Overview

This course teaches the principles of effective report writing for a variety of genealogical projects, including formatting, documentation, source citations, and presentation of genealogical data and evidence. Through case studies, students will learn how to prepare effective genealogical reports for clients.

Requirements

Prerequisites

Students must have taken the following:

• FHGEN 110: Family History Research Student Success
• FHGEN 120: Internet and Computer Skills
• FHGEN 130: Paleography
• FHGEN 242: Introduction of Evidence Analysis

Required Resources

This course has no required textbooks. You do, however, need a genealogical software program that will produce family group sheets. This can be RootsMagic or another personal software program.

You also need Microsoft Word and Excel. If you do not yet have these programs on your computer, you can download them for free as a BYU-Idaho student. The BYU-Idaho Bookstore Links to an external site.provides free downloads of the Microsoft Office Suite.

Structure

Course Outcomes

1. Compile genealogical information in alignment with industry accepted publications.
2. Provide supporting evidence by presenting copies of documents relevant to the genealogical objective.
3. Create citations according to one of the industry accepted style guides.
4. Produce genealogical works based on established methodological and reporting practices.
5. Report the analysis of genealogical evidence that facilitates comprehension by a reader.

Major Assignments

The table below is meant to help you see the relevance of each major assignment as it pertains to the course outcomes.

Major Assignment	Description	Course Outcome #
W03 Final Report: Genealogical Article	Revise and submit your genealogical article that you created last week.	#1, 3, 4, and 5
W05 Final Report: Conflicting Evidence	Revise and submit your conflicting evidence report that you created last week.	#1, 3, 4, and 5
W07 Final Report: Client Report	Revise and submit your client report that you created last week.	#1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
W09 Final Report: Proof Argument	Revise and submit your proof argument that you created last week.	#1, 3, 4, and 5
W11 Final Report: NGSQ Formatting	Revise and submit your research report that you created last week.	#1 and 3
W13 Final Report: Three Generational History	Revise and submit your research report that you created last week.	#1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

Weekly Patterns

This course uses a two-week unit pattern. The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions for both weeks in a unit. 

Due Date*	Learning Model	Activity Title	Description
Midweek (week 1)	Prepare	W## Practice:	Take the following quiz to practice your understanding of the study materials.
End of Week (week 1)	Prepare	W## Rough Draft:	Complete a rough draft of the assignment.
Midweek (week 2)	Prepare	W## Practice:	Take the following quiz to practice your understanding of the study materials.
Midweek (week 2)	Teach One Another	W## Peer Review:	Review one or more rough drafts from your peers.
End of Week (week 2)	Prepare and Ponder/Prove	Varied	Complete another quiz or activity related to the materials studied this week.
End of Week (week 2)	Prove	W## Final Report:	Revise and submit your report that you turned in last week.

*Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.

Learning Model

This course seeks to apply the principles and steps of the learning model throughout the course. Students will be expected to exercise faith in Jesus Christ, seek teaching from the Holy Ghost and study the word of God as aids to their efforts to study the course material. Students will be expected to accept responsibility for learning and teaching as well as love and serve each other by providing thorough feedback on peer reviews. Students will also act for themselves by working diligently on rough drafts and revising according to peer feedback in their final reports.

Students will be given opportunities to prepare by taking practice quizzes, preparing a rough draft of each report and by revising their reports. They will teach one another in peer review discussion boards sharing their rough drafts and providing feedback to their peers. Finally, students will be able to prove their learning through final reports and ponder on their experience in the course and how it can apply to future courses and career goals.

Expectations

Academic Honesty and AI Policy

Review the FHGEN AI Policy Guide for general instructions on the use of AI in FHGEN courses.

Feedback

You can expect to receive grades and feedback for your final paper submissions within 14 days of the due date. You can expect to receive grades and feedback within seven days of the due date for all other assignments.

Workload

This course is a three-credit course, meaning students can expect to work on this course for 9–12 hours a week.

Group Work

There is no group work in this course.

Late Work

As a sign of professionalism and respect, you should complete your work on time. However, your instructor has the discretion to accept late work or extend due dates as appropriate. No late work will be accepted for the peer review assignments.

Retries

Students will be given the opportunity to take three attempts on each reading quiz. No other assignments will allow retries.

Extra Credit

Extra credit may be earned by completing up to two additional peer reviews each week. Each additional peer review can earn up to three points for a total of 18 points of extra credit over the course of the semester.

Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Percent
A	100%–93%
A-	92%–90%
B+	89%–87%
B	86%–83%
B-	82%–80%
C+	79%–77%
C	76%–73%
C-	72%–70%
D+	69%–67%
D	66%–63%
D-	62%–60%
F	59% and lower

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

BYU-Pathway Worldwide is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified students with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact Accessibility. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by Student Wellness.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered for accommodations and need a transcription for these meetings, please contact Accessibility.

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please click on the links below to learn more about the following policies:

• Academic and Administrative Grievances and Appeals
• Academic Honesty
• Copyright Infringement
• Disability Services
• Disruptive Behavior
• Honor Code
• Nondiscrimination
• Other University Policies

Go to the Student Resources module for further resources and information.