documentary on YouTube. Then email the link to Mr. Sheehy at In the Subject Heading put the following information: the monarch you are covering, the period you are in, the names of the members of your group, and the length of your documentary. However, I would strongly recommend that you burn a copy of your documentary onto a video tape, DVD, or CD-ROM as a back-up measure. Sometimes there are issues with the school’s filter that make it difficult or impossible to play videos from YouTube in the classroom. In order for your documentary to be graded, we must be able to watch it in class! So be sure to bring a copy of your documentary on avideo tape, DVD, or CD-ROM! Also be sure to label your video tape, DVD, or CD-ROM with the monarch you are covering, the period you are in, the names of the members of your group, and the length of your documentary. You will lose points if you do not put the correct information in the subject heading or on your video tape, DVD, or CD-ROM.
8. Make sure your documentary will be able to play in class. No excuses will be
accepted. If it cannot be viewed by the class, it cannot be graded. It will be considered late.
Due Date:
The documentary is due on ______.