From Empathy to
Action
em·pa·thy:
The ability to imagine yourself in another person’s
place and to understand their feelings, desires, ideas, and actions.
ac·tion:
Conduct; the manner in which one behaves; something done;
a series of acts.
Project Description: You will be engaging in the practice of dramaturgy; conducting the
research necessary for a theatrical production. Your dramaturgical research into the
effects of the Great Depression on various groups and individuals in American society
will be used (1) as inspiration for monologue writing in Ms. Leckbee’s English class, and
(2) as inspiration for monologue performance in Ms. Seigel’s Theater class.
Project Requirements: You will research the effects of the Great Depression on a selected
group in American society (see the list on the back for details). Your research should include
both primary and secondary sources, as well as photographs, art, and possibly music from
the time period. You will create a visual Exhibit to display in the hallway on Thursday
2/7 and Friday 2/8.
Project Components:
I. Answers to Unit Questions
1. How did the economic impact of the Great Depression affect American citizens?
2. What role should the U.S. Government play in times of economic crisis?
Your answers to these questions should be included within your visual presentation.
You will be answering these Big Picture Questions from the perspective of your selected
group or individual!!! Remember, the purpose of this research is to evoke
empathy…You must be able to empathize with your subject of research.
II. Visual Presentation
Your Research Exhibit should:
 Include adequate information to evoke empathy with selected group or individual
 Meet requirements for clarity and neatness (see rubric for more details)
 Include clearly and accurately labeled media (photos, quotes, etc.)
Media Component:
 At least 6 Visual Media (photographs, art, etc.)
 At least 3 Quotes (from primary sources)
 Extra Credit – You may select EXTRA media to help the viewer better understand
your selected group or individual. This may include extra research, visuals, quotes,
or possibly multimedia sources.
III. Bibliography
You must turn in a complete bibliography listing all sources used in researching your
topic. We will discuss in class how to correctly cite all research sources.
Project Research Topic List

Women/Housewives

Children

Workers

Migrant Workers

Herbert Hoover – Republican President when
the Depression started, blamed for not doing enough to
help the American people.


Roosevelt, and First Lady of the United States; very
popular with the American people, she received
thousands of letters from needy Americans.
Single Young Men (employed by the Civilian
Conservation Corps)

Homeless ("Riding the Rails")

Unemployed

Writers (Federal Writer's Project)





Actors (Works Progress Administration, Federal
Theater Project, Hollywood's "Golden Age")

Bonus Army Veterans

African Americans
Mexican Americans

Farmers
John Steinbeck – American writer hired by the
Government to document the hardships of Americans;
wrote Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath.

Huey Long – Outspoken critic of President
Roosevelt; believed the rich ought to be taxed in order
to help the American Poor; proposed the “Share Our
Wealth” program to ease the suffering of needy
Americans.


Dorothea Lange – Photographer employed by
the Works Progress Administration to document the
suffering of Americans during the Depression.
murals, Public Works of Art Project, Federal Art Project)
Musicians (Federal Music Project)
Woody Guthrie – Folk musician inspired by the
experiences of Americans during the Great Depression,
one of his hits was “This Land is Your Land”.
Visual Artists (Works Progress Administration -

Eleanor Roosevelt – Wife of Franklin
Father Charles Coughlin – A Catholic
priest and opponent of President Roosevelt; he thought
Roosevelt should do more to help the American people
during the Great Depression.
Please List Your Top Three Choices:
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