To Kill a Mockingbird Research Project
This quarter we will be reading the Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Students
will be completing a mini-research project to enhance their understanding of the culture in the 1930’s. In
order to be fully prepared for this project you will have to complete some of the research outside of class.
We will have approximately three days in the computer lab. It is your responsibility to monitor your time,
although there will be due dates along the way to keep you on track. Your research and project materials
are required daily.
EACH student in their group will be responsible for conducting research, making clear paraphrased notes,
creating a works cited for all sources, and sharing the information with the class.
Each group will create a presentation that will be given in front of their fellow classmates. This presentation will include an oral
component (with every member of the group participating), visual aids (pictures, posters, PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.), and audio/video
segments. In addition, groups will be expected to complete self and group evaluations on the group's process, individual
participation, and the quality of their presentation.
Due Date
Points
Possible
Friday 3/28
5
Friday 3/28
End of class
10
Annotated Bibliography & Notes- This is a bibliography that
includes a brief description of each source they have used, as
well as an analysis of the quality and relevance of its
information. Each group member is responsible for researching a
section of the research questions. They must each complete a
note-taking sheet including reference documentation.
Monday
3/31 End of
class
30
Oral Presentation- 10-15 minutes long (including time in class to
ask questions). You will need to plan your presentation carefully.
Your goal is to give the class a clear understanding of the topic
you have researched. Be creative and prepared! You should
actively engage your audience in your presentation. All group
members must participate!
In class:
Tuesday 4/1
35
Media (Part of Presentation)- You must use media (audio/visual)
to make your presentation more interesting and easier to follow.
You can use diagrams, charts, maps, pictures, posters, video
clips, etc. Use at least 2 DIFFERENT types of media (a map and a
video clip, slides and an overhead, a graph and a poster). Make
sure that any visual is large enough for the whole class to see it
clearly!
In class:
Tuesday 4/1
20
Self and Peer Evaluation- You will be expected to complete
evaluations on the work of your group and on the quality of your
presentation.
Thursday or
Friday
4/2-3
20
Project Item
Topic Choice & Parent Signature - Each student must have
parent/guardian sign off on topic choice.
Research Questions- Each group must develop AT LEAST 10
research questions that will direct the research of the group.
Final Research Project Grade
Points
Received
Teacher
Signature
120
*Do not misplace this paper. You must have this paper with you each time you turn in a part of the project.
*Due dates are NOT flexible. No late work accepted for this project and Opps passes will NOT be accepted.
**If you are absent for ANY reason, it is your responsibility to have your final project turned into me on the due date.
***Extreme circumstances will be taken into consideration- please contact me immediately when situations arise.
Dear Students and Parents,
Mrs. Snyder’s English classes are about to embark on a mini-research project. Clear assignments and due dates have
been given, and I will be checking progress along the way. Not only is research a necessary academic skill, but is also a
rewarding learning process!
Students – Please share your progress with your parents. You can even teach them some new information! Remember, your
education and grades are YOUR responsibility! Don’t wait until the last minute to complete the assignments, and don’t wait
until the assignment is due to ask questions.
Parents – Please check in with your student to ensure that they are on top of their due dates and that they are synthesizing the
information properly. Your signature is needed on the bottom of this page acknowledging their chosen topic and due dates for
the research project. Thank you for your support!
Due Dates:




Due dates are outlined on the assignment page (and the class website)
Due dates are not flexible.
If you are absent for ANY reason, it is your responsibility to have your final project turned into me on the due
date. Please remember that this is a group project, so you need to be a reliable group member.
Please contact me immediately when situations arise.
Internet/Computer Access:


Computer Lab C222 is available after school from 2:30-4:30 M-Th.
Absences on days spent on the research or writing process requires you to complete the work on your own
time outside of class.
As always, my class website is available for copies of the assignments and a list of the due dates. When in doubt, check there
first. Happy researching!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Snyder
_________________________________________________________________________________
Research Topic Selection (10 points)
Below is a list of all approved topics to research. If you have an additional topic that goes along with the time period please
see me to get your topic approved.
TOPICS:
 The Great Depression
 The Scottsboro Trials
 Jim Crow Laws
 Harper Lee
 Rosa Parks




Emmitt Till
Dust Bowl
The Riots and the Beating of
Rodney King
Klu Klux Klan




Racism in Canada Today
Martin Luther King Jr.
The Black Panthers
Stock Market Crash 1929
Record your topic below. Parents/guardians must sign that they approve of the topic choice for this assignment, and are
aware of the assignment due dates:
Topic:
Parent/Guardian Signature:
To Kill a Mockingbird Research Presentation Rubric
ORAL PRESENTATION:
5
4
3
2
Excellent
Meets Criteria/Good
Needs Improvement
Poor
Clarity of
Ideas
Information is easy to
understand; ideas are
clear and explained well
to the audience.
Information is easy to
understand; some ideas
are clear but may need
further explanation.
Content
Knowledge
Presenter demonstrates
thorough understanding
of content and speaks
knowledgably about
content.
Presenter demonstrates
good understanding of
content and is able to
speak knowledgably
about most talking
points.
Organization
The presentation moves
logically from one idea to
the next; ideas build on
each other and are
grouped in a way that
makes sense.
Content is presented in
the students own words.
*Sources still need to be
cited
The presentation moves
logically from one to the
next. Ideas are grouped
logically.
Student’s voice is loud and
can be easily heard by
audience. Words are
pronounced clearly and
correctly.
Originality
Voice
Projection
Information is easy to
understand; many
ideas are unclear and
need further
explanation.
Presenter
demonstrates limited
understanding of
content and relies
upon written
information/visual for
the presentation.
The presentation
moves in a seemingly
arbitrary way. Ideas are
not grouped.
Information is difficult to
understand; many ideas
are unclear and need
further explanation.
Most content is original.
All content is in the
student’s own words.
Some content is
original, but not all the
content is in the
students own words.
Student’s voice is loud
and can be heard by
most of the audience.
Most words are
pronounced clearly and
correctly.
Student’s voice is soft
and can be heard by
some of the audience.
Many words are
mispronounced and
used incorrectly.
Content is not in the
students own words.
Large sections copy and
pasted or reading directly
from a source.
Student’s voice is quiet
and can’t be heard by any
of the audience. Many
words are mispronounced
and used incorrectly.
Presenter demonstrates
little or no understand of
content and reads text
directly from the visual to
the audience.
The information is
presented and explained
at random.
PROJECT MEDIA:
5
4
3
2
Excellent
Meets Criteria/Good
Needs Improvement
Poor
Multimedia
/Visuals
Effective use of visuals to
enhance and support
content. More than 2 were
used. Visuals enhanced
presented knowledge.
Includes visuals to
support content. 2
were used.
Creativity
The visuals are unique,
powerful, effective, and
compels the audience's
attention.
Visuals are balanced,
attractive, and easy-to
follow.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
More visual elements
would have enhanced
the presentation. Less
than 2 were used.
Visuals didn’t enhance
information presented.
Visual have a focus, but
it does not consistently
keeps audience’s
attention. Not neat and
easy to read.
There are no visual
elements. Or visual
elements did not relate to
presentation or the
information.
Visual is unclear and hard
to understand. Distract
the audience from the
stated purpose of the
presentation.
To Kill a Mockingbird Research Presentation Rubric
ORAL PRESENTATION:
5
4
3
2
Excellent
Meets Criteria/Good
Needs Improvement
Poor
Clarity of
Ideas
Information is easy to
understand; ideas are
clear and explained well
to the audience.
Information is easy to
understand; some ideas
are clear but may need
further explanation.
Content
Knowledge
Presenter demonstrates
thorough understanding
of content and speaks
knowledgably about
content.
Presenter demonstrates
good understanding of
content and is able to
speak knowledgably
about most talking
points.
Organization
The presentation moves
logically from one idea to
the next; ideas build on
each other and are
grouped in a way that
makes sense.
Content is presented in
the students own words.
*Sources still need to be
cited
The presentation moves
logically from one to the
next. Ideas are grouped
logically.
Student’s voice is loud and
can be easily heard by
audience. Words are
pronounced clearly and
correctly.
Originality
Voice
Projection
Information is easy to
understand; many
ideas are unclear and
need further
explanation.
Presenter
demonstrates limited
understanding of
content and relies
upon written
information/visual for
the presentation.
The presentation
moves in a seemingly
arbitrary way. Ideas are
not grouped.
Information is difficult to
understand; many ideas
are unclear and need
further explanation.
Most content is original.
All content is in the
student’s own words.
Some content is
original, but not all the
content is in the
students own words.
Student’s voice is loud
and can be heard by
most of the audience.
Most words are
pronounced clearly and
correctly.
Student’s voice is soft
and can be heard by
some of the audience.
Many words are
mispronounced and
used incorrectly.
Content is not in the
students own words.
Large sections copy and
pasted or reading directly
from a source.
Student’s voice is quiet
and can’t be heard by any
of the audience. Many
words are mispronounced
and used incorrectly.
Presenter demonstrates
little or no understand of
content and reads text
directly from the visual to
the audience.
The information is
presented and explained
at random.
PROJECT MEDIA:
5
4
3
2
Excellent
Meets Criteria/Good
Needs Improvement
Poor
Multimedia
/Visuals
Effective use of visuals to
enhance and support
content. More than 2 were
used. Visuals enhanced
presented knowledge.
Includes visuals to
support content. 2
were used.
Creativity
The visuals are unique,
powerful, effective, and
compels the audience's
attention.
Visuals are balanced,
attractive, and easy-to
follow.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
More visual elements
would have enhanced
the presentation. Less
than 2 were used.
Visuals didn’t enhance
information presented.
Visual have a focus, but
it does not consistently
keeps audience’s
attention. Not neat and
easy to read.
There are no visual
elements. Or visual
elements did not relate to
presentation or the
information.
Visual is unclear and hard
to understand. Distract
the audience from the
stated purpose of the
presentation.