Influential American Project - Groups and Topics

PROJECT - The Most Influential American

On Friday, May 31 (the day of our final exam), we will have a tournament to determine who is . . .

The Most Influential American

in American History

Here are the rules:

• What is an American? For the purpose of this project, an "American" must be someone who did most of their significant life's work or accomplishments in America. Alexander Hamilton was born in the Caribbean, but there is little doubt that he is an "American." Albert Einstein fled Germany in 1933 to come to the US. He became an American citizen in 1940. Einstein made significant contributions to the US and the world. However, I would not consider Einstein an "American" for the purpose of this assignment.
• The Steve Jobs Effect. Steve Jobs is one of my favorite Americans, and his products and genius influence me every day. However, this challenge asks you to speak to American history. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Beyoncé, and the like are risky choices because they don't yet have a long-term, lasting historical legacy. If some of their greatest achievements happened in your lifetime, I don't think they're a good choice for you. Although Beyoncé did have a pretty amazing half-time show at the 2013 Super Bowl.
• No POTUS. You may not choose anyone who has served as President of the United States. Too easy. Besides, you know Lincoln is my favorite American, and I don't want someone to win with Lincoln and then be accused of playing favorites. :)
• How the tourney works. There are 38 students in each class, so divide that in half and you have 19 groups. In order to have a proper tournament, you need to have 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 (and so on) number of teams. Therefore, we will have a wildcard round before the Tournament of 16. Those teams that get FIRST pick in the "person drawing" on Monday will get the reward of having first pick, but will also have the extra challenge of having to go through an additional wildcard round in order to qualify for the Tournament of 16.
  There are a total of four rounds (not including Wildcard): Opening Round, Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals, and Finals.

Sample Tournament Bracket here:

http://betterbracketmaker.com/#!/8710083317915

• Wildcard Placement. The last 14 teams to choose their American will automatically be placed in the Tournament of 16. The first 5 teams to choose their American will compete in the Wildcard Round. The theory behind this is that the first 5 teams had the greatest advantage because they got to choose their American first. In this round, we will hear arguments from 5 teams, and of those 5 teams, I will pick the top two to take the final two open spots in the tournament.
• Wildcard Round. The Wildcard Round will be unspoken. You should place the best of all the evidence you would plan to use for EVERY round on a single 8-1/2x11 piece of paper (front side only). As an alternative to paper, a digital copy may be substituted; it must be the equivalent of an 8-1/2x11 piece of paper. Based on that evidence alone (no oral argument or presentation will be made in the wildcard round), I will evaluate all 5 wildcard teams and judge which two teams I feel are the most prepared for the tournament. Those two teams will then enter the tournament as WILDCARD 1 and WILDCARD 2. The Wildcard entry must be submitted no later than the end of your class period on Friday, May 24. You may physically submit the piece of paper, or share your digital version via Google Docs. Do not leave class that day until you have confirmed with Mr. Ippolito that he has received your entry.
• Judging. Mr. Ippolito will be the judge of each tournament round. In each round, you must make different arguments and use different evidence than used in previous rounds. The strategy is such that you want to use enough good evidence to help you win the round, but not so much that you run out of evidence for the next round, should you advance. Therefore, the overarching strategy is that you should get to know your "influential American" very well. Very well.
• Arguments and Opposition Bashing. The best arguments will speak to the merits of your individual, and should avoid trying to tear down your opponent, or simply trying to prove why your opponent's individual is not as worthy as your own.
• Alternate Speaking. Each team of two people shall alternate speaking roles in each successive round. Teams may choose to tag-team during each round (allow each team member to have equal time each round), or may choose to alternate rounds (one team members speaks entirely in one round, and the other speaks entirely in the next round). If you choose to have only ONE team member speak during one round, then that team member is not allowed to speak AT ALL in the next round.
• Timing for each round. Timing shall be as follows:
• Opening Round (16 arguments total) - 2:30 each (40 min total)
• Quarter Finals (8 arguments total) - 1:30 each (12 min total)
• Semi Finals (4 arguments total) - 2:00 each (8 min total)
• Finals (2 arguments total) - 3 minutes each (6 min total)
• Technology/Visual Aids. You know that Mr. Ippolito is all about technology. However, for the sake of this project (and for the sake of time), you are not permitted to use as part of your presentation anything that requires plugging in (computer, projector, iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc.). You may use paper (of any size) or other non-electronic visual aids, so long as the setup and/or display of these visual aids does not take up additional time beyond your allotted presentation time. Also, any visual aids, or other aids used in the presentation of your argument, should not constitute an unfair advantage that your opponent could not reasonably have access to, or that would cost an unreasonable amount of money to obtain.
• Fairness and Unwritten Rules. I have some pretty smart and resourceful people in this class. Ultimately, there may be some unforeseen expression of creativity that I have not accounted for in the above rules. If you are unclear whether or not a tool, argument, or visual aid will be acceptable in competition, ask Mr. Ippolito in advance. Otherwise, I will have to render judgment at the time of the competition to determine whether or not it constitutes an unfair advantage.
• Grading Rubric. Grading will be based on two things: preparedness and presentation of argument. Every group should have some evidence of a prepared argument--points that you could make that could take you all the way to the final round, if necessary. Be prepared to share these materials with Mr. Ippolito at the conclusion of the tournament. Again, this is a rare moment when Mr. Ippolito asks that all evidence be on paper, so please have that ready the moment you walk into my classroom on Friday, May 31. There will be no additional time in class on May 31 for preparation of paperwork or materials. Wildcard Teams do NOT necessarily need to re-present your evidence, as you will have already done so on May 24. This project will be worth 50 POINTS.
• The Lone Wolf Clause. You didn't get to choose your partner. I chose for you. Therefore, if you have some disagreement or lack of communication with your partner, you can each prepare the project separately and be graded separately at the time the project is due (still working on the same "American"). This will make more work for each of you, but can be done.
• Absence. If you are absent on Friday, May 31, it is your responsibility to get your materials to me on or before the day the project is due. I will be submitting final grades for the course at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Friday, May 31, so please plan accordingly. A zero out of 50 will have a big negative impact on your final grade in the course.

All our Collaborative Presentations

Answers to today's final exam

AFTER 12:15 p.m. today, you can find the answers to the exam here:
http://www.twitter.com/IppAPUSH

Themes of AP US History

TimeGlider American History Timeline

Click here for the TimeGlider American History Timeline:
http://timeglider.com/timeline/ea27ac39bccda4dd

War review - 5/2/13