Search results: 5
Optional Print Course Material: Writing Your Family History Book
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Recording interesting family stories is essential if you want
future generations to read your family history book. This course
will help you write the story of your life or of your ancestors’
lives. Techniques for researching the facts, remembering the
events, writing the text, adding visuals with graphics or
photographs, and finally reproducing your book will all be
discussed.
Course Length: 6 weeks
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Introduction to Writing
Techniques for Researching the Facts
The Art of Storytelling
Organizing Your Material
Organizing Family Documents, Photographs, and Other Items
Twenty-First-Century Family Trees
MODULE 2
FORMATTING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
Charts and Reports
Scrapbooks and Journals
Ancestor Profiles
Books
Booklets and Newsletters
Electronic Publishing
MODULE 3
TIME MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Writing Obstacles/Distractions
Setting Goals
MODULE 4
WRITING THE TEXT
Writing from Documents
Writing from Photographs
Writing from Family Research/Interviews
Questioning Techniques
Transcribing Interviews
Problems with Contacting Relatives
What Material to Include
Inserting Charts, Graphics, and Photographs
Putting Your Family in Historical Context
Writing Your Story
MODULE 5
THE RESEARCH IS DONE, NOW WHAT?
Introduction
Publishing Options
Publishing Goals - Recouping Costs
Blogging
Print On-Demand
Self-Publishing
Traditional Publishing
Final Thoughts on Publishing
WRITING EXERCISES FOR WRITING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
Suggested Reading
Optional Print Course Material: Planning a Fabulous Family Reunion
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Planning a family reunion is often something you have been thinking or dreaming of for years. But like most projects, at a certain point you must stop dreaming and start doing.
Let's not kid ourselves, planning a family reunion is a big job. It will take lots of hours, and many times you will wonder why you ever dreamed of this.
Yes, you can do this, just don't try to do it by yourself. If you've assembled a good planning team, your family reunion will be a success. This course will give you lots of ideas and suggestions to make the planning of your reunion a little easier.
Genealogy has been known to become a passion or become addictive. Well the enthusiasm in planning a family reunion is infectious, if you have the excitement, you will pass it on.
Course Length: 5 weeks
MODULE 1
PLANNING A FABULOUS FAMILY REUNION
Why plan a family reunion?
How often should a reunion be held?
The Family Survey
Who, What, When & Where?
Various Committees
MODULE 2
VARIOUS STEPS IN PLANNING A FABULOUS REUNION ... Continued
The Guest List
Organizing the Family List & Communications
Getting the List
Communication with the Family
MODULE 3
VARIOUS STEPS IN PLANNING A FABULOUS REUNION ... Continued
The Budget — A Tough Challenge
Reunion Themes
Reunion Activities
MODULE 4
VARIOUS STEPS IN PLANNING A FABULOUS REUNION ...Continued
Remember-the-Reunion
The Good-Byes
After the Reunion
Needed Genealogical Items
Optional Print Course Material: Connecting Family: Online and Virtually
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Computers and the Internet have revolutionized the way families
communicate. This course will highlight a few specific ways to
use your computer and the Internet to build and strengthen family
ties. Topics will include using multimedia techniques to preserve
and share family photographs, building an online family tree,
creating virtual family history tours/videos, creating online
family newsletters, digitizing scrapbooks, publishing an online
family history and creating and maintaining family websites,
using communication tools such as Skype, and using social media
(blogs, Facebook, and Twitter) to find long lost cousins and stay
in touch with relatives.
Course Length: 6 weeks
MODULE 1
GET CONNECTED
Introduction
Essential Hardware, Software, and Peripherals
The “Cloud
Internet Safety
Privacy and Copyright
Glossary of Terms
MODULE 2
CONNECTING THE LIVING
Leaving Virtual Bread Crumbs
Social Media
Other Ways to Locate the Living
DNA Testing
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 3
CONNECTING THE DEAD
Cemetery Websites
Photographs
Funeral Cards and Obituaries
Locality-Based Research Websites
Timelines
Memorial Pages
Hints and Tips
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 4
CREATIVE WAYS TO SHARE YOUR MEMORIES
Sharing Memories
Electronic Publishing
Keeping Track of Your Online Activities
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 5
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER - EXERCISES
Google Alerts
Fold 3 Memorial Pages
Optional Print Course Materials: Skill-Building: Breaking Down Brick Walls
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
NOTE: This course is classified as Basic Level in the Professional Development Certificate Program.
Developed for individuals who are at or working in the Intermediate to Advanced Levels in our other certificate programs, we advise you complete the Analysis and Skills Mentoring-Part 1 course or have a working knowledge of the topics taught in that course prior to completing this one.
Brick walls are a reality in genealogy research, but
fortunately there's hope. In this course, we look at a variety of
strategies you can implement to help turn your research
roadblocks into breakthroughs. We begin with a quick refresher of
some key research concepts to help focus your research and
prepare you for success. Next, we'll walk through some simple
steps to get you prepared for the journey. Finally, we'll
investigate four different approaches to do some brick wall
busting. By the end of this course, you'll have some new ideas
for researching brick walls and the inspiration to forge
ahead.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
GETTING STARTED: PART 1
Introduction
Research Methodology Refresher
Get Organized
Define the Research Problem
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 2
GETTING STARTED: PART 2
Compile Basic Information
Create a List of Name Variations
Learn the Location
Map It
Moving Forward
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 3
STRATEGY #1: REVIEW PREVIOUS RESEARCH
The Importance of Reviewing Previous Research
Create a Research Log
Review Data
Evaluate Data
Analyze Data
Report & Plan
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 4
STRATEGY #2: DEVELOP A TIMELINE
What is a Timeline?
Types of Timelines
Methods for Creating a Timeline
Analyze, Report & Plan
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 5
STRATEGY #3: STUDY THE FAN CLUB
What is the FAN Club?
Finding FAN Club Members
Methods for Tracking Associates
Discovering Patterns & Relationships
Analyze, Report & Plan
Suggested Reading and Resources
MODULE 6
STRATEGY #4: ENGAGE OTHERS
Ancestry.com
The Power of Collaboration
Society Meetings & Conferences
Social Networking Websites
Message Boards & Mailing Lists
Online Family Trees
Blogs
Librarians, Archivists & Other Record Keepers
Suggested Reading and Resources
NOTE: Please be aware this course is classified as Intermediate Level in the Professional Development Certificate Program. Developed for individuals at or working in the Intermediate to Advanced Levels in our other certificate programs. If considering this course, you should have completed or have full knowledge/experience from our courses: Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting, Methodology - Part 3: More Strategies, and Methodology - Part 4: Effective Searching and Recording.
Note: This course requires compulsory materials to be ordered. These are available at GenealogyStore.com
- Board for Certification of Genealogists, Genealogy Standards, 2nd edition revised (Nashville, Tennessee: Ancestry, 2021).
- Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, Third Edition Revised (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2017).
- Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Professional Genealogy: A manual for researchers, writers, editors, lecturers and librarians (2001; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 2012).
Optional Print Course Material: Skill Building: Nuts and Bolts of Reporting Research
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
A professional or serious-minded genealogist needs to perfect core skills, whether they conduct research for clients, lecture, or write. These skills include source citation, transcription, and writing. In genealogy, there are some texts that are considered the standard by which professionals are judged ― these include:
*Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers Librarians edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
*Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
*Mastering Genealogical Proof by Dr. Thomas Jones.
*Genealogy Standards by the Board for Certified Genealogists
These books help prepare the professional or serious minded genealogist for the day-to-day work of writing, analyzing, and preparing information for themselves or the clients.
In this course, the student will study portions of some of the above-mentioned texts and complete assignments and exercises to better understand the key elements taught within its pages.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
CITATION FUNDAMENTALS
Citing Your Sources
Citation Components and Elements
Suggestions For Census Returns
Suggestions For Other Sources
Creating A Citation Toolbox or Citation Template
COPYRIGHT
Websites
MODULE 2
RESEARCH PROCEDURES & LOCALITY GUIDES
Current Research Guides
FamilySearch Family History Research Wiki
Sample Research Guides
MODULE 3
TRANSCRIBING, ABSTRACTING & EXTRACTING
General Rules for Transcriptions
General Rules for Abstracting
General Rules for Extracting
Optional Reading
MODULE 4
RESEARCH PLANS & REPORTS
Research Planning
Suggested Steps in Research Planning
Report Writing
Types Of Reports
Essential Elements Of A Formal Report
CASE STUDY
Case Study Outline
Case Study Information
MODULE 5
EVIDENCE ANALYSIS
PROOF SUMMARIES & CASE STUDIES
MODULE 6
REPORTING YOUR RESEARCH: WRITING SCHOLARLY ARTICLES & BLOGS
Before You Write
Cross all Your T’s and Dot Your I’s
Get Permission
Write But Also Proofread
Peer Reviewed Journals vs. Blogs