For your final project of the semester, you will choose one of the following options:
1. Social movement impact analysis
2. Essential Question: Has America fulfilled its mission statement?
3. Essential Question: Was the Civil Rights Movement a success?
You must use a minimum of 3 sources and incorporate both primary and secondary sources into your project.
The format in which you choose to present your information is up to you. You must make sure that you adhere to the description and requirements of the project.
*Detailed descriptions for each option are available in the Semester 2 Final module on Canvas.*
Social Movement Impact Analysis
For this project, you will choose an American social movement from the second half of the 20th century or the early 21st century. The components of your final project must include:
1. Introduction: Introduce the concept of social movements by defining and explaining what they are and why they are historically significant. In addition, introduce your specific social movement and state to what extent you believe your social movement had an impact on American society and/or history.
2. Description of American Society prior to the social movement: Describe what American society was like prior to the social movement taking place. What was life like for the group of people specifically impacted or targeted by the movement? Why did momentum build for change? Was the oppression of the impacted group de jure or de facto? These are a few questions to consider, but you are not limited to only these questions. Use evidence to support and exemplify your description.
3. Description of the movement: Describe and analyze the movement. How, where, and when did it begin? Who were the major figures who led the movement? What were the goals of the movement? What strategies were used by the movement to achieve their goals? How effective were these strategies? Did the movement result in the passage of new laws? How did Americans perceive the movement at the time? For those who opposed the movement, why did they oppose it? Use evidence and examples to fully explain and describe the different aspects of the movement.
4. To what extent did the movement succeed? Analyze the impact of the movement. Were the goals of the movement accomplished? To what extent did the accomplish their goals, somewhat, a great deal? Was the movement largely a failure? What has life been like for the impacted group in the years or decades following the movement? Use evidence and examples to support your claim and analysis.
5. Conclusion: Remind the audience of the main points you have just shared with them. Re-state your claim/thesis as to the extent to which the movement succeeded or impacted American society. Draw conclusions and make an educated prediction on what the future holds for the impacted group and/or American society. You could possibly identify what you think the next major social or political movement will be in the United States.
Essential Question: Was the Civil Rights Movement successful?
Your analysis of this question and presentation of your answer should include the following components:
1. Introduction: Introduce the Civil Rights Movement by giving a brief overview of the what the movement concerned, when it took place, the primary strategies used by the movement, and the essential goal or goals of the movement. State your perspective on whether or not the movement was successful in accomplishing its goals (claim/thesis)
2. Categories of analysis: You should have 2 or 3 categories of analysis that support your claim regarding the extent to which the movement was a success. Each category should be clearly labeled. Each category should include a clear explanation of it's link to your claim. Each category should incorporate historical evidence and examples to support the analysis of the essential question.
3. Conclusion: Re-state your claim or thesis and give a final overview of the main points made in your analytical categories. The conclusion should remind the audience that you have made a clear and well thought out argument based upon evidence. At the end of your conclusion, make a prediction regarding the status of civil rights in America moving forward into the future.
Essential Question: Has America fulfilled its mission statement?
Your analysis of this question and presentation of your answer should include the following components:
1. Introduction: Introduce the what you believe the mission statement of the United States to be. Your mission statement should come from the founding documents of the United States. I would recommend taking a look at the Declaration of Independence and/or the Preamble to the Constitution, State your perspective on whether or not the United States has accomplished goals of its mission statement, or your perspective on whether or not the United States has remained true to the mission statement laid out by the founders of this country (claim/thesis).
2. Categories of analysis: You should have 2 or 3 categories of analysis that support your claim regarding the extent to which the U.S. has accomplished or has remained true to its mission statement. Each category should be clearly labeled. Each category should include a clear explanation of it's link to your claim. Each category should incorporate historical evidence and examples to support the analysis of the essential question.
3. Conclusion: Re-state your claim or thesis and give a final overview of the main points made in your analytical categories. The conclusion should remind the audience that you have made a clear and well thought out argument based upon evidence. At the end of your conclusion, make a prediction regarding the status of America's mission statement and the likelihood of the mission statement being carried out moving forward into the future. If you feel the mission statement is unfulfilled, what steps need to be taken to work toward its fulfillment?