Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Tuesday, May 26

RESEARCH  PAPER on topic relating to one of the novels studied this semester
FINAL PROJECT--PowerPoint showing the connection between your research area and the novel.

Your final paper is a 750-1000 word mini-research paper on a topic related to one of the novels that we have studied this semester. Topics range from WWI to baseball to the Women's Movement. 5 sources minimum, one of which is a Google Scholar article.
40 points, due June 3rd. You will have three class periods to do your research and to work on these papers and the project (which is described after the research paper)
Note: Your research paper does not have to mention the novel, but the PowerPoint must show the connection between the topic and the novel.

RESEARCH PAPER. Your research is to focus on a very specific area or issue that is dealt with in one or more of the novels studied this semester. HOWEVER, your research does not have to focus on the book, per se.   Most of the novels that we studied this semester were either written during the Modern area (1914-1946) or shortly thereafter in an intellectual climate influenced by the change in perspecitive that came about during the Modern era. The Bean Trees is our lone exception, but in ways that book, too, responds to some of the issues explored during the 20's, such as the Women's Movement, racism, immigration, and the disillusionment of harsh war. 
Some areas to considerfor your paper include:
  • WWI--how it was different from other wars, why so devastating
  • Nietzsche and nihilism
  • Freud, psychology, therapy
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • The Lost Generation, including Gertrude Stein and expatriates 
  • Alienation
  • Cubism
  • Existentialism
  • White supremacy, racism
  • Organized crime
  • Prohibition
  • Nouveau riche
  • Capitalism; free market system
  • The Women's Movement, suffrage
  • Feminism
  • Divorce rights
  • Single mothers
  • WWII 
  • Communism, socialism
  • Minimum wage; New Deal
  • The Oklahoma Dustbowl; drought
  • Latin American revolutions of the 50's-70's
  • Che Guevara
  • Immigrants/emigrants
  • Immigration policy
  • Others abound. Check with Mr. Isom
More specific requirements for the paper to follow.

FINAL PROJECT 
Ignite PowerPoint presentation (30 points) of 4 minutes, 16 slides, 15 seconds per slide. 
6 minutes, 24 slides if done with a partner, which I recommend. An Ignite presentation is simply a PowerPoint, not some special slideshow software.
The PowerPoint will cover the same research topic but will discuss that topic as it relates to the novel. The idea here is that your research will help the class better understand an aspect of the novel. During your slide show you will need to make at least two references to the novel (more is better, if you have the time) as you show the connection of your research to the book.

The presentation doesn't have to cover exactly the same material as the research paper and definitely should not use the same wording. These PowerPoint presentations are meant to be dynamic, perhaps even funny, and research papers are more informative.

Bean Trees Ignite presentations must be delivered on June 4 and June 5.
*Students who work with partners will submit their own papers, which MUST show individual work.
Due final exam period, at which point you will present. 
Our Bean Trees final test will be June 3. No vocab final. These presentations are much more important.

HOMEWORK tonight. Watch YouTube video showing how to do an Ignite presentation and read the recommendations for Ignite presentations found at the following links:


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