Honors Family History Project

For this project, you will be discovering your roots while learning to become a historian at the same time. Historians have to research, interview, ask questions, consider both primary and secondary sources discover, record, and summarize their material. Instead of dissecting a stranger’s life, you will have the joy of analyzing your own family history, making it a much more relevant project. You will turn in the project a little at a time so that it isn’t so hard at the end. Here are your requirements:

1)Paper on “The Day I Was Born”

2)Two Interviews with Family Members

3)Video/Audio

4)One “Show and Tell” Piece of History

5)Family Tree

6)Paper on Family Story and What You Learned

7)This is Your Life paper

8)Map(s) of ancestor origin

Explanations of the Requirements (Rubric)

1)“The Day I Was Born”This paper should be typed and include a Works Cited page. There should be paragraphs written on the following topics:

  1. Introduction
  2. One international event that was going on the day of your birth
  3. One national event that was going on the day of your birth
  4. One local event that was going on the day of your birth
  5. Description of your family on the day of your birth
  6. Conclusion

Here are some further instructions:

  1. Work on transitional phrases (“Locally, on my birthday,….”
  2. Make sure you have an “interview” source (from talking with parents)
  3. Learn to quote. It’s OK. DO NOT USE INFO WITHOUT GIVING CREDIT!
  4. Learn to write in your own words. Mix up the wording. Try to use no more than 3 consecutive words that are the same…..unless a quote.
  5. Have in-text citations (parenthetical citations) (Last name of author is fine)
  6. MLA Format Works Cited Page

2)The object is to get an interview from someone from each side of your family if possible. Try to interview older relatives, who would know more information and have interesting stories from the past (grandparents would be great). Use provided questions to guide your discussion with them. Type a one page summary of your discoveries (single space) for both interviews. (Turn in 2 papers)

3)Videotape or record at least one of the interviews.

4)Bring one interesting family historical object to show the class. Something maybe different from what other students would bring. Try to be original in what you choose. Also, look at the checklist of things to include in your scrapbook for ideas. Be able to stand in front of class and explain.

5)Family Tree should go back as far as you can for both sides of family. Try to get birth dates and death dates. This project is not interested in siblings or aunts and uncles. Just the parents’ names. See me if you have questions regarding step parents, adoptions, etc. Do not let your parents/grandparents fill this out for you. They can help you but you must write it!

6)Paper should include the following information:

  1. Introduction
  2. Past: Summary of your family story. (Suggestions: Where did they come from? Interesting family details/facts? Can tell mom’s side, dad’s side, or both.)
  3. Future: What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to accomplish? How do you want to be remembered? How will you carry on your family heritage?
  4. Conclusion
  5. Must be typed and single spaced

7)This is Your Life Paper. Learn about what you were like before kindergarten. Interview someone who spent a lot of time with you while you were young. Half a page paper typed.

8)Map(s) are to show how your ancestors moved. Hopefully you can show from what continent they came from but if not, show where they moved from in America. If not America, then how they moved in NC. If not NC, then how they moved in ForsythCounty. You get the idea. Have different colors for your mother and father if possible.

Due Dates for the Requirements

1)Due Friday, Sept. 18: First draft of “The Day I Was Born”

2)Due Friday, Sept. 25: Final draft of “The Day I Was Born”

3)Due Monday, Sept. 28: Show and Tell history object

4)Due Monday, Sept. 28: This is My Life paper

5)Due Monday, Oct 5th: Both Interview papers

6)Due Friday, Oct. 9th: Map(s)

7)Due Tuesday, Oct. 13: Family Tree

8)Due Friday, Oct. 16: Conclusion Paper

*Grading The final grade will be determined by adding up your points (1-8) for each assignment. (Ex. A 100 would equal 10 points and a 75 would equal 7.5 points)