Asynchronous Academy

Culminating Task: RAG Data Preparation

Suggested Duration: 6 Hours

You’ve nearly arrived in the present day. Before you write the final chapter of your character's life, you must lay the groundwork.

In this culminating research phase, you will define the parameters and historical facts that will shape the final era of your story. This is done through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)—researching real history to build a verified database for your writing.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Directions

1. Identify Historical Lenses

Choose three distinct lenses (e.g., economic, social, technological, or political) through which to view Canadian/American history from 2002 to the present. Identify the major shifts that would have directly impacted a person living through this era.

2. Gather Your RAG Data (Knowledge Base)

Research specific facts, statistics, and events from this period. This is your RAG Data—the verified historical truths you will use to guide your writing.

  • Find average costs (rent, tuition), economic events (2008 recession), technological shifts (rise of social media, smartphones), or local headlines from the region your character lives in.
  • Deliverable: A list of at least 5–10 key data points per decade (2000s, 2010s, 2020s), fully cited.

Example format:

Windsor, Ontario (RAG Data):

  • Year: 2008 (Economic Lens)
  • Event: Automotive industry crisis; local unemployment rises to 15%.
  • Personal Finance: Character’s assembly line job is at risk; sector wages drop by 12%.
  • Social Lens: Rise of Facebook as the primary way laid-off workers stay in touch.

3. Design Your "Grounded" Prompt

Construct a prompt structure that incorporates your RAG data. This prompt will be used to instruct the narrative voice of your character's final draft. Your prompt must include:

  • A Persona: Who the narrator is (e.g., "A memoirist writing about the automotive crisis in Ontario").
  • The Data: The exact RAG data points you researched in Step 2.
  • The Style Instructions: Directions on tone, format (e.g., diary entries, letters), and perspective.

4. Create the Works Cited

Provide a formal Reference List for all data gathered in Step 2. Prove your academic integrity by showing exactly where your statistics and facts originated.

5. Reflection Video

Record a 3–5 minute video addressing:

  • Why you chose these specific trends and events.
  • Why these details are the most historically significant for your character.
  • Your overall analysis of the main historical themes in the 2002–present era.

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

  • 📤

    A Google Doc/Markdown file containing:

    • Your RAG Data (Knowledge Base)
    • Your Grounded Prompt Design
    • Your Curated Scrapbook Media (headlines, photos, and works cited)
  • 📤

    Your Reflection video

💡 A Different Way to Learn

Async Academy courses are inquiry-based. There are no rote answer keys or multiple-choice worksheets here. You learn by exploring, questioning, and building projects you care about.

Because your discovery path is completely unique, you need a human sounding board. Enroll to submit your projects and get personalized video feedback from an Ontario Certified Teacher to guide your work.

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

  • 🎯

    Use research skills to identify and select important historical information

  • 🎯

    Organize relevant historical facts to demonstrate historical thinking (significance, perspective, cause and consequence, continuity and change)

Success Criteria

I can:

  • ✅

    Research and document 5-10 key historical data points per decade from 2002 to present

    Expectations Covered: A1, A2
  • ✅

    Construct a grounded prompt structure based on research data

    Expectations Covered: A1, A2
  • ✅

    Explain historical significance and choices in a reflection video

    Expectations Covered: A1, A2

Rubric

Category Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Knowledge / Understanding Student has demonstrated detailed knowledge of a variety of events and trends throughout the period Student has demonstrated knowledge of a variety of events and trends throughout the period Student has demonstrated knowledge of some events and trends throughout the period Student has demonstrated knowledge of a limited number of events and trends throughout the period
Thinking / Inquiring Student has impeccably selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include Student has effectively selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include Student has often selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include Student has sometimes selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include
Knowledge / Understanding
Level 4

Student has demonstrated detailed knowledge of a variety of events and trends throughout the period

Level 3

Student has demonstrated knowledge of a variety of events and trends throughout the period

Level 2

Student has demonstrated knowledge of some events and trends throughout the period

Level 1

Student has demonstrated knowledge of a limited number of events and trends throughout the period

Thinking / Inquiring
Level 4

Student has impeccably selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include

Level 3

Student has effectively selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include

Level 2

Student has often selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include

Level 1

Student has sometimes selected the most relevant details, statistics, and events to include