Introduction

We have been learning about slavery and civil rights.  Is there something you're still curious about?  Now is your chance to exercise your freedom and pick a topic to research!

Task

You are going to come up with a question and research it.   What was Martin Luther King Jr.'s childhood like?  How did the Underground Railroad work?  Why did we have the Civil War?  If you can't come up with a question, your teacher will give one to you.

This project will include:

• At least five paragraphs on your topic (introduction, conclusion and three body paragraphs)
• One picture relating to your topic
• A speech on your topic
• Proper citation of your sources

Process

For your research, you may use books from the library, databases and the Internet.  If you use the Internet, make sure you use good, reliable sites!


Here are links to the databases available to use (If you want to use these from home, make sure you get the username and passwords from your teacher)


Kids InfoBits


Searchasaurus


World Book Online


You may also want to search our school or public library for books:


School Library


Public Library


At the end of your report, you will need to cite all of your resources (including where you got your picture). 


Citation maker

Evaluation

This is how your work will be evaluated:

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Report Content	The purpose and main ideas are easy to understand. There are enough details to explain the main idea.	The purpose and main ideas are easy to understand. There are not enough details to explain the main idea	The purpose and main idea are not easy to understand. The reader has to guess what the writer means.	The purpose and main idea are not easy to understand. There are not enough details. The reader can’t guess what the writer means.
Report Organization	There is an introduction and conclusion. The reader can follow the writing. The order of ideas and details makes sense.	There is an introduction and conclusion. The reader can follow most of the writing but some parts aren’t clear.	There may or may not be an introduction and conclusion. The reader has a hard time following the writing and is often confused. Ideas and details are not in an order that makes sense.	There is no introduction or conclusion. The report may not be divided into paragraphs.
Report Conventions	Sentences end where they should with the correct mark. Everyday words are spelled correctly. Capital letters are where they should be.	Most sentences end where they should with the correct mark, but some do not. Some everyday words may be spelled incorrectly. There may be some mistakes with capital letters.	Most sentences do not end where they should with the correct mark. Many everyday words may be spelled incorrectly. There may be many mistakes with capital letters.	There is very little punctuation. So many words are spelled incorrectly that the reader has a hard time reading. There are very few, if any capital letters.
Speech	A well developed speech is given that covers the main points of the report.	The speech covers most points of the report, but not all.	The speech skips over most parts of the report.	No speech is given.
Picture	A picture is included that relates to the research topic.	A picture is included but it\'s not directly related to the research topic.	A picture is included but it\'s not related to the research topic.	No picture is included.
Citations	All resources have been properly cited.	Most, but not all resources have been properly cited.		No citations are given.

Credits

Image:
Martin Luther King Jr.. Huffington Post. Web. 26 Aug. 2012. <http://i.huffpost.com/gen/237268/thumbs/s-MLK-large.jpg>.