Of Mice and Men Research Project

Research Process	Directions to Students
Scenario Historical Background Questions	In Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, Lennie’s persistent problem throughout the story is that he can’t comprehend the rules that govern society. George, Lennie’s friend, therefore gets frustrated with Lennie and takes it out on him in various ways. By 1915, mental retardation had caught public attention as perhaps the most significant large-scale social problem of the time. People had frightened and often hostile attitudes toward the mentally challenged in the early 1900’s. Throughout most of this period, health care specialists, equipped with scientific data from hereditary studies, employed measures such as sterilization of the retarded and segregated them from the larger population by placing them in institutions. Laws disallowing marriage between mentally retarded people were passed by thirty-nine states. Coupled with widespread sterilization, the laws were designated to limit the population of the mentally retarded. California, in fact, was one of the pioneers in adopting a eugenic sterilization measure. The scheme, designed to keep the population genetically superior, was eventually accepted by twenty- three states and later by Nazi Germany. By 1925, 1,374 sterilization operations had been performed on the mentally retarded, 64 percent of which had taken place in California. Of those who escaped such treatment, most were institutionalized. Had this novel been written today, would the characters in the book react to Lennie in the same way? Has our scientific knowledge of mental retardation affected society’s acceptance of people with this condition?
Task and Product	You will locate current, accurate information about one mental disability (autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia, tourettes, traumatic brain injury, acquired brain injury, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, etc.) using a variety of library resources (4 for Advanced-A, 3 for Proficient-B and 2 for Basic-C): Encyclopedia (print or online) for establishing background information Newspaper or magazine article Book Internet for up-to-date information You will need to research the following: Causes of the disability, Behavioral expectations for those with this condition Treatment both past and present for this condition Current beliefs and attitudes How knowledge changes our behavior towards mentally impaired persons
Assessments	Your grade will be based on the following: Adequate research with proper citation Accurate information about one mental disability A strong thesis statement that explains in brief how knowledge changes our behavior towards mentally impaired persons Use of at least 2 different library resources as show in your works cited page Note cards Outline Rough Draft Final Draft (see project grading overview for details)
Questions to answer in your paper	Essential Question: Has our scientific knowledge of mental disabilities affected society’s acceptance of people with this condition? Questions for Body Paragraphs: What are the causes of the disability? What is the functioning level and behavioral expectation for someone with mental retardation? How has the condition treated by medical professionals in the past and present? What are society’s current beliefs and attitudes towards people with this mental disability? How does knowledge change our behavior?
Gather and Sort	Gather information from a variety of sources Sort your findings using source cards (follow format from class notes) As you use your various sources, be sure to take effective, detailed notes. Cite all facts/information taken from your sources avoid plagiarism. Write the bibliographic information about your source in MLA format.
Organize	Analyze your research notes to determine how knowledge of the mental disability you are researching affects society’s acceptance of people with this condition. Synthesize your findings by writing a paper discussing your findings. What new insights have emerged about the disability you are researching? Which facts are the most compelling and have the greatest on how society currently views this condition? Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task Have you gathered sufficient details about the mental disability you are researching? Are your details organized in the right categories or subtopics to make sense?
Conclusion	Paper (See class notes for more details) Presentation Share out your findings with the class. Reflection In your opinion, describe your immediate social group’s acceptance of people of varying natures, whether it is a physical, mental, age, or cultural difference.