You’ve been working on your family history for years. Doing a complete family history can be overwhelming, so let’s start by writing a short family narrative. Your report can focus on an individual, a family story, your ancestral town, an immigration experience, a family photo, or other topic of your choosing. The objective of this class is to provide the opportunity to write a report of limited scope that you can complete within a short timeframe. The course will offer tips on how to add interest to your chosen story, using context and description, and will cover the mechanics of writing and genealogical best practices to create an effective report.
The first week will help you plan and bring focus to your stories. Please have a topic in mind prior to registration, and be sure that your supporting research is as complete as possible. Spend some time reviewing and organizing your research before class starts. Please write a brief (1-2 paragraph) description of your project to discuss during our first session.
This four-week course takes advantage of the in-person sessions that we have all grown accustomed to during quarantine. We will meet weekly to discuss the lessons and answer any questions. After you enroll, please email the instructor to indicate your time zone and the best time for class meetings.
Students must be comfortable using computers. They will have the opportunity to share work in progress, ask questions, and receive constructive advice from the instructor. Students should plan to devote at least 8-10 hours per week to read the lessons, write their reports, and participate in the discussions. The class begins on March 1, 2021 and final papers will be due on March 31, in consideration of the Passover holiday.
Tuition for this course is $150. Registration will open two weeks before class begins. Class size is limited and enrollment will close when course is full. Please send any questions to Marion Werle, course instructor.