Background Research for Of Mice and Men
Individual Project: Diary
Go to http://www.protopage.com/rhs_eng10, login: english10
Open the Mice and Men tab
Open the Historical Background widget
I. Open One Migrant’s Story
Read:
Berry Picker by John MacNamara
II. Open Differentiated Projects widget
Open Documenting the Migrant Experience
Open Documents
Read
Article Two: The Harvest Gypsies
Read
Along the Road: Extracts from a Reporter’s Notebook
III. Write a journal/diary in which you:
a) speak from the POV of a migrant worker living at a migrant camp in the 1930s.
b) Discuss your personal experience, hardships, and feelings, reflecting details you learned from
reading the three assigned articles; but create your own story—don’t simply re-tell one of the
stories you read.
c) Use imagery – create your own, based on details you learned from reading the articles.
UNDERLINE and label in margin.
d) Use a simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or personification – create your own, based on details you
learned from reading the articles. UNDERLINE and label in margin.
e) Give your journal entry a time and date (remember, you are writing from the 1930s).
MORE ON BACK>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mechanics:
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Name, block, and date in upper right corner – single-spaced
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Title Centered at top of page: Migrant Journal
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Typed, 1” margins all around, 12-point Times New Roman font
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1 page minimum, double-spaced
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Proofread and spell check
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No RHS Writing Rules errors
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No comma splices or fused sentences
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Proper paragraph division and format
IV. Create a Cover Page for Journal: Print a clear picture showing the life of a 1930s migrant
worker. It should be large-ish (at least ½ page), clear (not all fuzzy or bitmappy), and
proportional (don’t stretch it all out of proportion if you have to blow it up).
Mice & Men Historical Research
Partner Research Essay Poster
Go to http://www.protopage.com/rhs_eng10, login: english10
Open the Mice and Men tab
Open the Historical Background widget
Visit and read the information at the websites. Explore related links at the sites you visit.
Bear in mind your PURPOSE and PRODUCT.
PURPOSE:
-To become an expert on one small facet of the Great Depression.
-To effectively research and report on a topic.
-To demonstrate mastery of items on the rubric
PRODUCT: Research Essay Poster
The broad topic is the Great Depression.
You need to narrow your focus—decide WHAT one aspect of the Great Depression you want to
focus your essay on.
Your poster should be set up as follows:
Title (Big!)
3-part Introduction Paragraph, indented, single-spaced, 14-point Times New Roman font.
Claim/Topic Sentence.
Depression-Era
Photo Evidence
1
Depression-Era
Photo Evidence
2
Caption/Evidence
for Photo 1
14-point Times
New Roman
Single-Spaced
Caption/Evidence
for Photo 2
14-point Times
New Roman
Single-Spaced
Depression-Era
Photo
Evidence
3
Caption/
Evidence for
Photo 3
14-point Times
New Roman
Single-Spaced
3-Part Conclusion Paragraph, indented, single-spaced, 14-point Times New Roman
font.
RUBRIC/COMPONENTS of the Research Essay Poster:
I. Title
II. 3-Part Introduction Paragraph
A. Engaging and cohesive lead
B. Adequate and appropriate information to background the essay (demonstrates
your understanding of the Great Depression relevant to your limited topic)
C. 3-part thesis
III.
Claim/Topic Sentence with Transition
IV.
Photographs/Body/Evidence
A. 3 Depression-era photographs that illustrate the truth of your claim
1. Each photo is clear, proportional, and at least ½ page in size.
III. Captions/Body/Evidence
A. Each photograph is accompanied by a caption paragraph which functions as Evidence.
1. Each caption tells the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the photograph. For
this, you will need to read the information that is provided with the photograph at the site
where you find it. PARAPHRASE this information.
2. Each caption is enhanced with a detail from your research which
further illustrates the truth of your claim. The detail you use should be relevant to the
photograph as well.
3. ONE detail from your research must be a direct quote, punctuated properly.
4. Each detail from your research must include a parenthetical citation in proper form.
5. Must use details from at least 2 different sources.
6. Details must be NEW and DIFFERENT—not repetitive of what previous
details have offered.
IV. 3-Part Conclusion Paragraph
A. Recall thesis in a new way
B. Summary of main points of essay (does not sound redundant or mechanical)
C. Call to action/so what
V. Works Cited Page – separate page, titled Works Cited
A. List sources of photographs
B. List sources of details you cited from your research
C. In proper format
Mechanics and General Expectations:
A. All information is typed in 12-point Times New Roman font
B. Material is spell-checked and proofread – free of errors
C. Free of RHS Writing Rules errors
D. Free of sentence fragments, comma splices, and fused sentences
E. Formal voice
F. Poster is visually pleasing, with all information neatly cut and pasted securely onto the
posterboard
G. Both names are on the front of the poster
H. Presentation of information is organized, internalized, interesting, and informative
I. ******TURN THIS RUBRIC IN WITH YOUR POSTER!!!!