CHC 2D- First World War Project
Photo Essay
To complete this project you will independently research and create a photo essay that explains and illustrates the answer to a question of your choice.
Step One-Choose a Topic
This photo essay will present your answer/opinion/thesis in response to a question. Several sample questions are listed below. You can change the wording/focus of one these questions, or create your own question if you wish.
1.How did soldiers survive the conditions of the trenches?
2.How did new technology change warfare between 1914-1918?
3.How did women contribute to the war effort?
4.How does the experience of Black, Indigenous, Asian, German, Ukrainian and/or other minorities living in Canada demonstrate the discrimination these groups faced in Canada between 1914-1918?
5.How did Canadian government laws and policies respond to the First World War?
6.Did the First World War unify or divide French and English Canada?
7.How did Canadians at home, not in the military, contribute to the war effort between 1914-1918?
7.What messages about the war are evident in monuments and memorials created after the end of 1918?
For an introduction to some of these topics, and an overview of Canada’s experience during the First World War, I highly suggest you watch Episode 6 of “Canada: The Story of Us”. This is easily available on Youtube, if you search for it.
Step Two: Research your topic
Before you begin creating your photo essay, it is essential you develop an understanding of your topic. There are many excellent sources available on the Internet such as:
· The Canadian War Museum
· Veteran’s Affairs Canada
· The Canadian Encyclopedia
There are also many news media articles and videos by organizations such as Histori.ca and Legion Magazine. If you “Google” your topic, with the words “First World War” and “Canada”, you will get several results.
Remember to Focus on the Canadian experience!
Step Three: Form an Answer to Your Question
Very quickly your research will allow you to begin forming a good understanding of your topic. From this understanding, you will begin to form an answer to your question.
· Try to find a theme in your research that is an answer to your question.
· Remember, you can adjust the wording and focus of your question to suit the information you want to focus on as an answer.
· You will not be able to include all of the information you have researched.
· You will have to focus on 4 key subtopics that help to support your answer.
· You will use your understanding of the topic that is not connected to a relevant subtopic to help write your introduction (see below).
Step Four: Choose Supporting Images
A photo essay is different than a text only essay. A photo essay is a series of images that illustrate and support your topics.
· Each image is supported by a short paragraph that briefly explains what the image is showing, then explaining the broader topic the image is representing.
See the example on the following page. Note how the first sentence explain what the picture is (Japanese merchants in front of vandalized store), then the following sentences give a explanation of the topic (anti-Asian immigration in Canada)
When choosing your images:
· you must have an understanding of the topic and message you want to include in your photo essay
· be able to connect the image to the bigger topic you want to explain. The image will be an example that represents and illustrates a bigger idea.
· Don’t limit yourself to just photographs. Art, cartoons, maps and other diagrams are all acceptable, if connection to topic is clear.
Step Five: Writing
Using Word, PowerPoint or another program of your choosing, insert your images and begin writing.
Your photo essay must include:
· A clear title
· An introduction
· 4 images, with explanatory paragraph
· A conclusion
· A bibliography (proper format)
Writing an Introduction
Your introduction should be approximately 150 words long. A good introduction gives understanding to the reader about the broader topic (ie: living conditions in the trenches), then narrow this topic down to a question (how did soldiers survive these conditions), then an answer to this question (the theme that will connect your 4 topics and images).
Writing Paragraphs that Support Images
Remember to look at the example provided, that includes both a short description of the image, and an explanation of the topic it represents.
Each paragraph should be approximately 100-125 words.
The image should be enlarged and prominent, with the paragraph directly underneath
It is important that there is a clear theme connecting your images, as an answer to the question you are asking. For the example given, you can imagine that the topic of the photo essay was “immigration in the early 1900’s”, the question is “Were immigration policies racist?”, and this supports the answer that they were by providing example of the Asian experience.
Writing the Conclusion
Your conclusion should NOT include any new information. It is a summary of what you have already presented.
You should once again clearly state the question you were examining, and provide an overview of your points. You can refer to both the images and explanation you have written.
Your conclusion should be approximately 100 words.
Bibliography
The proper format for your bibliography is:
Authour last, first. “Title of Page”.
www.????.ca. Date source was published. Date source was accessed.
Remember to carefully proofread all of your writing. Look for grammar/spelling etc, but more importantly make sure your ideas and explanations are clear and support each other.
Evaluation
Knowledge: Understanding of topic is clear and detailed /10
Thinking: Answer to question is thoughtful and clearly supported with
topics and images chosen. /10
Application: Essay properly uses requirements. Clear connections between sections
and images/text support each other /10
Communication: Ideas are clearly communicated through words and relevant images; work is proofread and edited for organization and format