Absolute Monarch Facebook Project
To all potential
candidates:
Whom
would you
hire?
Age of Absolutism
Our small European country of Nacirema is seeking the leadership and guidance of a dynamic leader.
After the Reformation and the weakening of the power of the Roman Catholic Church, Nacirema declared
its independence and created a sovereign nation. The nation has narrowed the list of potential applicants to
the following leaders:
Henry IV (France)
Cardinal Richelieu (France)
Zhu Di(Yongle)(Ming Dynasty)
Shah Abbas the Great (Persia)
Sultan Suleiman (Ottoman)
Jahangir (India)
Akbar the Great (India)
Maria Theresa (Austria)
Frederick the Great (Prussia)
Kang Xi (Qing dynasty)
Joseph II (Austria)
Nicholas I (Russia)
Louis XVI (France)
Ivan III (Russia)
Age of
Absolutism
Oliver Cromwell (England)
Henry VIII (England)
Elizabeth I (England)
James II (England)
James I (England)
Charles V (Holy Roman Empire)
Montezuma II (Aztec)
Zhu Yuanzhang (Hongwu) (Ming dynasty)
Tokugawa Ieyasu (Japan)
Frederick William I (Prussia)
Frederick William, the Great Elector (Prussia)
Frederick II (Holy Roman Empire)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Japan)
Kublai Khan (Yuan Dynasty)
Task: You will role play one of the above absolute monarchs who is trying to be appointed the new monarch of
this nation. Your mission is to be the best absolute ruler to claim the throne of Nacirema and lead the country to
greatness! In order to be considered for the position, you must submit your FACEBOOK page and a letter of
your candidacy to the selection committee.
The future of Nacirema depends on you!
Project Requirements
Each student will choose one monarch and must
i.
Research your monarch using at least the following four sources.
1. Print source –book in library or reference book in library
2. 3 internet sites of the student’s choice—NO WIKIPEDIA!
4. You must take notes on the annotation pages and write a citation of the source in
the correct MLA format.
5. This annotated bibliography will be turned in with your facebook page and letter.
ii.
Create a mock FACEBOOK PAGE for that monarch including:
1. Name, contact information (nationality/address)
2. Objective statement (What your leader hopes to accomplish
as a leader of this new nation)
3. Information – background information about your
candidate (date of birth/death, country, dates of reign,
parents, spouse, children, etc.)
4. Education / training (schools, military, religious, etc.)
5. Work/Job Experience (positions of authority held/jobs)
6. Accomplishments (Things your leader wants to stress in order to get hired. Make sure to
list specific events and actions.)
7. Failures (Things that might hurt your candidate. Note – this would not typically be
stressed, but you might want to “spin” the failure to word it in a favorable way.)
8. References (List the names and titles of at least two people that could be contacted about
your leader’s ability to lead. These must be 2 actual historical people.)
9. Don’t forget other FACEBOOK favorites – include a picture of your monarch, pictures of 3
people who would be your monarch’s friends with captions underneath identifying them, 5
Networks to which s/he would belong and write 2 status updates on your Wall—you can be
funny or creative but the information must be accurate.
iii.
Write a letter to the Nacirema Ruler Selection Committee
1. It must be at least 1 page single-spaced typed.
2. It should be formal and express the appropriate tone of a person seeking a job.
3. It must be a letter with correct salutation, body, and closing.
4. In your letter you must have one body paragraph explaining why you are an competent
absolute ruler. Make sure you explain how you have met at least 2 of the key features of an
absolute ruler.
5. You must have another body paragraph highlighting and explaining at least 2 of your most
significant accomplishments included on your facebook page.
6. You must have another body paragraph in which you compare yourself to 1 other monarch
studied in class (Philip II, Louis XIV, Peter the Great, Ferdinand II, Charles I, Catherine the
Great). You can incorporate it into your letter by saying something like this: I understand
that _______________(name of monarch) is also applying for this position. Although he is
an excellent candidate, you should still choose me over him because . . . . You need to
provide at least 2 explained and logical reasons why you are better than the monarch you
chose.
**PLEASE TURN IN THE RUBRIC WITH YOUR PROJECT.
My Monarch is: _________________________________________________
Due Date (annotated bibliography, facebook page, & letter): _______________
1. PRINT SOURCE – BOOK IN LIBRARY OR REFERENCE BOOK
Annotation – Notes about information for project, possibly a quote you can use and/or a key point
that helps you.
Citation for this source in MLA format
2. ELECTRONIC SOURCE – STUDENT SELECTED INTERNET
SOURCE
Annotation – Notes about information for project, possibly a quote you can use and/or a key point
that helps you.
Citation for this source in MLA format
3. ELECTRONIC SOURCE – STUDENT SELECTED INTERNET
SOURCE
Annotation – Notes about information for project, possibly a quote you can use and/or a key point
that helps you.
Citation for this source in correct MLA format
4. ELECTRONIC SOURCE – STUDENT SELECTED INTERNET
SOURCE
Annotation – Notes about information for project, possibly a quote you can use and/or a key point
that helps you.
Citation for this source in correct MLA format
ABSOUTE MONARCH
Grading Rubric for
Research & Annotated Bibliography,
Facebook Page & Letter
RESUME
Element
1. Research & Annotated Bibliography (20 points)
* Student gathers information from at least the required four
sources
* Student takes notes from each source for project, includes
possibly a quote and/or a key point
* Sources are in correct MLA format
* No Wikipedia articles are used
2. Facebook Page (40 points)
* Facebook Page is detailed, thorough and demonstrates the
student’s knowledge of the leader
* Facebook Page has all required elements – name, objective
statement, background information, education, experience,
accomplishments, failures, references, and other Facebook
favorites
* Facebook Page is effective at promoting the leader as the
best monarch for Nacirema
* Facebook Page is typed, formatted in a visually appealing
manner, and free from mechanical errors (grammar,
punctuation, capitalization, spelling, etc.)
3. Letter to Nacirema Ruler Selection Committee(40 points)
 Letter is typed & at least 1 page single-spaced
 Letter is written formal and expresses the appropriate
tone of a person seeking a job.
 Letter has the correct salutation, body, and closing.
 One body paragraph explains why you are a competent
absolute ruler by explaining how you have met at
least 2 of the key features of an absolute ruler. (10
pts)
 One body paragraph highlights and explains at least 2
of your most significant accomplishments included
on your facebook page. (10 pts)
 Another body paragraph compares yourself to 1 other
monarch studied in class. At least 2 logical reasons
explain why you are better than the monarch you
chose. (10 pts)
TOTAL GRADE FOR PROJECT ………….
Score
great
very good
good
okay
not done
great
very good
good
okay
not done
great
very good
good
okay
not done
________ / 100
Name
Objective:
Information
Job Experience
Friends
Name
Name
Name
Education
Networks:





Wall
Accomplishments
References
Failures