Civil War Project

We are about to enter the era of the Civil War. As we learn, investigate, understand, and
analyze the Civil War, each of you will become one person from either just before the
beginning of the War (but plays an important part as to the events of the Civil War) or during
the war itself. Throughout this project, you will be responsible for the following:
Research: During this time, it is important that you do as much research as possible in
order for you to know your character. You will become this person (5 points)
Citations: Included in this packet is a citation page that you will need to complete as
you complete your research. This includes book materials, magazine articles, internet
articles, documents, etc. (5 points)
Paper: You will be responsible to complete a 2-4 page paper that discusses your
character in detail. A sample paper using the MLA citation style is included in this
packet. In this paper, you will identify you your Civil War person is, their personal
information, their role in the Civil War, and other important information that you feel
is necessary to identify their contribution to this time frame. (20 points)
Talk Show: As the final project, we will hold an RBC Talk Show Program where you
will respond to questions asked by a guest host in a talk show format as if you are that
person from the Civil War. It is important that you are very familiar with your Civil
War character so that you are able to answer the questions that will be asked of you
during the Talk Show. Try your best to dress your role with items you may have at
home. DO NOT GO OUT AND SPEND ANY MONEY TO COMPLETE THIS PART OF THE
PROJECT SIMPLY GATHER SOME ITEMS FROM AROUND THE HOUSE TO LOOK THE
PART AS BEST AS YOU CAN (20 points)
TOTAL POINTS = 50 Points
Information that is included in this packet and should be turned in with your final report is as
follows:
An information sheet(s) to be completed as you research your Civil War character ;
A citation page for your reference information;
A sample report for your final paper...you do not need to turn in the sample but use
this as a guide for your final paper that will be turned in;
A sample works cited page again, you will create your own works cited page to turn
in attached to your final report.
This should be a great way to learn the reasons the Civil War developed and to enjoy the
experience of putting yourself into the position of one of these people that had a very big
impact on our American History! Have fun and be creative
Civil War Character Choices
Major Players before and during the Civil War:

Abraham Lincoln-American Jefferson Davis-Confederate President
Ulysses S. Grant-Union Robert E. Lee-Confederate
Nat Turner-Southern Slave Harriet Tubman-Union
Sojourner Truth-Union Frederick Douglass-Union
Harriet Beecher Stowe-Union Stephen Douglas-Union
John Brown-Union George B. McClellan-Union General
General Braxton Bragg-Confederate Clara Barton-Union
Thomas Stonewall Jackson-Confederate General
William Tecumseh Sherman- Union John Wilkes Booth-Confederate
George Meade-Union Andrew Johnson-American
Mary Todd Lincoln-American James Longstreet-Confederate
George Custer -Union General Lewis Armistead-Confederate
Joshua Chamberlain-Union General Dred Scott-Union Slave
Mathew Brady-Photographer Richard Ewell-Confederate
Irvin McDowell-Union Ambrose Burnside-Union
John B. Hood-Confederate Benjamin Harrison-Union
Winslow Homer-Painter/War Correspondent Rose ONeal Greenhow-ConfederateCivil



War Research Information
Civil War Person


Personal History
Information (Include age,
birthdate, birth location,
year of death, family life,
residence, etc.)









Role During the Civil War
Identify if this person was
Union, Confederate,
Slave, Abolitionist, etc.








Important Information

























Citation Page (minimum of 5 sources)

Citation Source
(Book, Article,
Internet, etc.)
Author
(Last/First
Name) not for
Internet Source

Book Title,
Article Title,
Document Title


Publisher:
City/State


Publisher: Year,
Edition, Volume

Data Base
Information
Date of Access


































SAMPLE REPORT
Firstname Lastname
Instructors Name
Course Number
5 June 2014
Center Title, Do Not Bold or Underline
Created by Kirby Rideout of Collin County Community College, this is a template for formatting a
research paper in MLA format. The paper has one-inch margins all around. Each page has a header of
last name and page number. The paper will be double-spaced throughout, no extra space between
sections or paragraphs. The entire paper, including the heading and title, needs to be in the same type
and size of font. This template uses Times New Roman 12pt font. Because it is easy to read, this font is
definitely appropriate for college essays. Make sure that the essay is left aligned, not fully justified. One
space between sentences is standard; however, double-spacing between sentences is okay. Follow your
instructors preference in spacing and be consistent. Hit the enter key only once at the end of each
paragraph.
In the MLA format, you document your research in parenthetical citations. This allows you to
acknowledge your sources by keying brief parenthetical citations in your text to an alphabetical list of
works that appears at the end of the paper (Gibaldi 142). Notice that in this brief citation the period
goes after the parenthesis. The information in parenthesis should be as brief as possible. You will use
the authors last name or a shortened title for unsigned works. If you used the key information (authors
last name or the title of an unsigned work) in your text, do not repeat it in the parenthesis. Gibaldi
explains:
The information in your parenthetical references in the text must match the corresponding information
in the entries in your list of works cited. For a typical works-cited-list entry, which begins with the name
of the author (or editor, translator, or narrator), the parenthetical reference begins with the same name.
. . . If the work is listed by title, use the title, shortened or in full. . . . (238-239)
Notice how the long quote was set off by an extra one-inch margin rather than quotations marks, and in
this case, the period goes before the parenthetical citation. Chapters 5 and 6 of the MLA Handbook give
more information on works cited and parenthetical citation.
After the last paragraph in an MLA style essay, force the document to begin a new page for the
Works Cited page. The Works Cited page will still have the one-inch margins all the way around and have
the heading of last name and page number. This page will also be double-spaced throughout with no
extra space between entries. Items in a Works Cited page will be alphabetized by the first word of each
entry (authors last name or title of work). Each entry will use a hanging indent, in which lines after the
first indent half an inch. Because the URLs in a Works Cited page are not underlined, remove the
hyperlinks so that URLs will be formatted correctly. To do this, right click on the hyperlink and select
remove hyperlink. The sample Works Cited page that follows has the entry for the MLA Handbook and
then templates for some of the most common types of sources used. For more information, refer to
chapters 5 and 6 of the MLA Handbook, Bedford/St. Martins guide to using internet sources
(http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite5.html), and Purdue Universitys Online Writing Lab
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html).

SAMPLE WORKS CITED PAGE
Works Cited
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: MLA, 2003.
Lastname, Firstname. Title of the Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Lastname, Firstname. Title of the Article. Name of the Scholarly Journal Volume.Issue (Date): first
page-last page.
Lastname, Firstname. Title of the Newspaper Article. Title of the Newspaper Date, edition:
SectionPagenumber+.
The Title of the Article. Title of Magazine Date: page number. Name of the Library Database: Name of
the Service. Name of the library with city, state abbreviation. Date of access <URL>.

Civil War Person of Interest
Written Paper Rubric (MLA Style)
Mrs. Boswell
American History
Student Name: ___________________________________ Class Period: ____________
Name of Person Studied: ____________________________
PLEASE ATTACH THIS RUBRIC TO THE FRONT OF YOUR REPORT

Category 4 3 2 1
Introduction
(Organization)
The introduction is
inviting, states the
main topic and
previews the
structure of the
paper
The introduction
clearly states the
main topic and
previews the
structure of the
paper, but is not
particularly inviting
to the reader.
The introduction
states the main
topic, but does not
adequately
preview the
structure of the
paper nor is it
particularly inviting
to the reader.
There is no clear
introduction of the
main topic or
structure of the
paper.
Accuracy of Facts
(Content)
All supportive facts
are reported
accurately.
Almost all
supportive facts
are reported
accurately.
Most supportive
facts are reported
accurately.
NO facts are
reported OR most
are inaccurately
reported.
Grammar &
Spelling
(Conventions)
Writer makes no
errors in grammar
or spelling that
distracts the reader
from the content.
Writer makes 1-2
errors in grammar
or spelling that
distract the reader
from the content.
Writer makes 3-4
errors in grammar
or spelling that
distract the reader
from the content.
Writer makes more
than 4 errors in
grammar or
spelling that
distract the reader
from the content.
Capitalization &
Punctuation
(Conventions)
Writer makes no
errors in
capitalization or
punctuation, so the
paper is
exceptionally easy
to read.
Writer makes 1 or
2 errors in
capitalization or
punctuation, but
the paper is still
easy to read.
Writer makes a few
errors in
capitalization
and/or
punctuation that
catch the readers
attention and
interrupt the flow.
Writer makes
several errors in
capitalization
and/or
punctuation that
catch the readers
attention and
greatly interrupt
the flow.
Conclusion/Citation
Page (Organization)
The conclusion is
strong and leaves
the reader with a
feeling that they
understand what
the writer is
getting at.
The conclusion is
recognizable and
ties up almost all
the loose ends.
The conclusion is
recognizable, but
does not tie up
several loose ends.
There is no clear
conclusion, the
paper just ends.
Total Score: /20
Mrs. Boswells Comments: _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Civil War Person of Interest
Talk Show Performance
Mrs. Boswell
American History
Student Name: ___________________________________ Class Period: ____________
Name of Person Studied: ____________________________
Please Bring this Rubric the Day of your Talk Show Participation

Category 4 3 2 1
Subject
Knowledge
Student
demonstrates full
knowledge by
answering all hosts
questions with
explanations and
elaboration.
Student is at ease
with expected
answers to all
questions, without
elaboration.
Student is
uncomfortable with
information and is
able to answer only
rudimentary
questions.
Student does not
have a grasp of
information;
student cannot
answer questions
about Civil War
person.
Enthusiasm
Demonstrates a
strong, positive
feeling about topic
person during
entire presentation.
Occasionally shows
positive feelings
about topic.
Shows some
negativity toward
topic presented.
Shows absolutely
no interest in topic
presented.
Eye Contact
Holds attention of
entire audience
with the use of
direct eye contact,
seldom looking at
notes.
Consistent use of
direct eye contact
with audience, but
still returns to
notes.
Displayed minimal
eye contact with
audience, while
reading mostly from
the notes.
No eye contact with
audience, as entire
report is read from
notes.
Elocution
Student uses a clear
voice and correct,
precise
pronunciation of
terms so that all
audience members
can hear
presentation.
Students voice is
clear. Student
pronounces most
words correctly.
Most audience
members can hear
presentation.
Students voice is
low. Student
incorrectly
pronounces
terms/names.
Audience members
have difficulty
hearing
presentation.
Student mumbles,
incorrectly
pronounces
terms/names and
speaks too quietly
for a majority of
students to hear.
Poise
Student displays
relaxed, self-
confident nature
about self, with no
mistakes.
Makes minor
mistakes, but
quickly recovers
from them; displays
little or no tension.
Displays mild
tension; has trouble
recovering from
mistakes.
Tension and
nervousness is
obvious; has trouble
recovering from
mistakes.
Total Score: /20
Mrs. Boswells Comments: _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________