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Honors English 9 - Understanding and Appreciating Differences: Introduction

Overview

Establishing a Social Context for Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, is set in the United States during the 1930’s. The historic landscape of that time period and that setting underscore Steinbeck’s novel and purpose; therefore your examination of the 1930’s U. S. will enable you to appreciate the author’s choices and the themes in his work.

Learning Targets: Today I will research the United States during the 1930's in order to learn about the time period and construct a more detailed context for the novel. I'll know I'm successful when I learn enough about the 1930's society to confidently analyze and interpret the characters, allusions, symbolism, setting, and themes of Steinbeck's novel.

Opening Activity

Write 

  • Open this website - Ken Burns - The Dust Bowl

  • Select an image and, in a focused free write, consider the following: Write a story using any of the 1930’s images as inspiration.  Be creative.  You may write in the voice of one of the people pictured or you can take on the voice of the narrator.  Consider the setting of the images as well as the mood.

Reflect

  • Open this Google Doc (click the link; you will be forced to make a copy).
  • Complete the notes with your group. 

Discuss

  • Share and discuss as a class. How do these activities connect to today's research goals? 

Overview of Research - Days One & Two