“My Adventures as an Explorer”

California Explorer Report in the First Person

 

Project Assignment:  To write a report about an explorer who came to California.  This report will be written in the first person, as if you are the explorer telling your own life story.  First you will research one of the explorers from the list attached.  Then you will write an autobiography and make a set of personal documents that that explorer may have had in his/her possession.

 

Due date: Wed., Dec. 15th, 2004

 

Purpose:  1) to gain experience doing research, 2) to examine the everyday life of the historic explorations that led to the discovery/growth of our state, 3)  to learn about the kinds of documents historians use to find out about historical people and events.

 

Assignment Details:  Imagine you are an explorer who came to California during the 1500-1700’s.  You are to write a 2-4 page “autobiography” of your life following a simple outline.  In addition, you are to create a set of documents for this explorer that he/she may have collected during his/her lifetime.  These may include any of the following:  diary/journal entries; letters to or from family members or friends; newspaper articles/flyers; will, birth, death, and/or marriage certificates; awards; land deeds; maps; etc.  All documents should reveal facts about the person’s life mentioned in your biography. These documents must also accurately reflect the chosen time period.  In other words the description of people, events, food, dress, custom, ships, activities, etc., should be as historically accurate as possible.

 

When your project is complete, it should have all the following components:

 

1.      Cover – illustrated and attractive; must include explorer’s name, your name, and date.

2.      Biography Outline

3.      “Autobiography” of Explorer (2-4 pages)

4.      Documents ( minimum of 3, maximum of 6)

5.      Bibliography – minimum of  3 references

6.      Statement of Learning- explain what you learned while doing this project:  1) about history, 2) about doing research, 3) about yourself as learner/writer/researcher.

 

Projects will be graded according to this scale:

 

1.      Cover- 10 pts.

2.      Outline- 5 pts.

3.      Historical accuracy of information in autobiography and documents-45 pts.

4.      Overall neatness, organization and clarity of writing- 25 pts.

5.      Bibliography- 5 pts.

6.      Statement of Learning- 10 pts.