Introduction to the Global Citizens Final Project
For the final course project, you will research the experience of the daily life of a historical figure (either a real person or one of your own invention) from the period of this course (1750present) and re-create or interpret some aspect of this person’s experience that helps us understand their place in global history. In other words, this project asks you to consider how we can understand the relationship of a single individual to the broader themes of this course, including (but not limited to) revolution, global migration, labor, war, protest, imperialism, disease, and technology.
PROJECT PURPOSE: In global and world history courses such as this one, the scale of our historical study is often so large that we miss out on what we call social history, or the study of the everyday life of individuals. This project asks you to investigate the experience of one individual within the larger themes of global history and make connections between the global and the local. You will practice the skills of historical research and interpretation but also have the freedom to develop a project that speaks to your own personal interests and strengths.
PROJECT COMPONENTS: The final project will consist of two parts: the creative recreation of your chosen individual’s daily life experience, and a research portfolio that documents your methodology, research, and creation process.
- Creative Project: These kinds of projects are often called “un-essays” because instead of writing a boring essay, you can develop a project that suits your own skills and interests. Below you will find a list of possible projects, but this is non-exhaustive. In other words, you can come up with your own idea, discuss it with your instructor, and finalize it in your proposal in Module 8.
- Create some pages of a fictional travel diary (using written or visual sources as your research base)
- Create a Vlog or podcast documenting the experience of one of the many individuals we will study who traveled the world
- Write a series of letters documenting the experience of a soldier at war or an industrial worker
- Those skilled in visual or plastic arts might make a painting, zine, or sculpture to represent a specific event or experience in the life of their chosen individual
- Develop a board game documenting an individual’s experience of global war o Cook or bake food from historical recipes that illustrate some aspect of global migration
- Write and perform short dramatic monologues that tell the story of your individual’s experience
As you start to do your research, consider the wide range of possible sources you have available to you, from written primary and secondary sources, to visual sources (paintings, photographs, advertisements, etc.) to film and media sources, and even oral histories. These can help you determine what is possible for your project.
I have provided both a written guide to research and sources as well as a video guide to researching online and with the resources of the USF library to help you as you begin thinking about your project.
- Research Portfolio o Along with your creative project, you will need to write and submit a 500-750 word methods essay that describes who the real or imagined historical figure is that you have chosen, how the experience of their daily life intersects with at least one of the global themes of our course, and the process through which you did your research and developed your project. o You will need to include a bibliography in which you cite your research sources, including any online sources. Your final bibliography should contain a minimum of 3 sources, but you can use as many as you need.
▪ I will provide detailed instructions for how to cite your sources using Chicago Style citations.
o For those creating material objects or visual art, I would additionally ask you to document your process of creation with photos or videos. The process for submission of these projects will be described in detail in the final assignment instructions.
• Basic Guidelines
- For written projects, such as diaries, letters, stories, etc., you should aim for approximately 1,000 words of original text for your creative project.
- For material projects that are more abstract in the depiction of the daily life of your chosen individual, you will likely need to supplement the analytical portion of your project through a longer, more detailed Methods Essay that explains how your creative project re-creates the daily life of your individual (an “artist’s statement” as well as a methods essay). All of this should be explained in your proposal and negotiated with your instructor as you begin to plan out and research your project.
Although the final project and essay are not due until the end of the course, you will need to submit a proposal for your final project that includes a preliminary idea for your project, along with a potential subject (it might change along the way, particularly after feedback), and whatever sources you have found thus far. This proposal will be due at the end of Module 8.
CHOOSING YOUR RESEARCH SUBJECT: You are free to choose any individual,
either real or invented, from the period 1750-present as the subject of your project. There are two key elements of your project that you should consider in choosing your subject: Is there enough information available that you can document some aspect of their daily life? And can you connect this aspect of their daily life to at least one global theme of our course?
Here are some of the potential benefits and drawbacks of each choice:
Real-life individuals
- Benefits o For famous historical figures, there will be more reliable historical documentation and research materials available
o Members of your family are possible subjects, and you may have written documents that you can consult or family members you can interview as sources
- Drawbacks o There may be too much—and potentially contradictory—information on your chosen historical figure, and it could be challenging to figure out what sources to use
Invented characters
- Benefits o You will not be beholden to the “facts” of a real-life individual’s experiences, so you can take more creative license with the historical narrative of your individual (however, you will need to be as historically accurate as possible in the recreation of the situation of your historical figure through research on how they would have lived; placing an invented figure into a totally implausible historical situation is not acceptable)
o You will have access to a much wider array of humanity than often makes it into “official” history books, since often, history books only document the elites of society
- Drawbacks
o For individuals who have left little trace in the written record, such as enslaved Africans, industrial workers, indentured servants, illiterate peasants, etc., you will need to carefully consider how to find evidence of their daily life experiences and recreate them in a historically accurate and realistic manner
How should you be preparing as you move through the course?
- Early in the course, think about what format(s) you might like to use for your final project. Think carefully about what would be realistic for you in terms of your access to materials and resources for the period of this course (e.g. if you are considering a painting, do you have ready access to the art supplies you need to complete the piece by the submission deadline?).
- Decide if you want to research the life of a real historical figure or invent a fictional person, and make a list of a few historical periods, themes, or people from 1750 to the present that interest you. From here we can begin narrowing down your subject.
- To narrow down your subject:
- You will first want to decide on a specific individual who will be your subjecto Then, you want to choose an episode of their daily life that represents their relationship to global history
- Finally, you will want to decide the manner in which you will re-create their daily life for your final project
- As you narrow down your subject, begin gathering your research sources, using the resources available through the USF library, reliable online sources, or other resources you may have at hand, including friends and family.
- Consult with your instructor if you have any questions or concerns about what would make an acceptable historical subject, final creative project, or research source.
What will be required for the Final Project Proposal in Module 8?
- A description of your proposed potential historical subject, either real or invented (200 words minimum)
- A short description of your envisioned creative project, based on the imagined daily life of your historical subject
- A list of the research sources you have so far gathered, including online sources (with hyperlinks to the websites)
What will be required for the Final Project and Portfolio submission?
- Completion of your final creative project, and submission to Canvas according to the requirements of the medium (more on this in the final assignment instructions)
- Completion of your Portfolio (including Methods Essay and Bibliography, as well as documentation for material-based projects)
How will the Final Project and Portfolio be evaluated?
Criteria Points Possible
| Creative Project | 45 points possible |
| • The project responds to the prompt by demonstrating a thoughtful engagement with the daily life of a real or invented person in the period of 1750-present and their connection to global history | 20 points |
| • The project demonstrates appropriate knowledge and application of the historical period in a creative manner | 15 points |
| • The project demonstrates effective historical research skills | 10 points |
| Methods Essay | 30 points possible |
| • The essay clearly describes the historical figure and their connection to global history, noting sufficient historical facts and evidence of research | 20 points |
| • The essay clearly elaborates the process through which the author conducted historical research and developed the project | 10 points |
| Bibliography | 20 points possible |
| • The bibliography contains sufficient evidence of good historical research, including use of credible online sources | 10 points |
| • Citations are in correct Chicago Style format | 10 points |
| Documentation of Student’s Individual Creation | 5 points possible |
| Total Points Possible for Final Project | 100 points |
