Of Mice and Men
Partner Research Project
Students will be partnering up in the library for a week of research based on the historical
time period of the 1920’s / 1930’s. The purpose of this is for students to familiarize
themselves with the time period of our new novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
Students will be creating a PowerPoint presentation that will include
the following…
a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)
e.)
At least 7 slides (this includes the work cited slide)
Well researched and informative information about the
selected topic
Research presented from a minimum of three academic
sources (No Wikipedia, blogs, Yahoo Answers, etc.) One
of your sources has to be a book!
At least 3 pictures with documented sources (the
websites you get the images from do not count towards
your three sources but documentation is required for all
pictures)
A 3+ minute presentation in class covering the material
you learned with both partners equally participating
You will be graded on the following components…
1.) The accuracy of your research (selecting reputable sources,
presenting the important information while eliminating unnecessary
detail, etc)
2.) The adherence of the partnership to the project details (at least
seven slides, work cited slide included at the end of the presentation,
a minimum of three informational sources, ready to present on the
due date, etc.)
3.) The design and presentation of your PowerPoint
4.) Your work cited slide (correct MLA format is expected!) You are also
expected to identify any direct quotes in your presentation with
quotation marks.
5.) Your behavior in the library on research days
6.) Your notes (and a possible quiz) over the
presentations you saw
*Partners will be assigned randomly and are not able to be
switched. WORK IT OUT!
* Projects will be assigned on a “first come/first serve”
basis starting on Monday, November 7th at 7:00am. Only
one group per class can sign up for any given topic.
*Words of wisdom: Don’t fill up your slides with total text. This is not
fun to look at. Use bullets or tell us about the information instead of
reading off of your slides. Note cards are allowed during presentations.
This project is due on Monday, November 14th for a test grade
Presentation Topics
1. Great Depression- causes and the beginning
2. Great Depression- recovery (WPA, TVA, The New Deal, etc.)
3. The Dust Bowl
4. Migrant workers
5. Tent cities (aka “Hoovervilles”)/ riding the railroads-teens and adults
6. Harlem Renaissance (with a focus on Langston Hughes)
7. Radio / Movies / Photography (focusing on Dorothea Lange) / Music /
Literature of the 1920s
8. Lindbergh baby kidnapping
9. Roaring Twenties/ Jazz age
10.Women’s suffrage
11.Teapot Dome Scandal- early 20s government corruption
12.Scopes Trial (1925- lawsuit involving teaching of the theory of
evolution)
13.Prohibition / Bootleggers / Speakeasies
14.Herbert Hoover
15. Gangs/ Al Capone/ American gangsters
16.Bonnie and Clyde
17.Jim Crow / Racism during the 1920’s
18.Treatment of the mentally disabled from 1900 to today