Civil War Inquiry Project

This is the part where you step back and reflect on what you have learned and how you learned it.

 JOURNAL ENTRY:

Which steps of the Big 6 model were the most difficult for you?

How do you feel about your ability to research using primary documents?

If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently?

Does your final product accurately show what you learned?

Organize your information so that you are ready to present it in your final project.  At this point, it might be helpful to make categories for each of your four entries and decide what information you would like to include in your journal entry.

Present your information (see project requirements entry).

 April, 1865

I am so tired and hungry.  I have sent a letter to a friend hoping that she will send food now that it is finally allowed.   The prospect of a good meal makes my stomach rumble.   Just thinking of some of the things we have eaten the past several years makes my stomach turn.

I feel luckier than most of the people in my company as I still have a little money and I am not sick.  Some of the others have the measles.

We heard today that Lee surrendered at Appomatox.  I am hoping that the person who brought us the news is incorrect, but I am afraid that it is true.  That news along with the freshly dug graves with wooden markers we passed yesterday is hard to bear. 

I will be going home, but life seems so changed.  What will it be like to stay in the same place for so long?  Will my family be glad to see me? 

 Sources: Letter: Samuel F. Carson to Virginia Miller, April 10, 1865Samuel F. Carson to Virginia Miller, April 10, 1865 http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/civwarlett-browse?id=A3052http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/civwarlett-browse?id=A3052

Letter: John P. Dull to Giney Dull, March 24, 1865John P. Dull to Giney Dull, March 24, 1865 http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/civwarlett-browse?id=A6135http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/civwarlett-browse?id=A6135

Letter: Augusta County: Diary of DeWitt Clinton Gallaher (1864-1865) http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-valley?id=AD1000&data=/texts/english/civilwar/diaries&tag=public&part=90&division=div3http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-valley?

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-B8184-3287]

 Look through your source and begin taking notes that will help you with your final product.

 Use the Note Taking Form to record your information and to react to the information that you find in your primary sources.

See our Classroom Example if you don’t remember how to fill the form out.

Use the Photo Analysis Worksheet to analyze a primary photograph that you will include in your final product.

See the Analysis Example if you don’t remember how to fill in the worksheet.

Figure out where you will find the sources and bookmark websites that you plan to use later.  Skim the pages to find information within the sources to make sure that they will help you to answer your questions.

JOURNAL ENTRY: 

What primary source have you found already that you think will be helpful in your research?  Why?

What search strategy do you plan to use tomorrow when you are given more time to search?  What are two keywords that you might use?

Think about the sources that are available to you.  Look through the list of websites and browse the books that were provided to you by your teacher and media specialist.  Which ones do you think will be most beneficial to you to answer your questions?

What other sources could you use?

This is the step where you make sure you understand what you will need to complete the project.  You come up with research questions that will help you to complete the assignment.

Project Requirements and Rubric  

JOURNAL ENTRY:

What point of view are you going to be researching from?

What are your research questions (at least ten) that you will use to find out more about the way of life of your person during the Civil War?

Do you have any questions about the assignment that you don’t understand? 

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