U.S. A.P. Biography Project
The purpose of this project is to see history through the lens of individual experience, while further developing your
research and analytic writing skills. Through interviews, primary source material, and secondary research, you will
formulate a biographical sketch that brings your subject to life on paper as well as sets him/her into a broader historical
context. Your final project will include the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
biographical formal power-point outline presentation of questions with citations as well as an informal (1st
person) prologue or epilogue, which reflects on your experiences as a biographer (25-30 slides maximum)
or you may chose to create a wiki about your biographical person. You may use pictures from the web, but
it is preferred that you use personal items scanned into the project if possible. You must gain written
permission from said person to place anything that is personal on the web. Your presentation must
include music either that person’s favorite song(s) or music from the era of their choice.
physical printout of said power-point that illustrates some important point about your biography.
a statement about what you learned through this project.
Project Stages
1. Select a subject. Find a subject over 60 years old -- someone who has stories to tell, is easily accessible to you (in
person), eager to talk to you, & whose life allows you to explore some key aspect of 20th-century U.S. history.
Turn in a Typed Subject Choice Description that includes: Due one week after assignment is given.
- the full name of your subject
- his/her current location and connection to you
- what you already know about significant developments in your subject's life - think chronology & context
- a short paragraph on why you chose this particular person
2. Prepare 25-30 interview questions and conduct initial interview. Prepared questions should be extensive. See
Interview Guidelines handout for more detail. Consider:
- time period and significant historical events
- challenges and accomplishments of her/his life
- lessons learned
- advice to future generations
- role of individual in shaping history
3. Turn in Typed Interview Questions, Interview Summary, & Research Plan.
Interview Summary--Briefly summarize the key ideas/information from the interview in coherent
paragraphs. This is NOT a word-for-word interview transcript, but rather a summary of your significant
findings. However, you may quote your subject—using appropriate quotation marks where needed. In
addition to the highlights of her/his life, stories, and opinions, be sure to address: What seem to be the
life-shaping forces (themes) and turning points in your subject's story? Also, describe the experience of the
interview for you. Include the date and place where the interview was conducted. PLEASE TYPE THIS
INFORMATION IN THE FIRST SLIDE ALONG WITH THE NAME OF THE INTERVIEWEE
AND THE INTERVIEWER.
4. Research your 20th-century U.S. historical topic & prepare a Background Outline. Using appropriate secondary
sources and primary sources, conduct in-depth research that allows you to understand both the ‘big picture’ context
as well as how it connects to your subject’s life. Research historical issues, events, and people important to this
aspect of your subject's life.
5. Pursue additional interview(s) as necessary. Write a thank you letter.
6. Outline your biographical power-point. Decide on an interpretive approach and organizational scheme for the
biographical power-point. You are not aiming for a comprehensive biography, but rather a selective approach that
allows you to bring your subject to life, share insights & analysis, set in an historical context based on your research.
Your slides must include complete introductory (with thesis) and specific organizational points as well as analytical
topic sentences and all the evidence you intend including citations in a proper format.
7. Write and revise. You will turn in no drafts prior to the final draft. Therefore, check your work. The final must
include citations, the prologue or epilogue, and a bibliography of materials used—including websites if they
are used or attached as a hot button, complete with pictures and music. The illustrated power-point should be
informative and enlightening.
Informal Prologue/Epilogue
Describe your personal experience in researching and writing this biography. Some questions to
consider:
- What was your connection to your subject? Did this change as a result of this project?
- What issues of evidence did you encounter? How did you handle sensitive issues?
- What questions did you feel you could ask? What did you feel awkward asking or
decide to leave out?
- How did your personal perspective influence the shape of the biography and the
interpretation of evidence?
- How did you decide on your approach to organization?
- What conclusions did you draw about your subject and/or the historical method?
- What universal values or insights might a reader find in your biography?
- What particular lessons did you learn about history while doing this biography?
A.P. U.S. History Biography Project - 20th Century U.S. History Thumbnail Sketch—ideas of
things to think on when formulating questions.
Great Depression 1929-1939
- social responses to crisis -family and neighbors
- cultural responses - arts and entertainment
- political responses - New Deal, radicalism
World War II 1939-1946
- isolationism v intervention
- winning the War in Europe and the Pacific
- Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- The Home Front - women at work, propaganda, security v civil rights
(Japanese internment)
The Cold War 1945-1963
- containment and Communist threat abroad
- Berlin, China, Korea, Cuban Missile Crisis
- McCarthyism and reactionary politics at home 48-54
- The Military- Industrial Complex
Prosperity and Culture 19451965
- suburbanization and the affluent society
- pop culture -television, rock n' roll, movies, art
Civil Rights & Social Activism
- race and civil rights
1954-1976
- MLK and national rights campaigns; Alabama perspective-pros/ cons.
- Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam
- Black Panthers
- Warren Court
- Johnson's War on Poverty
- women's rights and feminism
- counterculture and generation gap
- gay rights movement
- American Indian Movement
- United Farm Workers and migrant laborers
- environmental movement
Troubled Years - Cold War at
Home and Abroad
1964-1989
- Southeast Asian Conflicts (Viet Nam)
- Space Race
- Other regional crises - Central America, Africa, Middle East
- Watergate scandal
- Reagan v the “Evil Empire”
- collapse of Communist system
Globalization 1970s - present
- revival of immigration
- decline of manufacturing
- rise of service economy
- World Trade Organization, GATT, NAFTA
- Issues revolving around Homeland security; Wars on Terrorism.