The Task
For this project you will have to- Select an African-American scientist
- Research your scientist on the Internet
- Write a report about your scientist
Selecting an African-American Scientist
How do I choose a scientist? There are hundreds of scientists to choose from. You can start by looking at these sites...
- The Faces of Science: African-Americans in the Sciences
- Current Black Scientists at the National Institues of Health (NIH)
- NOAA Celebrates Black History Month
- Black Scientists and Inventors on the Web
- CNNfyi.com Innovators Who Break Boundaries
- Five Great Black Scientists
Researching Your Scientist
Once you have chosen your scientist, try researching your scientist at these sites...
- Biography.com
- Lives- The Biography Resource
- Biography-Center
- Biographical Dictionary
- Encyclopedia
- Wikipedia
Writing A Report About Your Scientist
As active members of this society, it is our responsibility to bring to light the vast and rich legacy of African-Americans. Many people are unaware of the great contributions of African-Americans to science. Let us enlighten them by giving them interesting and thoughtful information about these great scientists.
Due Dates at a Glance
Rough Draft - Due date to be announced...Final Draft - Due date to be announced...
Requirements for Rough Draft
- Title Page - the name of the scientist, your name, the period, the class, my name, and the date.
- A printout of websites (at least two)
Requirements for Final Draft
- Title Page - A page that includes the name of your scientist, your name, the period, the class (Earth Science), my name and the date.
- A Picture of Your Scientist - color is great, but black-and-white is good, too.
- The Following Two Assignments
- Personal Biography - Imagine how your scientist would tell the story of his/her life. Tell the personal story of your scientist from his/her point of view (in the first person). Be sure to include: when and where the scientist was born, where he/she grew up, what kind of schooling he/she had, and whether this scientist had to overcome obstacles to reach his/her success (if so, how did he/she do it?) Please include interesting facts and anecdotes about your scientist. Make him/her human. This section should be 2 to 4 paragraphs and be told in the first person.
- Introduce Your Scientist at an Awards Ceremony - Imagine that you are to introduce your scientist at an awards ceremony. Write a flattering, but honest introduction to your scientist (George Washington Carver. Where do I even begin? He was a man who truly transcended his time...) Make sure to mention such information as his/her specific field or fields of science, with which discoveries or pioneering work is he/she credited, how he/she achieved these breakthroughs, why he/she will be remembered, how his/her work has contributed to other advancements in this field of science. This section should be 2 to 4 paragraphs.
- A Bibliography - Here you cite the books, magazines, interviews, and websites that you used to discover information about your scientist. PLEASE use the correct format. You should have at least FOUR sources cited. You must include at least one book and at least two websites. You may also include encyclopedias, magazines, and other literature, too.
Additional Resources You Might Need
Dictionaries and Thesauri
Search Engines
Ideas for Writing Your Biography