As with my instructors, I find I recycle the same design for my PowerPoints.
Though the majority of instructors have seemed to go for a darker design, I have always tried to go with a white background.
But did try my hand at a dark background for one of my projects in History. The first was a midterm
In the assignment, I was to choose from four events or movements that had been discussed in the first two weeks (Immigration and Expansion) and two (Business and Technology).
I chose immigration and transportation.
I started out by talking about immigrants who had come to the US in search of a better life and how many dreams were not met. Many had taken jobs in the factories and textile mills just to help make ends meet
"It wasn't just the men who worked, but women and children would put in long hours as well, still dreaming of a better life. Some had come to acquire land that they might grow crops or raise cattle. It hadn't been their dream to stay in New York to invest their lives in somebody else's dream. They worked long hours in very primitive conditions. They had no say.
"But the growth of the textile industry gave some an opportunity to migrate westward. In 1807 Robert Fulton introduced this nation to the steamboat. The steamboat could carry product as it made its way up and down the river. This made it easier for delivering cotton to the Textile mills and distribute product which created more jobs.
That gives you a small taste of the PowerPoint I had created.
I did not use animations or transitions. I was supposed to have 200 words per slide, but misunderstood and so did not receive full points, but the instructor let me know that she was impressed with the amount of research I had done.
For my final, I took I quick tour of history throughout the centuries.
"By 1770, more than 2 million people lived and worked in Great Britain's 13 North American colonies (Col. America). Men and women were expected to fulfill certain roles. A woman could not own property. She was expected to stay home and provide for the family. A man was expected to work, but there were no specific guidelines on how or if he would provide for his family.
"For over a century, African men, women, and children were being stolen away from their native land and brought to America. They were chained and brought to the colonies in ships. Upon their arrival, they were auctioned off and sold as slaves. Meanwhile, the colonists were getting fed up with the misconduct between themselves and the British law. It didn't seem fair that they were taxed at the expense of a king many miles across the ocean. They wanted rights. They wanted freedom. They wanted equality."
"Many men failed to see that their woman and slaves also wanted a sense of freedom and equality(Colonial America (1492 - 1763). "
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| I brought each amendment in one at a time. Words missing from |
| this slide "unless you were a woman" following "the right to vote" |
I continued on with more statistics. In this slide, I used animation and talked about each amendment one at a time.
"Fast Forward into the 20th century - almost 100 years after the Civil War.
Though blacks were granted their freedom, they continued to fight for equality and equity, particularly in the south where the states have enforced segregation and treated the "coloreds" less than second class citizens. In many ways, it seems like it was worse to be black than in the times of slavery.
In 1957, nine black students were admitted to an all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.
"On November 14, 1960, a first grader named Ruby Bridges was admitted to William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, Louisiana. She had to be escorted to the school by four state marshals - two would walk in front of her and two would walk behind. They were there to protect her from the mobs who would bully her with their ugly words of hatred. For a full year, it was just Ruby and her instructor, Mrs. Henry. White parents had pulled their children out of the school thinking the policy would change back to an all-white school. Thankfully, Ruby continued to be brave and assisted with earning more freedoms for others who wanted a better education
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Eleanor Roosevelt as chairwoman. Although she died in 1962, a report was made to improve fair hiring practices, pay for maternity leave, and affordable child care; an equity that women suffrage had been searching for over a century before."
"There have been several advocates acting in the name of Women's Rights, or Civil Rights - equity or equality. Many groups have received the attention of the media. Some attention has been less positive than others. But all attention brought results.
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| Obama was still in office of President during this class |
"Starting January 20, 2009, our nation saw our first black president lead this country for the past eight years. This year (2016) Hillary Clinton represented the Democrat Party in the Presidential Delegates. She got a lot closer to becoming president than did Victoria Woodhull back in 1872.
I have just briefly mentioned two groups of people who have fought for freedoms and equality. There are certainly many more that have existed throughout the centuries. Regardless of what group we may be in, we all continue to fight for freedoms and equality. May we find the equity needed to truly make us free. Thank you for your time. "
