Download Biographers

Of Mice and Men Webquest
Group: BIOGRAPHERS
Group Member Names: ____________________________________________________________
Purpose: There are four main purposes of this webquest.
1) Learn background information that will help you understand the novel we will be
reading.
2) Practice internet research skills and properly cite valid and reliable sources.
3) Learn to create posters using the on-line program called glogster.
4) Present information to the class.
Directions: In this Web Quest, you will be working together as a group. Each group will
research a different area. As a member of the group, you will explore web pages and
databases, find relevant multi-media information, help create a glog, and help present your
glog to the class. Make sure that you carefully review the SCORING GUIDE for this project.
1. Your Web Quest team will explore the life and history of the author John Steinbeck. See
your Scoring Guide for the questions you will need to answer.
2. Assign the following roles:
Web Master: This person is responsible for locating relevant resources and recording
the URLs.
Fact Finder: This person is responsible for reading and reviewing resources to find
important information that answers the provided questions.
Note Taker: This person is responsible for writing down or typing relevant information
that can be used in your glogster poster.
Documenter: This person is responsible for keeping a record of where each piece of
information comes from that will be used in your poster.
****All members of the group are responsible for the final product and the presentation.****
3. Use the following websites and databases to conduct your research. Take notes, print out,
or create a file with the information you will use to create your glog.
http://www.americanwriters.org/writers/steinbeck.asp
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Sc-St/Steinbeck-John.html
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1962/steinbeck-bio.html#
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/John_Steinbeck
http://www.steinbeckinstitute.org/index.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/people.html search for John Steinbeck
http://www.biography.com search for John Steinbeck
4. Go to http://edu.glogster.com/ and log in using the provided information.
Create a poster using glogster that meets all the requirements of the rubric.
5. Present your glog to the class in a 3-5 minute presentation.
Name: ____________________________________
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A GRADE, YOUR GLOG MUST ADDRESS THE
QUESTIONS BELOW. IF YOU DO NOT, YOUR GLOG WILL NOT BE GRADED.
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO REDO YOUR GLOG TO ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS.
1. What was John Steinbeck’s childhood like? (where, with whom, how did he live?)
2. What was John Steinbeck’s adult life like? (major events, hobbies, jobs, places etc.)
3. What influenced Steinbeck to write Of Mice and Men?
4. What philosophy of life is revealed in Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech?
SCORING GUIDE
GROUP GRADE:
Question 1 is answered carefully using details from a variety of sources:
Question 2 is answered carefully using details from a variety of sources:
Question 3 is answered carefully using details from a variety of sources:
Question 4 is answered carefully using details from a variety of sources:
The glog contains the following elements:
An appropriate title
Colorful, neat appearance that is easy to read
At least two pictures related to the topic
At least one embedded video clip related to the topic
At least one text box answering each guiding question
Correct grammar, spelling, and complete sentences
A text box containing the URLs and citations for documents
used to create the glog
The presentation is well-organized, informative, on time, and all members
of the group participate.
______/5 points
______/5 points
______/5 points
______/5 points
______/2 points
______/3 points
______/4 points
______/2 points
______/8 points
______/2 points
______/4 points
______/10 points
Individual Grade:
I used my time well.
I got along well with my group.
I completed my role.
I helped other members of my group.
I participated in our group presentation.
______/4 points
______/4 points
______/4 points
______/4 points
______/4 points
TOTAL _______/75 points