The Richland College Honors/Global Studies Learning Community Community College Humanities Association - National Endowment for the Humanities Project


World War II and Fifty Years Later:
From VMail To EMail

Uncle Sam

The completed biography is one of the last class activities. The students have been building their knowledge about the era and creatively connecting what they learned to their fictional historical person. They have been writing weekly letters in their new "persona" and have used the character in a variety of in-class presentations.

To prepare students for the semester long exercise we have them take the short biography "test" that you see below. Based on any one of ten sample biographical sketches they must answer the questions and begin to create a historical character who could have been alive on December 7, 1941. When they 'draw' their permanent character sketch they should know where to begin. The biography assignment is explained in full in the class syllabus. Click below to see an example of a completed World War II biographies.

Example 1

Example 2

 

 

Name: ______________________________________

World War II and

Fifty Years Later - From Vmail to Email
Questions for Biography Exercise

After locating your Biographical Sketch on the list provided, briefly answer the following questions using the time line, and presidential outline provided for the facts, and your imagination for the rest. Please limit your answers to only a few sentences or short phrases. Time limit: 5-7 minutes.

1. What is your character's name? ___________________
2. What is your character's exact birth date? __________
3. Who was president when your character was born? __________
4. During your character's life so far, excluding "Pearl Harbor," what has been the most
important historical occurrence?
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5. What role will your character play in the war effort?
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6. Will your character survive the war and live until 2001? Yes No
7. Very briefly describe your charcater's life in 2001
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8. As a descendant of your character briefly describe his/her contribution to history (can be a local or family contribution, or on a grander scale.
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Author: Becky Driscoll
E-Mail: bdriscoll@dcccd.edu