Presidential Project

Presidential Project

Pick two former Presidents: one you have heard of before and one you know almost nothing about. Read about both of them. Keep a bibliography of where you read. You need at least five sources for each one. (US Gov’t text, US History text, A+ lessons, HistoryChannel.com, other CREDIBLE websites, books you borrow from Mrs. J or the library.)

For both Presidents, create a "data" page that includes at least the following information:

Full name, year born, elected, died (if dead)
Personal information
Professional information (jobs before President)
Presidential information
Legacy
On a separate sheet, include the bibliography for the sources you used to get the information!

You can type these brief notes or hand write them as you read. You will turn them in.

QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND AS YOU RESEARCH:

Of the two Presidents you learned about, which one is most memorable to you?
Do you think Presidents should be judged by their entire life, or just what they do as the President?
Were there things in the person’s early life that helped prepare them for the job of President?
How did each President leave their mark on the country, the Presidency or the traditions of our country?

Finally, write a two to three page paper on one of your Presidents. In the paper explain why that particular President should be introduced and taught to young students. Comment on events in their life or decisions they made that we could all learn from. Do NOT retell the entire life of the President. Go through your research and select a few key pieces of information and write about those and their importance.

What do I turn in?

2 Data Sheets
1 Bibliography split into 2 sections (1 for each President)
A two-three page paper about the legacy of one President

A	The bibliography is in perfect format and includes only credible sources. The data sheets include more than the basic encyclopedia information and therefore reflect careful research. The paper is thoughtful, focused and makes a good case for the importance of remembering and teaching the chosen President. The paper is NOT a bibliography. The overall quality of all the pieces is excellent.
B	The bibliography might have a few minor errors, but is correctly formatted and reflects good research. The data sheets are well organized and have interesting information. The paper might include some unnecessary information but tries to focus on the more memorable or important actions of the chosen President’s life. The overall quality of the work is very good.
C	The bibliography lists the places the student read. It might need work on the formatting or include questionable resources. The data sheets might be short on information or not well organized. The paper reads more like a bibliography instead of focusing on a few key aspects of the President’s life. The work may need more revising and editing to make it 12^th grade level.