7th Grade Civil War Project 2013
As a way to deepen our understanding of the Civil War, we will examine five key
primary source documents. Our study of these documents will be guided by five
separate groups of students, who will present the historical background on these
documents, provide a close reading guide, and lead a Harkness discussion of the
document and the role it played in shaping America's identity during the Civil War.
The five documents are (along with key historical background events):
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Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address (The Election of 1860)
The Emancipation Proclamation (The Battle of Antietam,
Douglas/Mounting Pressure on Lincoln, The role of the Border States)
The Gettysburg Address (The Battle of Gettysburg)
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address (Sherman’s March, Inevitability of the
War’s End, Southern Desperation)
The 13th Amendment (Lincoln’s Assassination, Appomattox, End of the
War)
Your presentation will include three different elements, each highlighting a different
aspect of this document.
I. Annotated Document / Close Reading Handout: Enhancing Comprehension—
You will also prepare a close reading guide of your document, so that your readers
may better understand the document. The close reading will include two parts.
--First, you will turn in an “annotated” or “reader’s guide” version of the
document. Your annotations should clarify difficult words, historical figures or
events, and any historically specific language or ideas that cloud the meaning of the
document for modern readers. This version should be annotated to include
footnotes, a glossary, and/or a vocabulary key.
--Second, you will attach a one-page handout that outlines some of the key ideas,
and highlights important passages.
You will need to turn these documents in to your teacher TWO days before
your presentation date so that we can photocopy them and distribute them to
your classmates prior to your presentation!!!
II. Visual Presentation: Establishing Context—You will compile a visual
presentation – a powerpoint, a series of posters, or other visual
demonstration— that presents the historical background surrounding the
document. Your presentation will answer questions such as:
What led to this document? How is it a part of this historical moment? What are the
events taking place in the war at this time that relate to this document? Your visual
presentation should not only list and explain these events, but should also lead the
class to understanding the document’s practical political and social goals as they
relate the to these concrete events from history.
III. Harkness Discussion: Meaning, Themes, Causes and Effects – Lastly, your
group will prepare and lead a Harkness Discussion on the document and its place
in the Civil War and American history. You will prepare a list of 7-10 discussion
questions that should lead that class to understand the document’s main ideas,
themes, and role in America’s evolving identity. Your aim should be to write
questions that guide the class to understand not only what the document says, but
what its subtext is, how it affected the course of the war and the future of the
country. What are the author's main ideas? What changes did the document make to
America’s cultural identity? You will also prepare extended answers to these
questions, which you will turn into your teacher.
Annotated Bibliography – In addition to these three parts of your presentation,
your group will also prepare an annotated bibliography which includes—at
minimum—four sources: two print sources, two online sources. This does not
include the primary source document you are studying (which you do not
need to include on your bibliography).
PRESENTATION DATES:
April 24: First Inaugural Address
April 25: Emancipation Proclamation
April 30: Gettysburg Address
May 1: Second Inaugural Address
May 7: The 13th Amendment
***While groups are presenting, the class will need to take thorough notes on the
three different stages of the presentation to prepare for a cumulative assessment (a
test!) on the key ideas and themes of the individual documents and how they are
related to each other.