Travels With Charley Creative Project
This activity is a chance for you to “experience” America as Steinbeck and Charley did
while at the same time familiarize yourselves with societal issues/changes that took place
during the late 50’s to early 60’ s. You will choose two other members of the class that
you would like to work with (there should be 9 groups of 3 in total). Your group will
randomly select a specific region that was mentioned in Steinbeck’s travels. This will be
the region that you will base your project around. Below is a list of the possible regions:
1) Long Island
2) Massachusetts & Vermont
3) Vermont, Northern NY state/Niagara Falls
4) Erie, PA & Cleveland, OH
5) Michigan, Illinois
6) Montana
7) Idaho
8) Seattle, Washington
9) California
10) Texas
11) New Orleans, NY
The first part of the project is to visually represent your region on poster/butcher block
paper. This should involve an illustration of the physical area of your region as well as a
depiction of the people living there. Also include a quote from the text (and page #) from
Steinbeck’s description of the region. You may draw, print out pictures, or use magazine
clippings in order to do this. Be sure to explain in a brief summary why you chose to
include the images you did and how they are connected to your region.
The second part of the project you will choose three options from the list below (one
from each category). Each activity must be directly related to your region.
POLITICAL/SOCIAL CHANGES:
CULTURAL:
Present a political speech
National Geographic Article
Write or analyze a poem on a social issue
Present a video clip
Make a movie*
bring in food
present lyrics & play song
make a skit
create a website/weblog
GEOGRAPHIC:
create a travel brochure
commercial advertisement
design 3 postcards
write a travel log
*if your group decides to do a movie make sure that you will be responsible for putting
together the “technical stuff” yourself. Ask Ms. Mooney or Mr. McHale if there is any
type of equipment you will need.
The final element of the creative project is a way to tie in all the creative interpretations
to the text. You will write a 2 page essay (12 pt. font/ds) answering 2 of the following
questions:
(Part A) Choose 1 of the 2 to answer
1) What specific societal changes mentioned in the book and those found while
researching affect the nation’s sense of regional identity? How have they done
this?
2) In class we have discussed the preservation of dialect and slang terms which
caused many of you to believe that regional identity is still alive today. What are
some arguments that support Steinbeck’s view that America, in general, has
become a “tasteless society?” (Provide evidence other than language
differences).
(Part B) All must answer
3) Steinbeck writes, “Americans are much more American than they are
Northerners, Southerners, Westerners, or Easterners…California Chinese, Boston
Irish, Wisconsin Germans, and yes, Alabama Negroes have more in common than
they do apart.” (210). Based on the information from the presentations, how has
the idea of mobilization (both physically and socially) impacted different cultural
elements (food, clothing, music, etc.) that exist among various ethnic groups
found in the mentioned regions?
You will need to do some online researching in order to complete this project. Be
sure to exchange email addresses and the necessary contact information with your
group members because you should be discussing potential ideas over break. The
class weblog is another way of communicating among group members. Your plans
and progress for the project over break should also be posted on the weblog. The
deadline for this project will be a few days after we come back from break.
Rubric for Creative Project
PART I:
Used 8 visual items (pictures, drawings, etc.)
Illustrations represent human traits/phys. descrip. of region
Brief summary explaining illustrations
Effective use of medium
TWC quote illustrating pers traits/phys desc. Of region
PART II:
Activities relate to region and time period
Effective use of medium
Each choice appropriately demonstrates the category
(political changes, cultural aspects, geography)
Required # of sources used
PART III:
Correct length/format
Provided a detailed response for Part A
 Specific references to text
 Demonstrated original thought
 Used support learned from presentations
Provided a detailed response for Part B
 Specific references to text
 Demonstrated original thought
 Used support learned from presentations
(4 pts.)
(4 pts.)
(4 pts.)
(4 pts.)
(4pts.)
Total: 20 points
(5 pts.)
(5pts.)
(15 pts.)
(5 pts.)
Total: 30 points
(5pts.)
(15 pts.)
(20 pts.)
Total: 40 points
DELIVERY:
Volume/Clarity of voice
Eye Contact
Involved all group members
WEBLOG PARTICIPATION:
Post daily accomplishments (1 per group)
(2 pts.)
(2 pts.)
(2 pts.)
Total: 6 points
Total: 4 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 100