IDST
2315: America’s Diverse Cultural Heritage
Mary Magoulick
Final
Creative Project & Presentation Requirements
Satisfactory completion of this assignment is required to pass
this course
BASIC
EXPLANATION
- The
Final Creative Project
gives you an opportunity to express yourself creatively
and analytically about issues and ideas studied in class this
semester.
- The
Final Project Presentation
provides a forum for you to hone your public speaking and verbal
expression abilities.
- The
final project and presentation are due during the final exam period, according to a schedule for which you will sign up in class.
Audience is important, so attendance is mandatory all week long. You will
be graded down on your project for missing the presentation of others’
projects.
FINAL
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
You may choose from one of the two tracks as specified below
TRACK
1
– Creative Project
Your Project must be an
ORIGINAL, CREATIVE, ARTISTIC expression (in any
artistic medium of your choice: song-writing, performance art, dance, visual
media, altar construction, jewelry-making, ceramics, poetry &/or rap,
collage, craft art, etc.).
NOTE: it must be done
well, with time and care and a creative spark including symbolism..
(In other words, do NOT choose this track if you feel you do not have
artistic ability in one of these areas and see me soon if you need
advice, ideas, and guidance)
Projects will be graded on
artistic merit as well as these criteria:
~The project must be your
own creation
~The project must reflect a
significant amount of time and effort
~The project should be
presented in an attractive and polished manner
TRACK
2
– Fieldwork Project
If you choose this option you will interview a member of
at least one of the ethnic groups (or an expert on some aspect of one of
those groups) on tape (video or audio)
You must identify someone who has knowledge of or who
practices at least one aspect of the heritage of one of these ethnicities.
You might for instance interview someone about jazz,
quilt-making, woodworking, pottery making, cooking traditional food of one
of these groups, telling stories (especially related to slavery or the civil
rights movement for instance).
You only need to interview ONE person, but you may
interview more if you like.
Your interview should last at least ˝ hour.
For your presentation you should discuss what you
learned and play an excerpt of the best part of your taped interview.
FOR
ALL PROJECTS
- You must have approval (from me) for your project before you begin to
work on it.
- In
either case your Project must relate to the some specific heritage,
perhaps connected to historical situations or issues concerning an
ethnic group studied in class this semester (Native-American,
African-American, Chinese-American, Irish-American, Japanese-American,
Jewish-American, or Chicano).
- Project Proposal DEADLINE:
[check for each semester on syllabus]. Late proposal submissions will result in a lower
grade on your Final Project. See “project proposal form.”
- NOTE: I will consider Project Proposals by groups of 2 or 3 (no more
than 3). Group Projects must be sufficiently complex and involved to warrant
my approval. (Group Projects = longer papers; you must also add a statement
about exactly what each member of the group contributed to the project).
- You will PRESENT your Project to the class during the final weeks of
class. All Projects are DUE according to the
schedule drawn up in class. LATE
SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
Final
Creative Project PROPOSAL Form
DUE: October 27, 2002 (Monday)
Please note: if you change your mind
later, that’s okay—as long as you keep me informed of your changes before
you start work on your project! Be sure to let me know if your plans
change before you start to create your project!
Keep me informed!
1. American ethnic group
you are interested in working on: must be one of the groups studied in class
this semester (circle one). DON’T SUBSTITUTE someone who is not American (e.g. an
African).
Native American
African American
Chinese American
Mexican American
2.
Circle one:
CREATIVE (=symbolic art) project
OR
FIELDWORK project
[Answer # 3 below]
[Answer #4 below]
3.
If
ARTISTIC PROJECT, what medium (materials) do you intend to work in (examples:
poetry-writing, painting, collage, altar-construction, performance art, dance,
jewelry-design, ceramics, weaving, sculpture, song-writing, craft-art, etc.)
& how will you do this?
4.
If
FIELDWORK PROJECT, whom will you interview (be specific), what kind of interview
will you do (audio, video), where and when?
5.
Briefly
explain how this project will connect to class (readings, films, art, lectures).
6.
If you
are working in a group, give details of how each member of the group will
contribute and WHY it will benefit you to work in a group (answer on back).