Modern History Research Topics

1950s
Television in the home
Rock n’ Roll
Polio Vaccine
Rosa Parks
Little Rock Desegregation
Space Race

1960s
Kennedy assassination
Man on the moon

1970s
President Nixon resigns
Microsoft founded
Mother Theresa

1980s
Rubik’s Cubes are big
Personal computers!
Michael Jackson’s Thriller
“Black Monday”
Berlin Wall falls
MRS KEMPTON BORN

1990s
Gardner Heist
World Trade Center bombed
Dolly the Sheep- cloning
Harry Potter huge success
Princess Diana dies

1.  Get in a partnership and select your Modern History Project topic.
2.  Conduct your research, taking notes on the following:  WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY
3.  You may present your findings in one of the following formats:
     -Poster with bullet points and pictures.  A detailed paper answering the who, what, when, where, why questions will be taped to the back.
     -Informational essay with pictures about your topic.
     -Newspaper using the tool you worked with for your Holocaust research.  Make sure you include pictures!
     -Powerpoint
4.  Regardless of the format you choose to write your findings, you will present your information to the class.  That presentation should cover all of the key details and use a visual of some kind.

Atomic Bomb Essay

STEP 1:  Watch these two videos while taking notes.
Should The US Have Dropped The Bomb?- 5 min
Hiroshima- A Survivor's Story- 5 min

STEP 2:  Write an argumentative essay in which you answer the question, "Should America have dropped the Atomic Bomb on Japan?"

REMEMBER:  An argumentative essay will include the following essential components:

Intro paragraph
1. Grabber
2. Background on the topic
3. Thesis statement (CLAIM)

Body paragraphs (there are three)
1. Topic sentence (REASON)
2-4. Prove it (EVIDENCE)= three supporting details that can come from text or personal experience
5. Clincher

Conclusion paragraph
1. Restate thesis (CLAIM)
2. Tie up loose ends
3. Finish with a powerful statement