Of Mice and Men Project
Your objective is to conduct research to compare/contrast John Steinbeck's portrayal of specific social groups with their actual treatment during that time or of historical events in Of Mice and Men.
There are so many factors that influence the writing of a story...we must, as readers, always consider the context within which the book is written. The setting (time and place) matters, the author's experiences matter, the current events of the time matter...
When examining Of Mice and Men it is crucial to understand this context and have adequate background knowledge to support the reading.
Prompt:
After reading informational articles and websites, write a 2-3 page research based essay where you determine whether or not John Steinbeck accurately portrayed The Great Depression or a specific social issue from the 1930s. Alternatively, you might determine what factors led John Steinbeck to depict The Great Depression or social issues from the 1930s.
Note: your topic will be assigned to you.
Based on your research and research question, you must develop an original claim (thesis statement).
Support your position with specific evidence from your research and from the novel (use MLA formatting and embed your quotes).
The goal is to use this formula: claim, evidence, reasoning
You should have 2-3 reputable quotes and 2-3 quotes from the novel
Students will be assigned one or two of the following topics to research in context of the 1930’s and the Great Depression:
John Steinbeck, his life and times
The Great Depression
Migrant Workers
Okies
Women
Mentally disabled
After reading the novel in class, students will then write an argument paper to support whether or not they believe Steinbeck accurately represented life for their chosen social group.
Your research will be done during class and for homework, your essay will be typed during your Semester Final for this class.
Here are some resources you can use for the project. You can use other sources with my approval.
Migrant Workers / Dust Bowl / The Great Depression
Mentally Disabled during The Great Depression