Photographic History Book
Of the Civil War
The Civil War was one of the first wars in history where photography was widely available. These photos showed the families of soldiers back home what the war was actually like. Civil War photos also provide us today with an excellent record of the people, places, technologies, battlefields, and the day to day activities that were all part of the deadliest war in American history.
Your Assignment:
You will be creating a photographic history book using various photos taken before, during, and after the Civil War. Each photo will also a need a title and a 1-2 paragraph written analysis which will explain what the photo is of, and the significance of the event(s) related to the photo.
Your photo-book will tell the story of the war from beginning to end through the photos you choose and your written analysis of the picture/event.
Requirements and point values
Photographs
Your book must include 10 photographs + 1 photo for a cover page. These must be photos taken with a camera during the war – paintings, maps, or pictures taken in modern times do not count.
Diverse types of photos
Your book must include at least one picture of each of the following:
Union Soldiers
Confederate Soldiers
A Battlefield
Famous person (other than Lincoln, Grant, or Lee) sitting for a portrait
African Americans
Non Battle or weapon related
Home front – Life in the North or South not related to the fighting or soldiers
Each photo must be from a different event of the war. For example, you cannot use two pictures from the battle of Gettysburg even if they are of different things.
Presentation
You will have to present your project. The presentation will be worth 10 points. Rules: This must be a video presentation. Voice overs etc. will not be accepted. I need to see you on video presenting. Ways to do this: Use Screencast-O-Matic or use zoom and record the meeting. There are also other means. Please do not just read extensively from the slide, or a note card, etc.
Written Analysis 1-5 points each
5 points Photo is given a title describing the image; The importance of the event or picture is clearly explained; Information about what happened before and after the main event is given; The date of the event is included; Description of what is in the photograph is included; Paragraph(s) are written in complete sentences and free of spelling or grammar errors;
4 points Photo is given a title describing the image; The importance of the event is explained; The date of the event is included; Description of what is in the photograph is included; Paragraph(s) are written in complete sentences and have very few spelling or grammar errors
3 points Photo is given a title describing the image; Why the event is important is talked about; The date of the event is included; The images in the photo are described; Paragraph(s)are not in complete sentences and have a number of spelling or grammar errors
2 points Photo is given a title describing the image; The event the image took place at is mentioned; The Date is included; description of the photo is given; Few compete sentences and many spelling and grammar errors.
1 point Photo is not given a title; The event related to the image is not mentioned; No description of the photo is given; No complete sentences and many spelling or grammar errors
Citations .5 point each, 10 points total
A citation explains to the reader where you got your information from. Each page must have two citations: one for the photograph, and one for information or facts about the events.
Total Breakdown of Points
Cover Page Title, Photo, Name and Date 5 points
Minimum of 10 photograph pages arranged in sequential order 15 points
Diversity of Photos 10 points
Written Analysis 50 points
Citations 10 points
Presentation 10 points
*** You will be submitting two things; a “paper” and a video presentation. The paper will have the detailed information as given in the instructions. In the video presentation, you will highlight what you have completed in the paper by explaining each photo (what is it of, and the significance of the event(s) in the photo).
Example of a 5 Point Page
Dead Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862 near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. It is known as the Battle of Sharpsburg in the South. The battle happened because the South had invaded the state of Maryland. It was the bloodiest single day in American history and had 23,000 casualties. There was no clear winner of the battle. The battle was important because it stopped the Confederates from invading the North, and because the Confederates were stopped President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves. This picture was taken after the battle by Alexander Gardner and shows Confederate soldiers who were killed along Hagerstown Road next to a fence.
Photo:
“Historic Photographs.” Antietam. National Parks Service, 12 Feb. 2013. Web.
Information:
Jorgensen, Christer. Great Battles: Decisive Conflicts that have Shaped History . Bath, UK: Parragon, 2007. 175-181.