Off-Campus Access

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Lab Online Exercises

Lab exercises can generally be completed during the weekly lab sessions. Each exercise is worth 2 points. Late assignments (those submitted 2 days after the listed due date) only get 1 point.

1. UW Catalog 1 - April 1
2. UW Catalog 2 - April 1
3. Search statement - April 1
4. Searching 1 - April 8
5. AHL & HA - April 8
6. Reader's Guide Retrospective - April 15
7. Searching character 1 - May 2
8. Searching character 2 - May 2
9. Searching character 3 - May 2
10. Searching character 4 - May 9
11. Extra Credit 1 - May 23
12. Extra Credit 2 - May 23
13. Extra Credit 3 - May 23

Day in the Life Assignment - Due April 8

Turn in a printed copy with your piece of attached evidence in class on April 8. For a Word version of the handout see this file.

My Hometown Newspaper Assignment - Due April 13

Scan through at least 4 issues of your character's hometown newspaper for April 1918 -- for daily papers scan April 1-4; for weekly papers scan all 4 April issues. Write up a concise account (no more than 2 pages) answering the following questions:

1. What kinds of information did you discover about your character's hometown in 1918? Provide some examples.
2. What sort of war coverage was included in the paper?
3. What did you find most surprising in the newspaper?
4. Assess the value of newspapers for historical research. In other words, what type of information are newspapers good for, when would you go to a newspaper rather than some other sort of document, what are the weaknesses of a newspaper as a historical document, etc.
5. Copy and attach one item from the newspaper that you found interesting. What interested/intrigued you about this, i.e., why did you choose this over other items?

Group Project: Pathfinder & Poster - Due April 25

A pathfinder is a guide to research tools and resources on a specific topic. Each group will create a pathfinder for their subject and will visually present this pathfinder and examples of materials found to the class. This project consists of both individual and group assignments.

• Individual
  Each individual will be responsible for finding and sharing with the group:
  • 1 relevant book (secondary source) on the topic
  • 2 relevant scholarly articles (secondary sources)
  • 2 relevant contemporary (WWI era) articles (primary sources)
  In addition, each individual will also turn in a bibliography of the items they found to the instructor by April 22. The citations in the bibliography should be cited using the Chicago Style format.

• Group
  The group is jointly responsible for making decisions on the content of the pathfinder and poster. This includes evaluating the research tools, search statements used, and materials found by individual members:
  • Examine materials found by each member and decide on the most useful of these items to include as examples on the pathfinder and to display and annotate on the poster (1 book, 2 scholarly articles, 2 primary articles).
  • Find and evaluate the most useful encyclopedia and indexes to use for researching the topic.
  • Compile the pathfinder.
  • Delegate responsibility for writing annotations, photocopying material to be displayed on the poster, and presenting the poster.

• Group Pathfinder
  Each group will distribute a one-page printed pathfinderlisting the most useful research tools and resources for their subject to each student and the instructors. A pathfinder template is available as a word document. All citations (encyclopedia, book, articles and website) should be in Chicago Style format. NOTE: If you can get the pathfinder to me by 9:00 am on April 25, I can make copies for the class. I've also provided an example of a completed pathfinder.

• Group Poster
  The poster will be used to visually present examples of the types of materials the group found using the resources listed on the pathfinder. NOTE: Poster boards will be available in the class along with poster tape and scissors. All examples should be cited correctly using the Chicago Style format. The poster should include:
  1. Research topic and group names
  2. Photocopy of a relevant article from your recommended encyclopedia
  3. Photocopy of the title page and table of contents of a relevant book
  4. Photocopy of a scholarly book review of the above book (Search JSTOR for reviews or see this pathfinder to finding book reviews for other suggestions on finding reviews)
  5. Photocopies of two relevant, scholarly articles (secondary sources) each with a one paragraph annotation describing why the group chose these over other articles on the topic
  6. Photocopies of two relevant contemporary articles (primary sources) each with a one paragraph annotation describing why the group chose these over other articles on the topic
  7. Photocopy of the front page of the website with a one paragraph annotation describing why the group choose this site over other websites

• Group Presentation
  Each group will present their findings to the class. Presenters should be prepared to answer questions such as why a particular index was deemed useful, whether there were any special challenges in researching the topic and what problems were encountered during the research process.

Portfolio/Scrapbook I - Due May 16

The portfolio is a collection of research sources, both secondary and primary, on your character's life experience plus a brief narrative of your character's experience and a short research essay. These are all presented in a binder/scrapbook. The portfolio should include:

1. Bibliography
   A bibliography of at least 10 relevant items cited using the Chicago Style format.
   • Minimum of 2 relevant secondary sources (either scholarly books or articles)
   • Minimum of 6 primary textual sources (no more than 2 from the web and including at least 3 of the following formats: newspaper article, magazine article, memoir, correspondence, diary, WWI era book, government document)
   • Minimum of 2 images
2. Photocopies of Selected Primary Sources
   From your bibliography choose 4 textual primary sources to include in the portfolio. Each photocopied source should be accompanied by a 1-paragraph annotation stating why this item was chosen over others listed in the bibliography. (The annotation can be included in the bibliography.) In other words, choose your best sources to include in the portfolio and tell me why they are the best. Also include your images (no need for an annotation though they do have to be cited in your bibliography).
   • Photocopies of book-length sources should include the title page, table of contents and a 1-3 page excerpt from the section you found most useful or enlightening.
   • Photocopies of article-length sources should include the entire article if less than 3 pages; for longer articles just photocopy the first 3 pages.
   • For webpages, include no more than the first 3 pages.
3. Brief Narrative
   Speaking as your character, write a 1-2 page letter (to your mother, sweetheart, friend) or diary entry describing your experience. Be sure to cite evidence (again using the Chicago Style format) for your statements.

Portfolio/Scrapbook II - Due June 3

Portfolio II contains the same sections as Portfolio I plus a research essay. Follow the directions for Portfolio I but include an expanded bibliography of at least 14 items. And include photocopies of 6 textual primary sources with annotations in your portfolio. Also include your images (no need for an annotation though they do have to be cited in your bibliography).

• Minimum of 2 relevant secondary sources
• Minimum of 10 primary textual sources (no more than 3 from the web and including at least 3 of the following formats: newspaper article, magazine article, memoir, correspondence, diary, WWI era book, government document, oral history transcription)
• Minimum of 2 images

Research Essay
A research process essay is a description of no more than 500 words (1-2 pages) explaining how you conducted your research. The essay should include the following sections:

• How you went about researching your character
• The most useful research tools and search statements
• A thoughtful discussion of your research process -- what went well, not so well, did you hit roadblocks, how did you overcome them, would you do things differently, did your process for this project differ from your previous research experiences, what material was easiest to find, most difficult, etc.

Obituary - Due via email by midnight June 6

Your obituary should be short, between 100 and 200 words (after all obits are paid by the word). For those of you (your characters) who haven't died (we will be rolling the dice for the last time in class on June 3 to determine deaths), feel free to make up you future life (though your obit should make some mention of your experiences during WWI), cause of death and date of death.