Mr. Litvin, Grapes of Wrath Project
March, 2014
Answer one of the following research questions:
1. What natural and man-made phenomena contributed to the Dust Bowl, and how did each phenomenon contribute?
a. Provide thorough scientific explanations that a 6th grader would understand
b. Supply statistics, charts, graphs
c. Conclude with how methods have changed/not changed to avoid…
2. Define and describe hobo culture in the 30s. (i.e., all the whos, whats whens, wheres, and whys pertaining to hobo life)
a. Remember to define all terminology/vocabulary
b. Provide cause or lifestyle/condition/plight
c. Describe all aspects of survival (e.g., shelter, food, transport, etc…)
d. Discuss laws passed in the 30s related to hobos, and their effects
e. Analyze the portrayal of hobos in the media
3. Describe the conditions in the migrant camps in California during the 30s.
a. Give reasons for migration
b. Mention geography and demographics of migrants
c. Describe conditions on the route(s)
d. List the major destinations and reasons for them
e. Migrants’ life in CA: as many aspects of living and working as you can find
f. How did it end? (what happened to them, eventually)
4. Discuss the great mujsicians/poets of theDepression
a. Bio-sketches, stressing the decade
b. Examples of significant work, with analysis of each piece’s relevance
c. Discuss their influence into the present time, providing examples of present artists and their work
and analyzing the influences
Sources
A. Four kinds
1. Reference (best for basic info, leads toward further research; www counts)
2. Periodical (best for IC2; see Arts & Letters website; also CCC Library database)
3. www (best for primary sources, also for periodicals)
4. Non-fiction books (best for in-depth historical and/or cultural perspective)
B. Minimum
Five cards per source
40 cards total
C. Bibliography (typed)
D. Outline (typed)
1. What natural and man-made phenomena contributed to the Dust Bowl, and how did each phenomenon contribute?
a. Provide thorough scientific explanations that a 6th grader would understand
b. Supply statistics, charts, graphs
c. Conclude with how methods have changed/not changed to avoid…
2. Define and describe hobo culture in the 30s. (i.e., all the whos, whats whens, wheres, and whys pertaining to hobo life)
a. Remember to define all terminology/vocabulary
b. Provide cause or lifestyle/condition/plight
c. Describe all aspects of survival (e.g., shelter, food, transport, etc…)
d. Discuss laws passed in the 30s related to hobos, and their effects
e. Analyze the portrayal of hobos in the media
3. Describe the conditions in the migrant camps in California during the 30s.
a. Give reasons for migration
b. Mention geography and demographics of migrants
c. Describe conditions on the route(s)
d. List the major destinations and reasons for them
e. Migrants’ life in CA: as many aspects of living and working as you can find
f. How did it end? (what happened to them, eventually)
4. Discuss the great mujsicians/poets of theDepression
a. Bio-sketches, stressing the decade
b. Examples of significant work, with analysis of each piece’s relevance
c. Discuss their influence into the present time, providing examples of present artists and their work
and analyzing the influences
Sources
A. Four kinds
1. Reference (best for basic info, leads toward further research; www counts)
2. Periodical (best for IC2; see Arts & Letters website; also CCC Library database)
3. www (best for primary sources, also for periodicals)
4. Non-fiction books (best for in-depth historical and/or cultural perspective)
B. Minimum
Five cards per source
40 cards total
C. Bibliography (typed)
D. Outline (typed)