“SOMETIMES IT IS WORTH RISKING EVERYTHING TO
DO WHAT IS RIGHT.”
Introductory research assignment for To Kill a Mockingbird
We are about to begin our first novel unit of the year, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The book deals
with issues such as race relations, standing up for innocent victims, and maturing from youth to
adulthood. In addition, it gives us a history lesson on life in the south during the 1930s.
As we read the book, we are going to be seeing how the theme of “Sometimes it is worth risking
everything to do what is right” reveals itself.
Each of you will be assigned a random name associated with the civil rights movement in the United
States. Although the book takes place in the 1930s, it was published during the early 1960s while civil
rights were a big concern.
We will be in the library for two days to research our topics and organize our findings. After that
research, you will be giving a presentation.
PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation.
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A picture of your person (large enough to be seen)
The person’s name boldly displayed
FIVE facts about your person’s contribution (NOT BIRTH, FAMILY, ETC…)
How you believe the person shows the theme (you can say this)
You only need 2-3 slides, including a slide that properly cites the sources for your information.
All information is presented in front of the class. (You may have a note card for help)
Guidelines
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You may only use 25 TOTAL words in your slides!!! (bullet key points and explain the details to
the audience)
To receive any credit, you must present in front of the class.
Spelling, grammar, capitalization, etc… will be graded.
Use custom animation to reveal each element of your PowerPoint slide.
Your sources must be properly cited in MLA format (google.com is not good enough)
Save your final presentation to your student drive.
4
3
Amount of
information
Five facts about
the person’s
contribution
Four facts about
the person’s
contribution
Quality of
information
Information is
extremely
interesting and
shows a careful
amount of
research.
Information is
interesting and
shows some
careful research.
Additional
details given
Speaker adds
interesting
details beyond
what is on the
PowerPoint.
Relation to
theme
2
1
0
Three facts
about the
person’s
contribution
Information is
adequate and
sows some
research.
Two facts about
the person’s
contribution
One fact about
the person’s
contribution
Information is
below average
and shows little
research effort.
Information is
not interesting
or shows no
research effort.
Speaker adds
some details
beyond what is
on the
PowerPoint.
Speaker shows a
detailed
relationship
between the
person and the
theme.
Speaker adds
few if any
details beyond
what is on the
PowerPoint.
Speaker
attempts to
show a
relationship
between the
person and the
theme.
Photo is large
enough and is
relevant to the
time period.
Speaker adds no
details and
virtually reads
the PowerPoint.
1-2 minor
mistakes.
Major issues in
the PowerPoint
or with
speaking.
Not loud enough
or too
monotone.
Relevant photo
Word restriction
Works Cited
Spelling,
grammar…
Volume/Energy
Eye Contact
Easy to
understand
Posture
No attempt to
relate the
person to the
theme.
Photo is too
small or
irrelevant.
PowerPoint
contains 25 or
fewer words
(not including
title and works
cited)
Photo and
information are
properly cited
and sources are
appropriate
No mistakes on
the PowerPoint
or in speaking
Loud enough to
be heard and
avoids being
monotone.
Speaker looks at
the class while
talking.
Words are easy
to understand
from the back of
the room and
speaking is slow.
Stands up straight,
stays still, and
avoids fidgeting.
Speaker mostly
looks down or at
the board.
Difficult to
understand.
Slouching,
wandering, or
fidgeting