Grade Percentage:This is worth 20% of your final grade.

Introduction

You are to research a topic in US History, create a PowerPoint presentation and present your findings to your classmates. The presentation must be no shorter than 35 minutes and no longer than 40 minutes.

Research Schedule and Submission Dates

  1. Final Topic & Research Question given to Mr. McLaughlin – May 16 (A) and 17 (B)
  2. Research Dates – May 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, and 31
  3. Turntin.com Submission Due Date: May 31 at 11:59 pm
  4. Hard Copy Due Date: June 1st (A Day) and June 4th(B Day)
  5. Presentations will begin on June 1st and you will be assigned a presentation day by Mr. McLaughlin.
  6. Final Exam Day – You will attend class and the final groups will present.

Topic Selection

  1. Reasonability
  2. Choose a topic that is reasonable within the amount of time you have to research and present. Your topic should not be too broad or too precise. For example, researching “The US Civil Rights Movement” would not be a solid research topic, as it is too broad and encompassing. However, if one were to research “The Civil Rights Act of 1964”, it would be more concise and fit the time constraints.
  3. Historical Interest
  4. The purpose of historical research is to learn more about a topic that already interests you. After all, you will be devoting many hours to researching and presenting this topic, so it should be something you are passionate about!
  5. Essential Question
  6. Develop one clear and preciseessential question that will help guide your research.
  7. You can also develop sub-questions in regards to your essential questions
  8. This will be included on your second slide
  9. Project Thesis
  10. Develop a clear and concise thesis that directly answers your essential question.
  11. This will be included on your second slide.

Project Requirements Checklist

(Be diligent if you miss a requirement you will receive a lower grade or perhaps a zero.)

____ 1)PowerPoint

  1. Time Limit - Make sure you presentation is within the 35-40 minute presentation timeframe
  2. Images - Include pictures, maps, and charts as necessary
  3. Include proper MLA citations on the slide
  4. The visuals should be relevant and not clip art.
  5. PowerPoint slides should not be too wordy. Remember, the slides serve as a guide for the listener, discussing the main points of your research
  6. Utilize bullet points not complete sentences or paragraph format
  7. Type Point - No less than 18 pt type
  8. Slide Color – Make sure your background and font color does not detract from readability

____2)Research Sources (3 Primary, 3 Print, and 7 Print or Electronic)

  1. Electronic
  2. You must utilize the MKHS Library Database for your electronic research, including: Facts on File, Salem History, Gale Context Within History, etc.
  3. To access the MKHS Library Website at home go to:
  4. For most databases the username and password is as follows:
  5. Username: morrisknolls
  6. Password: eagles
  7. Print Sources – Utilize the MKHS library
  8. Primary Sources – Utilize the MKHS Library, Facts on File is particularly useful.
  9. Do not utilize Wikipedia, answers.com, yahoo, etc.
  10. You will receive a zero for this assignment, if you cite any non-academic websites.

____ 3)Content

  1. First Slide – Title Slide: Topic Title, Your Name, Block, Date, and Teacher’s Name.
  2. Second Slide – Essential Question and Thesis that answer the Essential Question
  3. This will guide you throughout the research process and your presentation.Please see the included example PowerPoint.
  4. Remaining Slides – Content Information
  5. Informational Slides - Begin the PowerPoint with information slides to establish background information for your audience
  6. Persuasive Slides - The remaining portion of your PowerPoint should be persuasive content that proves your thesis.
  7. Last Slide – Works Cited (Content and Images)

____ 4) MLA Works Cited Page - Include a works cited page in MLA format as the last slide

  1. At least ten sources total in your bibliography (All Must be academic)
  2. You must include three primary sources, which must be designated in your Works Cited.
  3. You must include three print sources, which must be designated in your Works Cited
  4. The remaining four sources or more can be print or electronic
  5. You will receive a zero for this assignment, if you do not include an MLA works cited page
  6. You must also cite all images, maps, charts, etc in your Works Cited Page.
  7. Do not utilize other Works Cited styles such as APA or Chicago Footnote Style.
  8. You must utilize NoodleTools for your works cited page:
  9. You will also be required to share your NoodleTools research page with Mr. McLaughlin
  10. Log into NoodleTools and submit to my class Dropbox: McLaughlin AP US - Final Project

____5)MLA Parenthetical References

  1. You must include MLA Parenthetical References for all your information and images.
  2. You will receive a zero for the project if parenthetical references are not included.
  3. NoodleTools creates them for you.
  4. Your agenda book also includes detailed information (see page 6, etc.).
  5. You must utilizeNoodletools (Online Works Cited Website). You will receive a zero for the project if NoodleTools is not utilized.

____ 6)Turnitin.com

  1. You must submit your PowerPoint to turnitin.comby Thursday, May 31 at 11:59 am
  2. If you do not submit your PowerPoint to turnitin.com, you will receive a zero for the assignment.
  3. You must enroll in Mr. McLaughlin’s AP US History class on turnitin.com to submit your paper.
  4. Class ID (4567754), password (history), class name: AP US History II,

Assignment (AP US History Final Project 2012).

  1. You must convert the presentation to a PDF document to upload it to turnitin.com
  2. Then submit the PDF document of your presentation to turnitin.com.
  3. Do not wait to the last minute to create an account. Mr. McLaughlin can help you create it in class.

____ 7)Hardcopy Submission Requirements

a)You must submit a hardcopy of your presentation on the following dates:

  1. A DAY June 1st
  2. B DAY June 4th

b)Print three copies of six slides per page handouts. One for the teacher and each presenter.

c)You will not be able to print your presentation in class.

  1. Utilize the library if necessary before class. You will receive an automatic ten point reduction if you do not submit a paper copy on the day of your presentation

Presentation Guidelines

  1. Dress in formal attire: dress pants, button down shirts, neck ties, etc. Imagine you are attending a sports banquet.
  2. Do not read directly off the slides. Have a printed copy of your presentation while you present.
  3. Utilize a conversational tone that is loud enough for all to hear. Project your voice it will hold the audiences interest.
  4. Face the audience throughout the presentation.
  5. You should bring three hard copies of your presentation (6 slides per page handouts). One for the teacher and one for each group member.

Potential Research Topics

You are welcome to choose your own topic. However, I have compiled the following list, if you need ideas:

  1. 1964 Civil Rights Act
  2. 1965 Civil Rights Act
  3. Appeasement of Germany
  4. Area 51
  5. Bay of Pigs Invasion
  6. Bill Clinton’s Legacy
  7. Black Power Movement vs. Martin Luther King
  8. Blackhawk Down
  9. Booker T Washington v. W.E.B Dubois
  10. Brown v. Board of Education
  11. Casinos on American Indian Reservations
  12. CIA Espionage
  13. Consumerism – Is this American Freedom
  14. Doolittle Raid
  15. Drones
  16. Dulles Diplomacy
  17. Economic Inequalities in the United States
  18. Educational Inequities in the United States
  19. Elite Forces – Killing of Osama Bin Laden
  20. Gay Marriage
  21. Gideon v. Wainwright
  22. Guantanamo Bay
  23. Harlem Renaissance
  24. Hiroshima and Nagasaki
  25. Imprisonment of Eugene Debbs
  26. Iran Contra Hearings
  27. Jazz Age
  28. Jessica Lynch (Televised Rescue)
  29. John Brown’s Raid
  30. Kennedy Assassination (Conspiracy Theories)
  31. Legacy of Slavery in the US
  32. Levittown
  33. Lindbergh Kidnapping
  34. Little Rock Six
  35. Malcolm X, life and assassination
  36. Marbury V. Madison
  37. McCarthy Hearings
  38. Miranda v. Arizona
  39. Monroe Doctrine
  40. NATO
  41. Persian Gulf War
  42. Plessey v. Ferguson
  43. Prohibition and the Gangster Age
  44. Reaganomics
  45. Red Scare 1919-1920
  46. Regents of the University of California V. Bakke
  47. Rise of Suburbanism and the Development of the Inner City
  48. Roe v. Wade
  49. Roosevelt Corollary
  50. Rwandan Genocide – Failure of US Foreign Policy
  51. Schenck v. United States
  52. Sedition and Espionage Act 1918-1919 – Soviet Ark
  53. Soviet Ark
  54. The 2000 Election (The Stolen Election?)
  55. The Dred Scott Case
  56. The Legacy of Woodrow Wilson
  57. The Lindbergh Kidnapping
  58. The New Right and the influence of the Christian Coalition in the Republican Party
  59. The Rodney King Case
  60. The Sacco and Vanzetti Case
  61. The Trail of Tears
  62. The Vietnam War
  63. Thomas Jefferson’s and Sally Hemmings
  64. Truman Doctrine
  65. U2 Spy Plan Incident
  66. US Intervention in Guatemala
  67. US Intervention in the Bosnian Kosovo War
  68. US Involvement in Afghanistan
  69. US Involvement in Iran
  70. US Involvement in Iraq
  71. US Involvement in the Philippines
  72. US Protest Music
  73. Watergate
  74. Watts Riots