1) Preliminary Research: Locate some basic information on your topic – start wi

1) Preliminary Research: Locate some basic information on your topic – start with your textbook and the Handbook of Texas Online (https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook) – it’s like Google for Texas history; all entries written by historians; you will also find some useful information, below, in the folder “Some useful links.”
2) Take notes – Pick out points about your topic that you find interesting and that you would like to research further.
3) Additional research: Once you have some good basic information on your topic from your text and the Handbook, locate as many additional scholarly sources as you can on your topic (minimum of five). You may use scholarly internet sources (websites ending in .org, .edu., or .gov – these are good for locating primary sources) and you may use the library online databases to find scholarly journal articles. In addition, I’ve posted “Some Useful Research Links” on this page (scroll down). Be sure to save the name and website address for every single source – you will need these for your “Works Cited” slide and as citations in the speaker’s notes for each of your slides. On your works cited slide, you will list all of the sources used (even if not for a specific slide) in alphabetical order by website name, followed by a link to the website. Each source will be checked, so please be sure to copy/paste the website address correctly.
NEXT STEPS – after you have located sources and taken notes, CREATE YOUR PRESENTATION
1) construct an outline of what your presentation will cover – figure out what information should go on each slide and what should go in the speaker’s notes;
2) locate visuals that might make the presentation better – these could include primary sources from the time (photographs, maps, or other documents); visuals are not required on every slide, but use them when they add important context (and not just to take up space);
3) Create your slides and Speaker’s Notes – remember not to overdo it with text on the slides; stick to posting just the main points on the slides (you can use bullet points or very brief paragraphs); all of the explanation of that slide and its topic should be in the speaker’s notes. **Each slide should have at least a full paragraph in your own words in the speaker’s notes – think about each one being a page of a research paper). Don’t forget that you also need a citation on each slide (where did you get the information – whether it’s in your own words or direct quotes – it came from somewhere). Be sure to also complete a “Works Cited” slide (list sources in alphabetical order – Title of website, followed by link)
Additional Information:
Content
Presentation content goes beyond basic textbook material from the course; shows thoughtful analysis of a topic from a variety of sources, rather than listing of “facts;” Each speaker’s note contains relevant, detailed, and well-written explanation/elaboration of the contents of the slide in the author’s own words with citations.
Presentation shows considerable work and creativity; uses relevant visuals to add to audience’s understanding of topic
Format
Presentation is in proper format (PowerPoint) with speaker’s notes; presentation contains the required minimum number of slides; individual slides have limited text; Citations in speaker’s notes and on Works Cited slide are properly formatted (alphabetically by author’s last name followed by title and publication info; and/or alphabetical by website name, followed by website address)
Sources
Presentation based on a variety of scholarly sources (minimum of FIVE different sources), including at least two primary sources; every source must be cited