World History ABSOLUTE DEADLINE:
Mrs. Avar
World History Honors Project
50 Points 2nd Semester Friday June 10th
Instructions: Choose one of the following four projects to show Ms. Jacobsen what you know and how well you can take
responsibility. EACH has the same rubric for grading (HONORS QUALITY, HONORS EFFORT)
Quality of Content: 20 points Accuracy of Content: 10 pts Creativity: 10 pts Time/Effort: 10 pts
ANY FORM OF PLAGIRISM ON THIS PROJECT WILL EARN AN AUTOMATIC ZERO!
ATTACH THIS PAGE TO THE TOP OF YOUR PROJECT WHEN YOU TURN IN FOR
GRADING.
OPTION 1: Literary Analysis and Compare/Contrast Essay about Totalitarianism & Russian Revolution
Read George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm, then write a compare and contrast essay based on what you learned about the
Russian Revolution and Totalitarianism, using the format that you were taught in your English 2 course (if you forgot how to
do this, ask your English teacher or research this type of format guideline). Write 3-4 pages typed (double spaced, 12 point
font, Times New Roman, 1" margins). Your essay should compare and contrast the characters in the novel, and their
motivations, to the historical figures of the Russian Revolution. You should also include how the society created by the
animals of Orwell's novel is similar to the totalitarian society created by the communist party in the Soviet Union.
OPTION 2: Talk Show (Script, and Live Performance and/or Video): APPX 7-10 minutes long
Write a full (typed) script of your own talk show about a topic from one of our units of study from 2nd semester (World War I,
Totalitarianism, World War II, Cold War), produce/direct it, and act in it as well. Schedule an appointment to perform it
live before the last week of school, OR you may film it and turn in the video to me by the deadline (DVD, tape, or computer
video file). Either way, you must turn in the type written script/director’s notes. Consider costumes, props, etc. The more
characters/people involved, the more fun you’ll have & better show, but keep it historically accurate. Consider using other
students from the class: If you help them, maybe they can help you! BUT you must do your OWN scripts and your OWN
original talk show. Ideas: Interviews, causes, effects (always think: Who / What / When / Where / Why / How / Result).
OPTION 3: News Journalist Investigative Report (Video Journal & Script): APPX 7-10 minutes long
Pretend you are a news journalist doing a detailed investigative report into a current major world event and its implications
(fight for democracy in Arab nations; North Korea’s nuclear testing; genocide in Darfur, Africa; modern day examples of U.S.
or European imperialism; China’s one-child policy) or research another topic of interest to you!. Write, Produce, Direct. Edit
and “Act” in your filming to expose information you think the public MUST know: “The Truth”. This will require research
that expands above and beyond what we learned in class: It is IN DEPTH / behind the scenes / those extra juicy – but factual –
details and stories. Find PRIMARY SOURCES to help you get some quotes for interviews, and camera shots of artifacts.
You will want to create some props, a set design, and simple costumes to get in character. You may have other people in
your video or filming. However, it must be your individual project. You will NOT get a group grade. If you and other
students help each other, each project must be individually unique and focus on a totally separate investigation. You must turn
in the video (DVD, tape, or computer video file) AND a type written script/director’s notes to get credit for this option.
OPTION 4: The Fight for Democracy (Research report and PowerPoint presentation)
History Repeats Itself: Assess your understanding of the rise of democracy and consider people’s struggle for
independence and freedom throughout time. Connect what has happened in the past to what has been happening
over the past 15-20 years in the world. There are two parts to this project. The first part is a report that you will
TYPE, and the second part is a PowerPoint that you will create (turn in via. Email, DVD, or give it to me to copy
from a Flash Drive).
See Details of how to do Option 4 on the back
OPTION 4: The Fight for Democracy (Research report and PowerPoint presentation)
Part 1: Report
You will write a report that demonstrates the development of democracy in the modern world.
You must use at least two primary sources (original documents – such as language cited from
documents like the English Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Rights of Man - stories from people who
were a part of the event or movement – such as from a journal entry, letter and/or interviews and quotes
from people actually “there”) and two secondary sources (something that is telling you the story about
what happened, such as your textbook or notes or a newspaper story) to help you understand how nations
have adopted democratic ideologies and foundations in their development.
You must use at least one unit from our World History 1st semester to make comparisons to people in a
nation who are either actively trying to have a revolution to develop democracy in their country today, or
in the last 15-20 years have won independence and become democratic, and are now trying to develop a
strong foundation of democracy. Consider the following units in particular to assist you in your research:
Prologue: The Rise of Democratic Ideas
Ch. 5, Sec 5: Parliament Limits the English Monarchy
Ch. 6, Sec 2-4: Enlightenment in Europe
Ch. 6, Sec 4: The American Revolution
Ch. 7: The French Revolution and Napoleon
Ch. 8: Nationalist Revolutions Sweep the West
Consider the following to assist you in writing your report:
What role does each of your sources play in informing you about the power structures, value
systems, and identity of the respective groups?
Summarize the situations from both the past and the present nations you are evaluating.
This does not mean copy exactly what is said in your textbook or on the internet from Wikipedia… I
will be keeping a SHARP eye out for plagiarism… you will get an automatic ZERO if you do not use
your own, original language. I can tell the difference: I’ve read your work for a full semester now.
a. Identify the power dynamics in the relationship between the oppressor and oppressed.
b. Identify the “ideology” of the groups you’re focusing on.
c. Identify the types of “oppression” that are taking place.
d. Identify how certain oppressed groups free themselves of that “oppression”
Part 2: PowerPoint
(You can use Google or do a Yahoo! search on the internet to find “How to make a PowerPoint
Presentation / slideshow”…there are a lot of instructional materials out there, including some on
YouTube. It is very simple once you see the basics)
Create a PowerPoint presentation to show images, maps and information that will simplify and summarize
and “bring to life” your research paper. Think about PowerPoint slideshows (the notes we do on the
overhead) that you have seen in class… make your slideshow a simplified, edited, 7-10 minute lesson you
could show the class that gives just a succinct preview of the overall ideas in your more detailed report. It
doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but think about what YOU would like to see if you were watching
somebody else’s. Remember, after all of the research you have done, you’ve become the expert on the
subject. How would you simplify and summarize it for somebody who has never heard about any of this
information before, and has never taken World History?
Make sure you have a title screen that also includes your name and the date!