WWTAssignment



What was it like to be a member of a specific group during the Vietnam War? What was it like to be present at the greatest events of the Vietnam era? In this activity, students tell the story of the Vietnam War from the perspectives of people who were there - first hand. Partner teams research, write, record, and produce a 1-3 minute video telling the story of one of the major perspectives or events of the Vietnam era. Videos should provide some context, tell the story of the event, incorporate primary source material, relate the impact of the event, and help relate the story with images and vocal. Students use wiki(s) to organize notes and images and write a script. Windows Movie Maker is utilized to complete the final video product, and videos are published video online by using Youtube.


 * Assignment Components**


 * NOTES** – A minimum of two resources must be used as students take notes for their “We Were there” account. At least one print resource is required, and any online resource for information must be checked for reliability. Notes should be a separate page in your wiki, along with the citations for the sources. Primary source quotes should be noted by quotations marks and italics, along with the author.
 * IMAGES** – Students must find 7-12 images that help you tell the story. The images can be scanned or from online sources, and all should be stored in a separate folder on a shared space or a flash drive. Image sources should be listed on a wiki page.
 * SCRIPT** – Students should collaborate on a script for a 2-3 minute first hand account. It should be told by two people, so it follows a "we were there" format. In the script, some context must be established, the event, issue, or role should be discussed with some detail, and the impact must be explained. Primary source quotes should be seamlessly interwoven into the script.
 * VIDEO** - Using Movie Maker, students make a short video with their narrated script and images to tell their story.


 * RUBRIC**


 * || **Commendable** || **Passable** || **Yuckable** ||
 * **Notes** || Notes from two or three reliable sources || Notes from 1 source or unreliable sources || No notes ||
 * **Context** || Brief context is provided ||  || Context is not provided ||
 * **Event** || Excellent coverage of the event || Decent coverage of the event || limited coverage of the event ||
 * **Impact** || Impact of event is described clearly || Impact of event is briefly covered || Impact of event is not discussed ||
 * **Primary Sources** || Primary sources are used successfully || Primary sources are limited or used unsuccessfully || No primary sources ||
 * **Images** || 10+ images help tell the story, and video is integrated if possible || 5-9 images are included || Only a few images included ||
 * **Script** || Complete script || Incomplete script || No script ||
 * **Voice** || Voice sounds authentic || Voice is somewhat authentic || Voice is ignored ||


 * POSSIBLE “WE WERE THERE” TOPICS :**

ó Dien Bien Phu ó A follower of Ho Chi Minh ó A military advisor in Vietnam ó Aboard the USS Maddox ó A member of Congress in 1964 ó Pilot in Operation Rolling Thunder ó Marine arriving at Danang, 1965 ó Soldier in Ia Drang Valley, 1965 ó Member of the NVA or VC ó A Vietnamese civilian reacting to bombing ó A tunnel rat ó A nurse stationed in the combat zone ó A soldier on patrol “In Country” ó A gunner on a swift boat ó A Huey pilot heading to an LZ ó A conscientious objector ó Individual protesting the draft ó Defending Khe Sahn during the Tet Offensive ó Fighting at Hue in 1968 ó Vietcong along the Ho Chi Minh Trail ó Student attending a “teach-in” ó Observer at William Calley trial ó Someone participating in the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam ó A supporter of newly elected President Nixon ó Member of VVAW ó Pilot in “Operation Breakfast” ó Protester on March on Pentagon ó Observer at Kent State or Jackson State ó A reporter covering the Paris peace talks ó Pilot during the Christmastime bombing ó American POW flying home ó Escaping the American embassy in Saigon, 1975 ó Veteran touring the Wall