Introduction to Of Mice and Men

Welcome!

For our next unit, we will be using our skills related to elements of style and our knowledge of the Marxist and Feminist lenses in order to analyze Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men is a story about two drifters trying to make money in the fields, during the Great Depression, in order to fulfill their dreams. 

This webquest will help you to better understand the setting and themes of the novel.

You and your partner(s) will be assigned one of the ten topics listed below. Each topic relates to the novel Of Mice and Men and the time period in which it takes place.

You will begin by investigating your topic and collecting information from several different websites.

You must decide on the most important information to collect.

You are required to collect 8-10 pieces of information or key facts.

Once you have all of your collected information organized, you and your partner(s) will create a Google Slides presentation on your topic.  Your presentation should include the information you gathered as well as pictures that support or demonstrate the ideas.

You will present your findings on your assigned topic to your classmates using the presentation you create. 

Group 1:  Author Biography - John Steinbeck

• http://www.teenreads.com/authors/john-steinbeck
• http://www.biography.com/people/john-steinbeck-9493358
• http://www.notablebiographies.com/Sc-St/Steinbeck-John.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/life-of-john-steinbeck-a-biography.html

Group 2: Salinas River area of California

(setting of novel & home of Steinbeck)

• http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/John-Steinbecks-East-of-Eden-Salina…
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinas_Valley
• http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/stnbk/
• http://www.mchsmuseum.com/salinasbrief.html
• http://www.ci.salinas.ca.us/

Group 3: The Great Depression 

• http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression
• http://www.english.illinois.edu/Maps/depression/depression.htm
• http://americanhistory.about.com/od/greatdepression/tp/greatdepression…
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression_in_the_United_States
• http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/04/12_great-depression.html

Group 4:  The Dust Bowl

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl
• http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_02.html
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/dust-bowl-facts.html
• http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/dustbowl.htm
• http://www.altereddimensions.net/earth/dustbowlandblacksunday.aspx

Group 5:  Migrant Workers

• http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afctshtml/tsme.html
• http://migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn/more.php?id=788_0_6_0
• http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fachap03.html
• https://apsummer.pbworks.com/w/page/41220152/Migrant%20WorkersFarming%2…

Group 6: 1930s Time Period (everyday life, arts, and entertainment)

• http://articles.usa-people-search.com/content-american-history-of-the-1…
• http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/elmer/infoCentral/frameset/decade/1930.htm
• http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade30.html
• http://www.fashion-era.com/1930s/index.htm
• http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1930s.html

Group 7: The American Dream

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream
• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-american-dream.htm#
• http://www.ego4u.com/en/read-on/countries/usa/american-dream
• http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2008/06/13/the-american-dream-go…
• http://www.americansc.org.uk/online/American_Dream.htm

Grading Breakdown

Your presentation will be graded as follows...

Content of Presentation

• Accuracy
• Thoroughness
• Relation to Topic

Organization of Presentation

• Was the information set up in a way that was easy to follow?
• Did the order of the slides make sense?
• Did the presentation include a TITLE slide?

Appeal of Presentation

• Did the presentation include visuals that enhance the meaning?
• Was the text large enough to read?
• Were the slides too wordy?

Oral Presentation Skills

• Did all of the group member speak in the presentation?
• Did group members read directly off of slides or make eye contact with their readers?
• Did group member face their audience and project their voices?

Hopefully you can't wait to read Of Mice and Men.