Final-Final Deadline has changed to = 10/13/22.

Note: You may be submitting multiple files to complete this project. Instructions on submitting multiple files are at the bottom of this assignment.

Element 1: Visual Design/Infographic (10 points)

This project is about public history and how we commemorate the past, so you will create a visual piece or infographic of some kind. This will be your visual depiction of how you would design a commemoration of the topic area you chose. It can be a museum exhibit, a monument, a statue, a mural, a historical site tour, or another type of historical commemoration. Using “Google Drawing,” “Canva,” markers and paper, Prezi, a PowerPoint, or other programs, please include the following in your visual design/infographic:

A clear title of your Visual Design/Infographic;
A contemporary design that connects what you want to emphasize about this history of your chosen topic;
At least three specific examples of the history of your topic area represented visually. Consider how you would visually commemorate specific aspects of history. Depending on what you’re designing, this could be actual historical materials in a museum exhibit (documents, tools, clothing, etc.) or it could be the posture and setting for a monument/statue or it could be the elements you would choose to include in a mural or historical site tour. Feel free to include photographs, charts, art work, etc.  If you are working on a statue or monument, you will have to include sketches and plans for the statue or monument.
A descriptive caption for each of the examples either within the visual design or listed somewhere in the memo (Element 2); and
Artistic flair and design elements.  (Please note: how successful this part is will not hurt your grade!)
Grading Criteria for the Visual Design/Infographic: 6 points total

Title: 1 point
Is there a title?
Connection of historical thinking to creating a contemporary design: 2 points
Does your design or redesign add something new and contemporary to the way this history is commonly understood?
Application of historical knowledge and historical thinking in the three specific examples and captions: 3 points
Do you select and emphasize three specific examples to illustrate the importance of this topic?
Do you include descriptive captions — either here in the visual design or in the written memo (Element 2)? (Either place is fine, as long as you do describe the three specific examples in either the design or the memo.)
Keep in mind that some of the criteria above you will be addressing more thoroughly in the Written Memo (Element 2, below)
Element 2: Written Memo (14 points)

Write a memo to give context and detail for your Visual Design. This memo should be about 800 to 1,000 words (three or four double-spaced pages in a word doc program). Make sure to include the following sections in your memo:

Thesis Statement: This is a clear one-sentence thesis that argues why your topic/subject should be part of a public history display.
Proposal Statement: Your goal in the proposal statement is to reveal why your design (or redesign) would add something new and important to the public’s historical understanding. Because your proposal statement is about your proposal, you can use an “I” statement when introducing your design. Your proposal statement should be about two or three sentences.
Historical context of your topic, supported by evidence. Your goal in this section is to reveal your research on your historical topic. Demonstrate your depth of understanding of your topic by showing how your topic had an impact on US history. This section should give specific background on your topic, so that the reader has a better understanding of why you think this topic should be commemorated. To demonstrate a breadth of understanding, make sure you pay attention to different points of view when you explain the historical context of your topic. Examples of being attentive to different points of view could include: (a) offering a “behind the scenes” look at this history, (b) bringing attention to lesser-known events, (c) amplifying the perspectives of lesser-known peoples, and (d) providing an alternative view (or counter-narrative) of a well-known topic in history. You can’t do all of this, but you should clarify in your memo how your analysis pays attention to different points of view. This section should include specific evidence about your topic. You should include evidence such as paraphrased material, statistics, and/or direct quotes from different sources. Use in-text citations (MLA format) or footnotes (Chicago Style) to cite the sources of your evidence. [This should be the longest section of the memo — 500 words or more.]
Features of your Design (or Redesign): Your goal in this section is to show how the specific features of your design meet the purpose you laid out in your proposal statement.  “Sell” your design to your reader by explaining all the ways your design will give the public a better understanding of history. If your design actually were created, what would the public get out of it that is new and fresh? [This section should be 300 words or more.]
Works Cited: Use in-text citations (MLA format) or footnotes (Chicago Style) and a Works Cited page at the end of the memo that includes at least five sources. The Works Cited page should use either MLA or Chicago Style format.
Grading Criteria for the Written Memo: 14 points total

Thesis and Proposal Statements: 3 points
Does your thesis argue why your topic is significant enough to be commemorated?
Is your argument compelling?
Does the proposal statement reveal how your design would add something new and important to the public’s historical understanding?
Are these statements clear and specific enough to be meaningful? In other words, you don’t want your statements to be super vague. Look back at the sample thesis statements and sample proposal statements for guidance.
Historical Context & Evidence: 5 points
Does your research reflect a specific and rich understanding of your topic and how it fits within the broader historical context?
Do you use your research to support the purpose you outline in your thesis and proposal statements? (In other words, is there unity here between your argument and your analysis?)
Are you attentive to different points of view when you explain the historical context? Examples of being attentive to different points of view are: Do you offer a “behind the scenes” look at this history? Or do you bring attention to lesser-known events? Or do you amplify the perspectives of lesser-known peoples? Or do you provide an alternative view (or counter-narrative) of a well-known historical topic? You can’t do all of this, but you should clarify in your memo how your analysis pays attention to different points of view.
Do you critically analyze specific evidence from the different sources that you used?
Is your evidence specific and thorough?
Features of the Design: 3 points
Do you show how the specific features of your design meet the purpose you laid out in your proposal statement?
Do you “sell” your design to your reader by explaining all the ways your design will give the public a better understanding of history?
Do you explain what would the public get out of your design that is new and fresh?
Clarity of communication and sources (at least five): 3 points
Did you use at least five sources?
Did you cite them in either MLA or the Chicago Style?
Does your memo flow clearly?
Is your writing free — or mostly free — of technical errors that might get in the way of clear communication?
Not worth points, but a reminder — remember that the Written Memo is also where you will want to explain any design choices you made in your Visual Design/Infographic. Make a connection between your historical thinking and this contemporary design.