Forrest Gump

1. Forrest Gump • For the next few days, we will watch the movie, Forrest Gump. • This movie follows a fictional character who seems to end up interacting with, and sometimes even influencing, minor and major historical events • In this assignment, you will use Forrest Gump to explore the question of whether art, entertainment, and fiction can teach us about history, and if so, how.

2. The Presentation • As we watch the video, please use the worksheet, or your own personal notes, to keep track of some of the parts of the video that you recognize as historical events from our study of the United States after World War II. • When we are finished, you will: • Choose one or more of the historical events, people, or phenomena with which Forrest interacts • Research the event • Create an oral presentation on the event

3. Oral Presentation • Your oral presentation should do the following things: • Give a short summary of the event, person, or phenomenon in the film • Determine the accuracy of the film’s portrayal of the event (besides Forrest’s role in it), and provide historical evidence to support what you’re saying • Is this event/person/phenomenon accurately portrayed? Yes/No/In-between • Evaluate this movie as a teaching tool for history • Is this movie worthwhile in teaching history? • If so, how could you use it? If not, why not? • Evaluate if, and how, we can use all art, entertainment, and fiction to teach people about history

4. Oral Presentation • The length of your oral presentation is entirely up to your discretion. What I will look for : • Your presentation fully develops all of the ideas and parts that are necessary (it’s “long” enough) • Your presentation uses all time efficiently and shows evidence of planning and practice (it’s not too “long”) • As with any time we present things, base your oral presentation around: • An introduction • A body (the main part) • A conclusion