US HistoryFacebook Project

Facebook makes it possible for us to communicate with one another, present both our best and worst image of ourselves and share the special moments of our lives in real time across the globe. Using the Facebook profile template and wall, you will create a Facebook page for a notable US historical figure. You are welcome to communicate with your contemporaries (those individuals who were alive when you were), but we will not communicate beyond the grave. This project may be completed within a group of four, with each student selecting a historical figure that lived in the same time period with the others. (EX: Federal Period; Jefferson, Adams, Washington, and Hamilton would be Facebook Friends)

  • Your project may be multipage or poster size in order to fulfill the requirements
  • You may use my template on the wiki, you may download another template or design one of your own (for poster size projects).
  • Please make your page appropriate for the public –these will be posted for all to see.
  • The purpose of this project is to review for the APUSH examination collaboratively, so your work MUST be historically accurate.

Value –one project (test) grade

Due -On May 28th or 29th, we will share a hardcopy of these pages with our classmates and then post them for the public.

Here are a few tips for students that will make creating a fake Facebook wall much easier
1. Remember that your figure is the owner of the wall, so historical accuracy and verisimilitude of

personality matters. (I doubt Thomas Jefferson would have had Spring Break pics of himself and Alexander

Hamilton living it up at Myrtle Beach. Pictures partying with Ben Franklin in Paris, perhaps….)
2. Think about relationships -that is what social networking is all about. You need research family

members, political friends and foes. Depending on the figure, researching enemies will also add depth

to the wall.
3. Make a plan. Think about how the conversation needs to go. Is it going to cover a week or years? This

will be important, and a plan will make putting the wall together much easier.
4. Talk to your peers –you should plan your wall posts together, if you would have contacted one another.
5. Make sure to follow the guidelines on the rubric!

Scoring Rubric

Topic / Excellent 20 -16 / Good 15 - 11 / Basic 10 - 5
Wall
Include a minimum of 8 posts and 6 replies
All posts & replies must accurately demonstrate
  1. Understanding of the character
  2. The achievements & shortcomings of the figure’s time in office
  3. Relationships with at least two other contemporaries (you may ‘unfriend’)
/ Required number of posts
Thorough understanding of the figure’s career is evident & the historical time period / 6-7 posts by the president and 4 – 5 replies
Some understanding of the figure’s impact on American history and the historical time period in which he or she lived / 3-5 posts by the president and 3-4 replies
Understanding of the figure’s term(s) is not clearly demonstrated and/or factually incorrect
Profile
Must have “From” and Current City (where did they live when elected to office)
Includes ‘activities/historical events with pictures & explanations of why your character would be engaged in these activities.
Include legislation, treaties, speeches that were hallmarks of your presidency
Include interests, hobbies, books they authored during their lifetime
Include Facebook groups your president might join
(you can be imaginative)
Educational background
Religious affiliation (be more specific than just ‘Protestant’) / All required information is completed
Minimum of 2 activities
Minimum 2 hallmarks
Minimum of 2 interests/books
Minimum 2 groups
Educational background
Religious affiliation / Most information is complete
1 Activity
1 hallmark
1 interest/book
1 Facebook group
Education
Religious affiliation / Most information is incomplete
An activity/hallmark/
Interest/Facebook group category is missing
Education and/or Religious affiliation is missing
Photos/Pictures
Include at least 3 photos of situations, in which your character might be involved or interested
(can be same as wall)
Include a minimum of 3 photos/pictures in which your character is ‘tagged’
Include a ‘Portrait’ / Required number of photos/pictures met (7 including tagged & portrait)
Photos/pictures demonstrate thorough understanding of the figure. / 5 photos/pictures
Photos/pictures demonstrate understanding of the character, but are historically limited or have inaccuracies / 3 photos/pictures
Photos/pictures do not clearly demonstrate a knowledge of the figure and/or time period.
Friends
Include profile pics of at least 6 “Facebook friends” with names / Required number of pictures
Friends demonstrate a thorough understanding of the figure. / Pictures of 4-5 friends included
Photos demonstrate understanding of the character / Pictures of 2-3 friends
Pictures do not clearly demonstrate an understanding of the character