Name ____________________

President Bush Needs You!

Introduction: President Bush needs your help! It has been decided that another president should be placed on Mt. Rushmore next to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. Which former or current president should it be? President Bush needs you to research some of our former presidents, give your suggestion of the most deserving president and create a campaign to convince the rest of America which president should have the honor of having his likeness on Mt. Rushmore.

Task: You will research your president using books, Internet articles, and other materials. You will be taking notes on index cards and all sources MUST be documented. We will review note taking and have some class time to work on this project but some research will also need to be done at home.

You will be creating an outline (see sample) for your research paper and writing a report of information (with a title page and a works cited page) on your president and why he deserves to be on Mt. Rushmore. Finally, you will be campaigning to have your president’s likeness placed on Mt. Rushmore.

You will need to create a poster (see attached format) to help you run your campaign. You will also need to bring in at least three props/symbols that best represent your president. We’ll discuss some ideas in class. The class will vote for the “winning” president and make the recommendation to President Bush.

HINT: Use the bookmarked links on our class Website to help with your research!

Process:

1) Begin your research by completing the Presidential Fact Sheet. You should find all the information listed about your president by using the links on our class Website or your books.

2) You will be using your recipe box to keep organized notes on your president. Write twelve questions about your topic – two beginning with each of the following words: “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” “who,” and “how.” One question needs to be written at the top of each card.

3) You will begin your research. You must use at least two books in your research. We will use some computer time to do Internet research.

4) You must create a “works cited” card for each source that you use. Each works cited card will need to be lettered (A-Z).

5) You will answer each of your questions on its corresponding card. Your answers need to be between 25 and 50 words. Write the letter of the source(s) that you used next to each question.

6) Once all questions have been answered, you must separate the twelve questions into two or three general categories. Possible categories might include: background, campaign, family life, important decisions made during his term, etc.

7) You will begin your outline for your report. The outline will be detailed and will follow the “layout” of your paper. Please follow the format we learned in class.

8) After you’ve completed your outline, I will check it and give it back to you. You will be ready to begin writing your paper.

9) Your paper will be written in first person (I).

10) Begin by writing an introductory paragraph. This needs to follow the following format (we’ll learn this in class):

A) Create interest by writing three “riddles” that describe your president.

A) State topic (e.g. “I am George W. Bush, the 43^rd President of the United States.”)

A) Transition to thesis with a statement about your president’s unique contributions that make him the most deserving to be on Mt. Rushmore.

A) Your thesis should identify the topics you will describe (your general categories).

11) Your body paragraphs should begin with an introduction of the topic. Be certain you do not repeat the exact words of the thesis.

12) Answer who, what, where, when, why, how (some may not apply) and give examples in each paragraph.

13) Each body paragraph may require more than one paragraph to describe. Your twelve questions will help you divide the paragraphs appropriately.

14) End each paragraph with a sentence that summarizes or interprets rather than repeats the information provided in that paragraph.

15) Use a transition statement to begin several (but not all) of your body paragraphs (same format as our autobiographies).

16) Your report must have a closing paragraph.

A) Restate each of your three riddles in a different way (explain what they mean).

A) “Brag” about your importance to our country and sum up why you deserve to be on Mt. Rushmore.

A) End with a “twist” that ties to the title of your paper.

17) You are now ready to begin campaigning for your president to be on Mt. Rushmore. You will be taking on the role of your president, your president’s wife or your president’s campaign manager. We will be having a “Presidential Breakfast” at the beginning of June. At this time, you will attempt to convince parents, teachers and fellow students that your president deserves to be on Mt. Rushmore because he has changed history and/or has had many great accomplishments.

18) You will need to prepare a short speech that addresses the points listed below (you will be role-playing). Each of the following points will be answered on a separate note card.

A) Begin by introducing yourself. Try to use your president’s (or first lady’s) mannerisms if possible. Add any relevant background information (e.g. date/place of birth, education).

A) State your president’s significance and his role in history (Why was he important?).

A) Be able to describe what was going on in the country during his presidency (e.g. Great Depression, wars)

A) You’ll need to describe what a typical day might be like for your president.

A) Be able to tell voters why your president deserves to be on Mount Rushmore.

19) You will need to come to school dressed (to the best of your ability WITHOUT spending money) as your president, your president’s wife or his campaign manager (the person in charge of the campaign to have him on Mt. Rushmore).

20) We talked about costumes in school and they can be easily homemade. For example, if you are the campaign manager, you could decorate a plain white t-shirt with symbols of your president. You could also write the campaign slogan across the shirt (e.g., “Reagan for Rushmore!”)

21) You will need to have a campaign poster for your president. (Please follow attached format.)

22) You will also need to bring in at least three props/symbols to help us truly get to know your president. We shared some suggestions in class but please SEE ME if you need help with this.

23) Please carefully review attached rubrics to see how your project will be graded.

Due Dates:

Two books due __________________

Completed research cards due (#2-6) _________________

Completed outline due (#7)_________________

Rough draft of research paper due (#9-16) ________________

Works cited page due___________________

Final draft of research paper and works cited page due ______________

Completed poster due (#21)_________________

Speech note cards due (#18) ________________

Be able to tell me about your costume and your 3 props by (#19-20 & 22) ____________

Presidential Breakfast (#17) ____________

I have read all of the directions. I will continue to ask Miss Cantillon questions when I don’t understand something. I have written all due dates in my planner and will schedule weekly research time into my homework.

Student’s Signature ______________________________

Parent’s Signature ________________________________

RESEARCH PAPER EVALUATION

I. COVER PAGE (5 pts)

    A. Center president’s name, due date, your name

    B. Design a cover (Be creative!)

II. OUTLINE (20 pts)

    A. Correct format used   

    B. Capitalization and punctuation

    C. Neatness; typed

III. INTRODUCTION (10 pts)

A. Created 3 “riddles” to introduce topic

B. State topic

C. Transition to thesis

D. Thesis

IV. RESEARCH PAPER (45 pts)

      A. 7 – 9 paragraphs typed/black (12 pt. letter size), double-spaced

      B. Content shows evidence of research and higher-level thinking

      C. Proper paragraphing with good transitions

      D. Neatness; typed

      E. Capitalization, punctuation, grammar, spelling

V. CONCLUSION (10 pts)

A. Give 3 specific examples of thesis points

B. Sum up why you’re important

C. Twist

VI. WORKS CITED PAGE (10 pts)

      A. At least four varied sources used (minimum of 2 books)

      B. Correct format; correct capitalization/punctuation

      C. Alphabetical order

      D. Neatness; typed

100 possible points