Of Mice and Men assessment choices

OF MICE AND MEN 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT CHOICES

Directions:  Please choose one of the following below.  

Due date:  November 22^nd.  Late work will be marked down one letter grade.

Theme Essay: Develop a thesis around one of the themes we discussed in class and write a five-paragraph paper.  Rubric: Thesis rubric.

Character Essay: Choose a character. Develop a five paragraph essay that analyzes one of the major characters in the novella. Rubric: Thesis rubric.

Compare/Contrast Essay:  Compare and contrast the American dream of today with Lennie and George’s American Dream in a five- paragraph essay.  Discuss how they are similar and how they are different. Rubric: Thesis rubric.

Newspaper Assessment:  Create a local newspaper designed to be read by people living in the 1920’s or 1930’s in the vicinity of Soledad/the ranch/surrounding towns.  Include in your newspaper the following:

a). Two work wanted ads: one for George, one for Lennie

b). Two letters-to-the-editor (written by two characters)

c). One obituary

d). One front page news article (detailing a key event at the ranch)

e). One editorial column (expressing and supporting an opinion about a key societal issue)

1. Adding small extra items (sports results, photos etc) will add to the overall effect of your presentation.   This project must be typed.  Product rubric. 

Sound Track:  Collect six different songs that relate to the themes and characters in the novella. For each song, write a paragraph explaining how the specific lyrics relate to themes or characters.   Be detailed and explicit in your response.  Be sure to use specific evidence from  Of Mice and Men to back up your choice in lyrics. Provide me with copies to the lyrics you chose. Creative writing rubric.

Honors Challenge: Poetry Collection:  Collect three different poems that relate to a theme in the novella.  Two poems must be from known American poets.  One poem can be more modern.  For each of the collected poems, write a paragraph describing how the lines of the poem relate to a theme in the novel or to a particular character.  Be sure to cite specific examples and quotes from the novella. Then create a poem of your own.  In a paragraph explain how it relates to the novella.  Creative writing rubric.

Honors Challenge: Digital Story of the American Dream: Use i-movie to create a digital story.   Compare and contrast the American dream of today versus the Lennie and George’s American Dream in the style of a digital story.  In the digital story, discuss George and Lennie’s American dream given the time period and their position in society.  Then discuss your own vision of your American Dream.   You will be required to read information about digital stories and to view a few as examples.  Product rubric. Product rubric.

References:

1. Explanation of digital story and steps to creating one: http://www.digitales.us/resources/seven_steps.php#

1. http://www.digitales.us/story_details.php?story_id=84
2. http://www.digitales.us/story_details.php?story_id=121
3. http://www.digitales.us/gallery/gallery_docudrama.php

Honors Challenge: Re-write the ending. Be sure to write in the same style and tone as Steinbeck.  Keep in mind the characters as Steinbeck has created them.  In other words, don’t have characters do something that is out of character.  Creative writing rubric.