Using Ancestry.com, you will complete your family tree as far back as possible. You must complete the family tree at least back to a generation living in 1880. To complete the assignment, you must submit a screen shot of the “Pedigree” view of yourself and your family tree for 4 or more generations. You may blur out last names for privacy reasons. You must also submit a 400-word summary of your genealogical research with a focus on at least 3 sources used, research hurdles due to poor or absent sources, and what new things you learned about your family.
You must demonstrate mastery of key research skills and should not uncritically accept every ancestry “hint” that flashes on your screen. Be sure to weigh evidence, peruse census documents, compare family heirlooms and photographs, and use the birth, death, and legal records accordingly.
You will need to gain access to Ancestry.com on your own. I strongly recommend using the free subscription. It is almost always sufficient for the needs of this course. Just be sure to cancel the trial when you are finished with it if you do not want to continue your subscription. If you are a first or second generation America, you may need to purchace a longer subscription in order to access records from other countries.
| Criteria | |
| Screen Shot of Family Tree | Pedigree shot showing 4 or more generations |
| Summary: Historical Content | The student provides a wide-ranging and chronological explanation of his or her research and family tree. |
| Summary: Hurdles and Sources | The student mentions more than 1 significant hurdle to conducting his or her research and explains how he or she overcame it. If no obstacles were faced, the student should discuss why he/she believes the research was so straightforward. At least 3 sources are shown to be useful in historical research. |
| Grammar and Length | The exercise is at least 380 –400 words. There are few grammatical errors and the exercise is written mainly in active voice. |
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