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This research guide will help you bring your character to life through historically accurate details. You will explore real photographs, letters, maps, and firsthand accounts from Jewish, Irish, and Chinese immigrants during the Gilded Age.
Your creative writing should be grounded in evidence so that your character’s story reflects the lived realities of the past. History is made of human experiences. Your job is to research carefully so your storytelling feels authentic and true.
Mission
Mission
Step into the shoes of an immigrant arriving in America at the turn of the 19th century! Your task is to bring their journey to life by creating a compelling character biography, immersive diary entries, and a collection of historical artifacts.
Your group will craft a first-person narrative that tells the story of a Jewish or Chinese immigrant navigating life in New York City (Jewish or Irish) or America (Chinese) during the Gilded Age. Through vivid storytelling, you will explore the challenges, dreams, and resilience of those seeking a new beginning in America.
1. Character Biography
1. Character Biography
(200+ words)
(200+ words)
Before writing the diary entries, you will create and introduce your character.
In third-person narrative, tell us:
Where they are from and why they left their homeland (push & pull factors)
Their family background and personal history
Their emotions, expectations, and struggles upon arriving in America
The first impressions of their new life in New York City
Think of this like the opening scene of a historical novel—draw the reader into your character’s world!
2. Personal Diary Entries
2. Personal Diary Entries
(One per group member, 500-600 words each)
(One per group member, 500-600 words each)
Each group member will write a first-person diary entry from your immigrant’s perspective, covering one of these themes:
The Journey to America – Describe the voyage: the fears, hopes, and hardships of leaving home and crossing the ocean.
Building a New Life – What is daily life like? Where do they live? What struggles do they face in tenement housing?
Working in America – What kind of job do they find? Is it dangerous, unfair, or filled with opportunity?
Hopes & Fears for the Future – Will they find success, or are they facing disappointment? What does the future hold?
Engagement Challenge: Your diary entry should feel like a personal window into history—full of emotion, details, and authenticity.
Creative Boost:
Write in a realistic handwritten style (Required)
Add drawings or "pressed flowers" to make it feel like a real artifact
Use historical slang or phrases to enhance authenticity
Collate everyone’s entries into a finished product
3. Historical Artifacts & Museum Connection
3. Historical Artifacts & Museum Connection
Your team will gather and recreate artifacts that connect to your diary entries.
Field Work Ambassador: One student from your group will visit the Tenement Museum and Museum of Chinese in America to collect historical evidence (photos, notes, sketches) to inspire your diary entries.
Artifact Collection:
The ambassador will document real-life artifacts that reflect your immigrant’s experiences.
Your group will select and explain at least two artifacts that relate to your diary entries. These might include:
Photographs of clothing, letters, work tools, or household items
Maps of NYC neighborhoods from 1900
A mock immigration document or ship ticket
A handwritten letter home from your character
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