Course #3: Foundations 2: Focus on Improving Research Skills & Reporting

Instructor: Lisa S. Gorrell, CG
Dates offered: Thursdays, Oct 20-Nov 10
Time: 3:30-7:00 Pacific/6:30-10:00 Eastern
Cost: $300
Registration: 8 August-14 August

Familiar with the traditional record sets of genealogy but want to take your genealogical skills to the next level? Then this course is for you. Topics covered in this four-week course are: Genealogy Proof Standard, transcribing and abstracting, developing research questions, creating research plans, and writing up the research.  This course builds on what was learned in Foundations I but is not a prerequisite. Each student should bring a specific research problem to the course.

This is an intermediate course with hands on activities and weekly homework that is reviewed by the instructor. This class will sharpen your skills!

Prerequisites:
Foundations I or other intermediate course that focused on using a variety of sources such as census, vital records, directories, newspapers, immigration and naturalization, land, deed, and military records. An account in FamilySearch. A subscription at Ancestry is helpful.

Recommended books:

  • Marsha Hoffman Rising, The Family Tree Problem Solver (Cincinnati: Family Tree Books, 2005).
  • George G. Morgan & Drew Smith, Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques (New York: McGraw Hill, 2014).
  • Board for Certification of Genealogists, Genealogy Standards, 2nd Edition (Nashville, TN: Ancestry.com/Turner Publishing Co, 2019).

Course Outline
(subject to change)

Session 1:

  • Introductions
  • GPS & Analysis Using Evidence Analysis Process Map
  • In-class exercise: Analyzing Documents
  • Break
  • Creating timelines and reviewing previous research
  • Homework Assignment

Session 2:

  • Review of Homework #1
  • Transcription and Abstraction
  • In-class exercises: Transcriptions and Abstracts
  • Break
  • Developing Research Questions
  • In-class exercise: Create research questions
  • Homework Assignment

Session 3:

  • Review of Homework
  • Research Planning
  • In-class exercise: Research planning
  • Break
  • Research Reporting
  • Homework Assignment

Session 4:

  • Review of Homework
  • Research Reporting continued
  • Break
  • Student sharing of research

Session 5: Optional

  • Student sharing of research continued