This assignment requires you to build a robust digital exhibit based on a set of historical data. Your final project will combine data analysis and other traditional methods of historical narrative (text, images, etc.)
Required Elements
You have broad creative flexibility with your project, but the finished project should contain the following components:
- At least three data visualizations
- At least one map, timeline, annotated image or other interpretive element that adds to the projects themes and argument
- A narrative of about 1500 words that makes an argument(s) and explicates the visualizations that support it
- An “About” page that identifies you, discusses your sources, their processing, and their presentation (basically, why you made the choices you did, the methods you used, and perhaps the limitations of your data). This page should also have a way to contact you (I recommend creating a contact form, rather than just listing your email address, to prevent spam)
- A bibliography
The project will be presented on a website that you build yourself (separate from your primary WordPress site)
Additional notes
As you are preparing your project site, you will want to consult the WordPress Site Design Guide which I’ve created to give you some basic tips on layout, design, and editing your WordPress site
This assignment is probably unlike any other you’ve done in your college coursework, and thus may feel intimidating or overwhelming. Try to calm any anxiety you may be feeling. Below I’ve outlined a set of “milestones” for the project; the class is structured in such a way that you will learn methods for completing each element of the project through the semester.
The project will be evaluated holistically, taking into account all elements and their cumulative effectiveness. A qualitative rubric of criteria will be provided well ahead of the final due date.
Rubric
| Element | Excellent (4) | Good (3) | Fair (2) | Poor (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Visualizations | ||||
| Quality of visualizations (clarity, accuracy, creativity) | Exceptional visualizations demonstrating clear understanding and creativity. Visualizations have a title, and all elements are clearly labeled Colors are suitable to the data and selected for aesthetic appeal | Visualizations are clear and accurate, but lack some creativity. Include title and clear labels for all elements. Logically organized and with attention to use of color, shape or other relevant elements | Visualizations are somewhat unclear or inaccurate. May be missing title, legend, or labels for some elements. Aesthetic choices seem to have been given little intentional thought. | Visualizations lack clarity, accuracy, and/or creativity. May be unlabeled, mislabeled, or contain significant errors |
| Relevance to the project themes and argument | Visualizations strongly support and enhance the project. Analysis supports the visualization, explicating how it relates to the project themes or research methods | Visualizations support the project themes and argument adequately. Supported by solid narrative elements that make their relevance clear | Visualizations somewhat support the project themes and argument. May feel “tacked on” or somewhat ancillary to the main themes of the project | Visualizations do not support the project themes and argument. May evidence logical contradictions to the project’s key themes/argument |
| Map or Interpretive Element This might include a timeline, annotated image or other interpretive element. See the “Toolbox” section of the course website for some helpful options. | ||||
| Integration and relevance | Interpretive element is seamlessly integrated and significantly adds to the project’s themes and argument. | Interpretive element is well-integrated and adds to the project’s themes and argument. | Interpretive element is somewhat integrated and adds marginally to the project’s themes and argument. | Interpretive element is poorly integrated and does not add to the project’s themes and argument. |
| Creativity and effectiveness | Creative and effective use of the interpretive element enhances understanding and engagement. | Interpretive element is creative and somewhat effective in enhancing understanding and engagement. | Interpretive element lacks creativity and effectiveness. | Interpretive element is absent or ineffective. |
| Narrative text This includes all written text that provides context or historical background for the data, analyzes or discusses problems with the data analysis, Does not include “About” page or Bibliography | ||||
| Clarity and coherence | Narrative text is exceptionally clear, well-organized, and coherent, effectively framing the project, its central questions, and communicating arguments and analyzing/expanding on supporting evidence. | Narrative text is clear, well-organized, and coherent, effectively framing the project, its central questions, communicating arguments and analyzing/expanding on supporting evidence. | Narrative text is somewhat clear, organized, and coherent, but may lack some effectiveness in communicating arguments or analyzing evidence. May contain notable spelling or grammatical errors, revealing lack of proofreading | Narrative text lacks clarity, organization, and coherence, making it difficult to understand arguments and supporting evidence.May contain significant spelling or grammatical errors revealing lack of proofreading |
| Argumentation and analysis | Narrative text presents a compelling argument(s) supported by thorough analysis of visualizations. If historical conclusions are difficult to draw from available data, narrative discusses the limitations of the data and possible questions raised by the exercise | Narrative text presents a coherent argument(s) supported by adequate analysis of visualizations.Argument | Narrative text presents a somewhat coherent argument(s) with limited analysis of visualizations. Argument may be somewhat simplistic or lacking in | Narrative text lacks a clear argument(s) and analysis of visualizations. |
| Website Aesthetics and Organization Be sure to review the WordPress Site Design Guide for best practices | ||||
| Design and layout | Website design is visually appealing, consistent, and enhances user experience. Layout is intuitive and effectively guides the user through the content.Historical images or documents may be used to enhance both aesthetic appearance and supporting evidence | Website design is visually appealing and mostly consistent, contributing to user experience. Layout is somewhat intuitive but may have minor flaws in guiding the user. | Website design lacks consistency and may detract from user experience. Layout is somewhat confusing, hindering user navigation. Some default elements from WordPress are still present. | Website design is unattractive and inconsistent, significantly detracting from user experience. Layout is confusing, making it difficult for users to navigate. |
| About Page See project guidelines for requirements | ||||
| Content and detail | About page provides comprehensive information about the creator, sources, processing methods, and presentation choices with thorough reflection on limitations of data. | About page provides sufficient information about the creator, sources, processing methods, and presentation choices with some reflection on limitations of data. | About page provides limited information about the creator, sources, processing methods, and presentation choices with minimal reflection on limitations of data. | About page lacks necessary information about the creator, sources, processing methods, and presentation choices with no reflection on limitations of data. |
| Contact information | Contact information is provided via a contact form, ensuring privacy and preventing spam. | Contact information is provided but lacks a contact form or alternative privacy protection. | Contact information is provided but may not be easily accessible or lacks privacy protection. | Contact information is not provided. |
| Bibliography | ||||
| Completeness and accuracy | Bibliography includes all sources used in the project with accurate citations. Citations are formatted in a consistent style. For web-based sources, embedded hyperlinks are provided. | Bibliography includes most sources used in the project with mostly accurate citations. Style is mostly consistent; a few minor formatting errors may be found. | Bibliography includes some sources used in the project, or all with notable inaccuracies in several citations. Style is inconsistent in several instances. | Bibliography is incomplete or inaccurate. Citation style, if any is evident, is haphazard |
Checklist
Resources for Design and Interpretive Elements
Choosing the Right Data Visualization
- Data Viz Project allows you to search for the right kind of visualization based on category of viz, goal, data format, and more.
- Flourish Studio offers some nice options for interactive visualizations that are a bit more sophisticated than those in Datawrapper, Google Sheets, etc.
Choosing Images
As your project develops, you may wish to supplement your data and text with additional images, sound, digitized print materials, maps, etc. Below are just some of the resources you might draw upon for enhancing your project. Remember whenever using these resources to include a caption with correct citation info and an embedded link back to the collection in context.
- US History
- Library of Congress, especially American Memory
- Smithsonian
- MOMA
- National Archives
- NYPL Digital Gallery
- Internet Archive
- Digital Public Library of America
- Making of America
- Flickr: The Commons (contains international and U.S.)
- European/World History
- Europeana
- British Museum
- Bibliothèque nationale de France (don’t worry, you can use the English page!)
- Bundesarchiv particularly the still picture archive
- Latin American Archives (a list of various archives and sites – not all digitized collections)
- International Dunhuang Project (Central Asia and the Silk Road)
- East Asia Image Collections (Lafayette College)
- Nagasaki University Digital Collection
Sample Projects
Sometimes it may help to look at some similar projects to get a sense of approaches, use of data in narrative, analytical elements, etc.
Disclaimer: these projects were not created for my class; please always refer back to the guidelines above, not these examples, when reviewing expectations for the final project.
