The Panama Canal
The strategic importance of this waterway cannot be overstated. President Teddy Roosevelt understood the value this passage would be for America then and in the future. To get it built, he had to hope that "the end justified the means."
Your assignment is to uncover the stories behind the creation of the Panama Canal and decide if you think a US President could do the same thing today.
As you read about the Panama Canal, organize your information into the basic "news" questions:
WHO?
WHAT?
WHERE?
WHY?
HOW?
From your research, create a brochure or pamphlet that summarizes your research. Think of it as the kind of document that might be handed to tourists before they tour the Canal. Be sure it includes a map that clearly shows the advantageous location of the Panama Canal.
Finally, analyze the way Teddy Roosevelt went about building the Panama Canal. It might help to organize the events into a timeline or his "to do" list. Write a short essay (1 to 3 pages) that shares some of your analysis and comments on the power of a current President to one in the early 1900s. Could a current US President follow a similar "to do" list? Be specific in your argument.
Don’t forget to include a thorough and properly formatted Works Cited page!
Grading
The rubric below is provided to help you self-assess your project as you prepare to turn it in. It is the same rubric your teacher will use to grade the assignment.
A |
The brochure includes accurate information, professionally presented with no further revision required. It is obvious the student proofread and edited before handing in the brochure and essay. The essay shows a deep understanding of the process TR used to make the Canal possible and makes intelligent arguments for why or why not a similar action is possible today. The Works Cited page has no formatting errors and includes only valid historical references. |
B |
The brochure includes all required information but may lack a professional feel or have some minor mechanical errors that could have been caught in revision. The essay makes a clear link between how TR built the Canal and the reasons a current President could or could not follow a similar course of action. The Works Cited page might have a few minor formatting errors but has valid and varied references. |
C |
This project includes all the components asked for in the assignment. The brochure might be light in content or need one more revision to earn a higher grade. The essay makes an argument for why or why not a current President could act in the way TR did, but won’t have as much detail or as deep or a connection as the A or B essay. A Works Cited page is included. |