Individual in Society
LMHS
Fall 2010
Montaigne
GENEALOGY PROJECT
As we proceed with our unit on culture and subcultures, some
questions the vast majority of students, who are assimilated, might ask are:
“How would I know if my ancestors were part of any subcultures in the
United States, or even part of a foreign culture unlike our own? How could I
find out?” If people as closely related to you as grandparents (or living greatgrandparents) have a strong ethnic identity, it’s possible that in subtle wayseven without your being aware- your individual version of American culture
is flavored by the subculture of your family. When we begin our next unit on
socialization (the process of learning how to fit into society), you’ll learn
that the first, and one of the most important, agents of socialization is the
family. Every family socializes its offspring differently, and a major factor
in this difference is the ethnic origin of the mother and father. So, this
project is as “relevant” as they come. You’ll learn more about subcultures,
and about how you’ve been socialized. At the same time, you’ll get closer to
members of your family and perhaps, gain insight into what makes them the
way they are. You will do all this through a relatively simple exercise in
genealogy.
What is genealogy? It’s the study of how people or families are
connected to their ancestors. It includes family relationships, where people
lived, when and where they moved, and what artifacts the family has
considered important enough to pass down. Because genealogy includes all
this, we prefer that term to “family tree”. This project will include a family
tree, but also much more.
The project will count for 100 points, perhaps 30% of your first
quarter grade. In this packet, you’ll find the rubric we’ll use to grade it, so
you know how important each part is. Here are the parts of the project:
1) Research/Interviews
2) Family Tree
3) Maps/Pictures
4) Oral Presentation/Family Artifact
5) Family Narrative (essay)
The first three parts must be completed by Monday, October 18th. On
that date, you’ll hand in your interview questions, written or recorded
responses (video clip, CD/DVD, audiocassette or VHS tape if you wish),
one copy of your family tree (as complete as possible), and all maps and
pictures. You will also, that same week, be making a brief presentation to
the class and showing/describing a family artifact that is highly significant
for you.
After having parts 1-3 returned within a few days, along with an
evaluation of your oral presentation, (the artifact will be taken immediately
to your locker or other safe place and brought home the same day) you will
start to work on the written narrative (essay). No more class time will be
devoted to the genealogy project, but as part of your homework you’ll write
a narrative of your experience doing this project, and what you learned. You
may also need to complete or add to the maps and pictures, or research and
interviews, if they were not completed to my satisfaction by October 18th.
The family narrative and all completions or additions will be due
without fail on Monday, October 25th. This will give you sufficient time
to work on the project, while still keeping it linked to the scope and
sequence of the course.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------On the following pages, you will find:
1) Instructions for research and interviews
2) Suggested interview questions and techniques
3) Instructions for family tree and blank sample tree
4) Instructions for maps and pictures
5) Instructions for oral presentation and family artifact
6) Instructions for project narrative
7) Grading rubric for genealogy project
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Our definition of family is flexible enough that everyone can complete
the genealogy project and do a great job! How each of us defines our
family will differ: there is no wrong way. Some common concerns in past
years related to stepfamilies, single parents, and adoptions. If stepparents
are involved, you may research them and/or biological parents. There
could be as many as four branches to your tree. If a single parent raised
you (and you have no contact with the other one), research just the
ancestors of the person who raised you, but try to go back a generation
further to compensate. If you were adopted, research the ancestors of the
people who raised you, your adoptive parents. If you’re still unsure how
to proceed, ask. I’ll help you define family in a way that makes you
feel comfortable and able to proceed.