To Kill A Mockingbird WebQuest

Introduction

The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is critical to understanding the story. In this WebQuest you will delve into the lives and times of Scout, Jem, Boo, and Tom by creating a newspaper that portrays Alabama in the 1930s. To accurately depict this time period, you will want to explore the entertainment, politics, events, environment, and people.

 

   

Task

Your group will write and design an issue of The Maycomb Tribune, the local newspaper of the fictional town in To Kill a Mockingbird. Be sure to carefully read and follow these directions:

*You may include news and entertainment stories, comics and pictures, opinion columns, etc., but you MUST report on Jim Crow laws, the Tom Robinson case, and the Scottsboro trials.

*Each member of the group must contribute an equal amount of work to the newspaper (3-5 pieces or at least one page of work), but may do so in various ways – writing news stories, drawing comics, writing editorials, etc. Along with submitting this work, each group member will have an assigned role: 

For Groups of Three:

Editor-in-Chief – The Editor-in-Chief’s job is to compile a list of and set deadlines for stories, articles, and drawings. She will decide, with the help of the group, what goes in the paper and what should be left out. She will make sure her writers are on task, and she will oversee the process of sending work through the Copy Editor to the Layout Editor. Also, she will collect a “works cited” list from each group member and compile a “works cited” page in MLA format. This person must be able to work well with her “staff”!

Layout Editor – This student will collect all of the group’s work via email and keep it in a safe, organized folder on her laptop. She will use Microsoft Publisher to design the layout of the newspaper, find photos/artwork or collect them from group members, place and arrange the group’s work, and maintain the file to be submitted. Along with being responsible enough to hold on to the file, this person must have an eye for design!

Copy Editor – The Copy Editor will proofread everyone’s work (along with her own) before it is submitted to the Layout Editor. It is her responsibility to make sure every piece of work has been proofread, is historically accurate, and is ready for press! This person must have a knack for spelling and grammar, the ability to constructively criticize her classmates, and a desire to make the final copy as perfect as it can be!

***In addition, all three group members must submit a “works cited” list in MLA format to the Editor-in-Chief. Also, everyone must double-check their own and each other’s facts. Historical information must be accurate, so be sure to research and re-research!***

 

For Groups of Four:

Editor-in-Chief – The Editor-in-Chief’s job is to compile a list of and set deadlines for stories, articles, and drawings. She will decide, with the help of the group, what goes in the paper and what should be left out. She will make sure her writers are on task, and she will oversee the process of sending work through the Copy Editor and Research Editor to the Layout Editor. This person must be able to work well with her “staff”!

Layout Editor – This student will collect all of the group’s work via email and keep it in a safe, organized folder on her laptop. She will use Microsoft Publisher to design the layout of the newspaper, find photos/artwork or collect them from group members, place and arrange the group’s work, and maintain the file to be submitted. Along with being responsible enough to hold on to the file, this person must have an eye for design!

Copy Editor – The Copy Editor will proofread everyone’s work (along with her own) before it is submitted to the Layout Editor. It is her responsibility to make sure every piece of work has been proofread and is ready for press! This person must have a knack for spelling and grammar, the ability to constructively criticize her classmates, and a desire to make the final copy as perfect as it can be!

Research Editor – This student will read every piece of work and double-check for historical accuracy. It is important that she researches, re-researches, and tells the writers to check their facts. If she discovers that a student’s work has historical inaccuracies, she should send it back to be fixed. In addition, the Research Editor will collect “works cited” lists from each group member and compile a final “works cited” page to turn in with the newspaper. For the newspaper to be accurate, the Research Editor must have a good sense of what Alabama in the 1930s was like!

Process

  1. Form groups of three or four.
  2. Read the Introduction and Task sections of the WebQuest.
  3. Assign roles to every student and review responsibilities.
  4. Explore the sites listed below, begin your research, and take notes.
  5. Brainstorm stories, articles, and ideas for your newspaper.
  6. Decide amongst your group who will write or draw each piece; the Editor-in-Chief leads this discussion. Each student must submit 3-5 pieces of work or at least one page.
  7. Write your articles and work on your contributions to the newspaper.
  8. Submit work to Research Editor, Copy Editor, Layout Editor, and Editor-in-Chief.
  9. Make necessary changes as recommended by group members.
  10. Submit final work to Layout Editor.
  11. Submit newspaper and “works cited” page to Teacher. Remember to useMLA format for your citations.

Research Sites:

Historical Background of To Kill a Mockingbird

http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/SG/SG5.html#author

 

Jim Crow Laws

http://www.nps.gov/archive/malu/documents/jim_crow_laws.htm

 

Scottsboro Trials

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/scottsboro.html

 

Personal Interviews

http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/mculley.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/girl.html

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/wpaintro/exinterv.html

 

Monroeville , Alabama (the real Maycomb)

http://www.monroecountyal.com/

http://www.tokillamockingbird.com/

 

The Real Local Newspaper

http://www.monroejournal.com/Home.html

 

Entertainment

http://www.movieactors.com/30s.htm

http://www.moderntimes.com/palace/30.html

 

Photographs

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/085_disc.html (photographs revealing discrimination)

http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&q (Google image search)

 

Evaluation

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Layout and Neatness Newspaper layout is neat, organized, easy to read, and creative. Appropriate graphics are included. Newspaper layout is neat, organized, and easy to read. Some graphics are included. Newspaper layout is somewhat disorganized and difficult to read. Few graphics are included. Newspaper layout is disorganized and difficult to read. Little or no graphics are included.
Grammar and Spelling Little or no grammar and spelling mistakes. Few grammar and spelling mistakes. Many grammar and spelling mistakes. Abundance of grammar and spelling mistakes; obvious lack of proofreading.
Quality of Articles and Newspaper Content Article topics are interesting, informative, and well-researched. Time period is accurately depicted. Article topics are moderately interesting and informative. Time period is depicted. Article topics are somewhat interesting and informative. Time period is barely depicted or has historical inaccuracies. Article topics reveal lack of research or knowledge of historical time period.
Diversity of Newspaper Newspaper is an excellent compilation of articles, stories, editorials, graphics, etc. The work submitted group members is diverse and varied. Newspaper is a good compilation of articles, stories, editorials, graphics, etc. The work submitted by group members is somewhat diverse and varied. Newspaper is a fair compilation of articles, stories, editorials, graphics, etc. Articles and stories are similar to one another. Newspaper is a poor compilation of articles, stories, editorials, graphics, etc. Articles and stories are too similar to one another.
Research and Works Cited Newspaper reveals thorough research, and many aspects of the time period are accurately depicted. Works Cited page is turned in and completed in proper format. Newspaper reveals adequate research, and some aspects of the time period are well-depicted. Works Cited page is turned in and in proper format. Newspaper reveals lack of adequate research, and the time period is only somewhat depicted. Works Cited page is incorrectly formatted or not turned in. Newspaper reveals lack of research or comprehension of the historical elements. Time period is not depicted. Works Cited page is incorrectly formatted or not turned in.

Conclusion

You will achieve so much by completing this WebQuest!

Firstly, you visit excellent web sites and learn all about the lives and times of real people who Scout, Jem, Boo, and Tom were based on! Remember, To Kill a Mockingbird is fiction based on the real history of the South in the 1930s.

Secondly, you create your very own newspaper using what you know from To Kill a Mockingbird, what you learn through your research, your creativity, your beautiful writing, your friends and group members, and Microsoft Publisher.

Congratulations on embarking on and completing this WebQuest! 

Credits

Teacher Page

This WebQuest allows students to explore the historical elements behind To Kill a Mockingbirdin an interactive and collaborative manner. They search the internet to discover the people, places, events, and lifestyles of the South in the 1930s, and they work together to design their very own Maycomb Tribune newspaper.

Learners: This project is intended for a Tenth-grade English class.