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The 20th Century:
Practicing Reading and Writing Skills While Reflecting on the 20th Century

Century Project

This month you will be creating your own summary of the past century as part of a century project. This project should be lots of fun, but it will also be lots of work. Please realize you MUST keep up on the steps of the assignment, or you will not be able to complete it.

For this project you will need a medium-sized shoe box to be brought from home. Please bring it as soon as possible. Please also make your parents aware of the project we are doing. Lots of help from you parents is encouraged on this project! Also, any summaries, write ups, or information your parents find on the turn of the century would be of great help to our class, because the more info. we have to choose from, the better your projects will be.

Below is a general list of all of the things that you will be required to have as part of your century project. Each part of the project will be explained in more detail during class. Also you will receive handouts to write most of your final draft information on.

Contents of Century Box

  1. Several objects to represent the century accompanied by note cards with explanations.
  2. A written biography of four famous people from the century to represent different categories of society.
  3. A review of a 20th century movie
  4. A review of a 20th century book or story.
  5. A cause/effect chart of 5-10 important events during the 20th century
  6. A table of gadgets, fashion, fads, etc. containing fact/opinion statements about each
  7. A comparison/contrast write up comparing the first half of the century with the second half
  8. A timeline with 15 important events from the 20th century. Pictures and explanations for the time line are encouraged
  9. An interview with a person or who is at least 70 years old

Project Requirements

Box Contents 15 pts______
 
- You should find a minimum of 3 items that can be placed inside your box.

- You should neatly write a paragraph on a note card for each item. This paragraph should tell why you have chosen the item to represent the 1900's. It should be free from all spelling and grammar errors.

- Your box should be neatly covered. Something to relay the contents of the box or its purpose would be a fitting covering.
Biographies 20 pts ______
 

- You will choose 4 people from the 20th century to write one-paragraph biographies about.

- The people you will choose should come from each of the four following categories:

    Political
    Entertainment
    Science/Education
    Other (Your choice. Religion, Professional, or another from the above choices)
- Each biography will be neatly written or typed. It will be free from spelling and grammar errors.
- Your biography will tell why you feel the person should be included in your box. It will also detail the person's life including his/her accomplishments, family, birth and death dates, and any other important information.
 
Movie Review 15 pts ______
 
- You choose any movie that was written in the 20th century.
- You write a one-paragraph summary telling what the movie was about.
- You tell your opinion of the movie in a second paragraph.
- You give several reasons why you feel this is a good movie to represent the 20th century in a third paragraph.
- Each paragraph has a good topic sentence and at least 4 sentences. The paragraphs are free from spelling and grammar mistakes.
 
Book or Story Review 15 pts ______
 
- You choose any book or story (including children's books) that was written in the 20th century.
- You write a one-paragraph summary telling what the book/story was about.
- You tell your opinion of the book/story in a second paragraph.
- You give several reasons why you feel this is a good book/movie to represent the 20th century in a third paragraph.
- Each paragraph has a good topic sentence and at least 4 sentences. The paragraphs are free from spelling and grammar errors.
 
Cause/Effect Chart 15 pts ______
 
- You complete the cause/effect chart neatly and completely.
- Your chart contains at least 5 important events that took place during the 20th century.
- You understand and have written the cause(s) and effect(s) of each event on the chart.
 
Fact/Opinion Fad Handout 15 pts ______
 
- You complete the fact/opinion handout. Each of your statements are written in complete sentences.
- You chose five original fads, fashions, gadgets, etc. that represent the 20th century.
- You have done enough research to make your opinion and fact statements reflect history.
 
Comparison/Contrast Essay 20 pts ______
 
- You write an essay comparing and contrasting the first half of the 1900's with the second half.
- Your essay will have four paragraphs. Each paragraph will follow the given guidelines I will provide you in class. Basically, it will contain an introduction, one paragraph for comparisons, one paragraph for contrasts, and a conclusion.
- Your essay will contain direct quotations from the interview you did with someone over seventy years old. It can also contain information from research you have done.
- Your essay will be free from all spelling and grammar errors.
 
Timeline 20 pts ______
 
- You will create a timeline with 15 important events from the 20th century.
- You will make it neat and dates of events will be based on research you have done.
- You may use pictures and/or explanations of the events to make your timeline attractive.
- Your events should be different than other class members' events. Any event you choose to place on your timeline is acceptable as long as you can justify its importance.
 
References Page 5 pts _______
 
- You will write a references page listing all of the sources you used to get information for your project.
- Your references page will be properly written according to the guidelines I will provide.
 
Neatness/Completeness 10 pts ______
 
- You have done every requirement for the project.
- All requirements have been neatly done.

Total Possible 150 pts __________

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