Introduction
The historical background of a novel and essential information about the author help the reader understand the context of the novel. The main purpose of this webquest is to help students understand more about the author and setting of this book before reading in order to understand complex themes, characters, and symbols. The information in this webquest provides students with essential information about the social climate in the South during the 1930's, historical events that shaped the South in the 1930's, and Harper Lee's background and motivation for writing To Kill A Mockingbird.
Task
YOUR TASK
The goal of this webquest is for you to become an expert on a certain topic that relates toTo Kill A Mockingbird.
With the people in your group decide which area each person will research.
You are to research the answers to the questions on your topic independtly. After locating the answers and becoming an expert you will share your information with the people in your orginal group as well as discover information. Please use the PROCESS tab for the questions you will need to answer and the links to use to answer these questions.
Group 1: About the Author
Group 2: The Scottsboro Boys
Group 3: Jim Crow Laws
Group 4: Growing up White/Black in the South
Group 5: The Great Depression
While each member is sharing his/her information summarize the key points for your own notes.
Process
Group 1: About the Author
Your job is to become an expert about Harper Lee. Click on the links below to read her biography. You will need to read both links to answer the questions.http://www.biography.com/people/harper-lee-9377021#synopsis http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/harperle.htmQuestions:1. When and where was Harper Lee born? What was her family like?2. What did she study in college? Did she participate in any extra-curricular activities? Why might this be important to consider while reading To Kill A Mockingbird?3. How did her decision to move to New York make To Kill A Mockingbird a reality?4. What year was To Kill A Mockingbird published? When was it adapted to screen?5. Was Harper Lee honored in any way following the publication of To Kill A Mockingbird?6. Harper Lee's real life influenced many of the characters and events in To Kill A Mockingbird. Given what have you learned about her life (including personality traits, friends, family, experiences) make a prediction about what kinds of issues might surface in the book. 7. Do you think that your knowledge about Harper Lee will influence your reading of the book? Should it influence your reading of the book? Why or why not?Group 2: The Scottsboro Boys
Your job is to become an expert on the Scottsboro Boys. Click on the link below to start learning about them. When you are finished, answer the questions below. Be sure to read carefully because you will be teaching your classmates everything you know about The Scottsboro Boys and their trials.http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_acct.htmlQuestions:1. Who were the Scottsboro Boys? How did they get into so much trouble? 2. Where and when did the Scottsboro Boys' original trial take place? How do you think this affected the outcome of their trial?3. What does the NAACP acronym stand for? Why did the NAACP decide not to help the Scottsboro Boys?4. The Communist Party came to the aid of the Scottsboro Boys. How did the South perceive the Communist Party, and how was it similar to the perception of blacks? What was the Communist Party's hidden agenda in providing aid to the Scottsboro Boys?5. The Scottsboro Boys were not provided with adequate defense lawyers. Please list at least 3 ways in which the defense lawyers were inadequate.6. Describe the trials. Were they fair or unfair? Please include at least 3 supporting facts to back up your description.7. Were the Scottsboro Boys ever pardoned of their convictions?8. The Scottosboro Boys' trial took place during the childhood of To Kill A Mockingbird's author, Harper Lee.. Make a prediction about how this trial might be an important springboard for the book.Group 3: Jim Crow Lawshttp://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/1-segregated/white-only-1.html
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm Your job is to use the links to become an expert about these laws. Questions: 1.What are Jim Crow Laws? What was the purpose of these laws?2. What 2 steps were taken to prevent African Americans from voting? CLICK JIM CROW LAWS LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. 3. Provide 2 Jim Crow Laws related to games and schools.
4. What happened to allow the inaction of Jim Crow Laws? 5. Explain The Plessy vs. Fergrson case. Why was the case so important?6. What are lynchings? Why and how were they used? What are lynch mobs?7. What is signifcant about 1919?8. Make a prediction about how this information may be used in the novel.Group 4: Growing Up Black and White in the 1930'sYour job is to become an expert about the differences between these two cultures in the 1930s.http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/mockingbird/interviewblack.htmhttp://www.forumbiodiversity.com/showthread.php/18433-Growing-up-white-in-the-south-in-the-1930s
Questions to only THINK about while reading: 1. What does Mrs. Barge know about her ancestry? How does she talk about her family?2. What were her and her family's living conditions like?3. When was the first time she noticed a difference between the lives of black people and the lives of white people? From Mrs. Barge's account, what do you think is the most astounding difference?4. What was school like for Mrs. Barge?5. What kind of jobs were available to black people in the South?6. Were black people allowed to vote?7. Mrs. Barge clearly has a different opinion of white people than her father does. What does she say that proves this? How does her perception of white people differ from her father's? Why do you think that is?8. What do these three ladies have in common about their ancestry? How do they talk about their families?9. What were the three ladies living conditions like? 10. What were these ladies' first experiences with black people? 11. Did these white ladies ever play with their black peers?Questions to ANSWER after reading:1. Please compare the three ladies' backgrounds from "Growing up White in the 1930s." How do their backgrounds differ from Mrs. Barge's background from "Growing up Black in the 1930s"? 2. The ladies in "Growing up White in the 1930s" talk about what made a "good family" in the South. What do they say makes a "good family"? How do you think Mrs. Barge would describe a "good family"? Compare and contrast the three ladies' families to Mrs. Barges family, explain the similarities and differences. Based on your explanation, would Mrs. Barge's family be considered a "good family"? Why or why not?3. List the occupations available to black women in the South in the 1930s according to Mrs. Barge's interview. How did these occupations influence Mrs. Barge's perception of white people? How did these occupations influence the perception of black people according to the three ladies' accounts from "Growing up White in the 1930s"? 4. Mrs. Barge ends her interview on a positive note by saying "you shouldn't put people into categories." Make a prediction based on these interviews about how Calpurnia might feel about the Finches. Why?Group 5: The Great Depression Use the links below to become an expert about the Great Depression.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_DepressionUse this website for the first 4 questions.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Memories+of+the+dust+bowl:+for+people+of+the+Southern+Plains,+the+...-a0144296833Use this website for the last questions.Questions:1. What is "Black Tuesday" and why does it mark the beginning of the Great Depression?2. Many people believe that WWII marked the end of the Great Depression. How did the war affect the economy?3. What president was inaugurated in 1933? What were some of the changes made by this administration?4. What was the New Deal? How did the New Deal affect American citizens? 5. What was the Dust Bowl? 6. How did the Dust Bowl affect the Southern Plains?7. What affect did the Dust Bowl have on agriculture? How would this affect farmers and their employers? 8. Given what you learned about the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, make a prediction about what you think the setting of To Kill A Mockingbird will look like. What will the houses look like? What will the characters be wearing? How will the characters act towards each other? How will Scout's classmates act toward Scout knowing that her father is a lawyer?