Introduction
In order to understand Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, we need to know about the time period in which this story took place. What was life like for migrant workers? Why is it so odd for two men to consistantly travel together? Why don't we know Curley's wife's name? Questions like these and many more not only arise in the text, but also in the time period. To better understand the author and the message that is being conveyed, one must research the topics and concerns of that time.
Task
You will be broken into research groups and tasked with reading through a select list of links to find information you feel the whole group should know before reading the novel. Each group has a sepcific topic to cover and will present their findings to the class at the end of the week.
Process
1. Break into your groups and decide who will read which link.
2. Read through your specific article or webpage and write down notes about parts that you find are important.
3. Once everyone is finished gathering information individually, talk in your group about important things to note and create a list of information to share with the whole class.
4. Each student will prepare to talk about one item from the list in front of the class and be ready to answer questions.
WHEN IT IS TIME TO PRESENT INFORMATION TO WHOLE GROUP:
Groups will present one at a time and individuals with be responsible for writing down imporant information in their Of Mice and Men Background Information packets.
Evaluation
You will be graded on your participation both in small group research time and during presentation to the whole class. This will count as a small part of your grade.
Conclusion
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