GSU Social Studies > Courses > EDSS 6560 >

Historical Inquiry Project

Introduction
This project will provide you with an opportunity to explore a single historical topic from United States history. In this exploration you will employ the tools of a historian. You will have an opportunity to think and work like the scholars who have developed the body of knowledge that social studies teachers are expected to teach. As a social studies teacher it is imperative that you understand the foundational structure of the disciplines that make up social studies. The most important of these disciplines is history. Understanding how history is "created" will help you understand how history should be taught. As a teacher you must also consider how to teach history. Whenever you consider history subtle and not so subtle pedagogical considerations should always be swirling through your mind. To emphasis this pedagogical connection you will also consider how you would teach the topic on which you are conducting your research. This project will be completed using primary source documents, specifically the papers of George Washington.

Procedure
The question informing this historical inquiry is below. We will discuss this question in class and your task will be to read the documents provided and form some tentative answer to the question. This answer should take long form in a formal paper.

Inquiry question - What were George Washington's ideas on the kind of government the United States should have?

This question will be researched using an online collection of Washington's papers from the University of Virginia. The main address for the collection is http://www.virginia.edu/gwpapers/. Within the main collection is a special collection of 39 letters written by Washington on the issue of the type of government that should emerge from the Constitutional Convention. These letters can be found at http://www.virginia.edu/gwpapers/constitution/index.html. Use these letters for your inquiry.

In addition to conducting this research and writing your paper, I would like you to write a 2-page description of how you would teach this topic. Use the guidelines for writing the instructional narratives. I would also like you to write a 1-page narrative on the processes you used to complete the report. The narrative should focus on your historical thinking as well as your thinking about technology. Some questions that might guide your thinking are below.
" What was your starting point? Did you have prior knowledge of this subject or did you have to do outside reading? How did you decide which letters to use? Did the technology make the process easier or harder? Why?

Recommended steps

1. Get yourself familiar with the question. This may require some outside reading. You might also want to ask questions in class.
   
2. Based on your understanding of the question, put forward an initial answer to the question. This answer will help guide your reading of the letters.
   
3. Read the letters through one time keeping in mind the question and your initial answer. Make sure you take notes on the letters. You will need to return to these letters later.
   
4. Begin thinking about how you would teach this topic. You are not limited to any instructional strategy or resource.
   
5. Return to the letters and read selectively for the purpose of confirming your new answer/conclusion. On the second reading find quotes that will support your conclusion.
   
6. Write a first draft of your paper. Make sure you include quotes from the letters.
   
7. Revise and write a second draft and if need revise and write additional drafts.
   
8. Write the two page instructional narrative.
   
9. Write the one page narrative on how you conducted your research.

Assessment
This project will be assessed based on the following criteria.

• The project must be your original work. Duplication of another students work will result in a grade of 0.
  
• The full paper must be at least 8 pages (double-spaced) maximum 12 pt font. Five pages for the historical narrative, two pages for the instructional narrative and one page for the research narrative.
  
• The paper should include a statement of the question and you must make references to the letters.
  
• Your writing should be clear and free of mistakes in grammar.
  
• The conclusion (answer to the question) should be fully explained.

This project is due July 27. You may submit electronically, in class, or in my box on the 6th floor.