Of Mice and Men Multigenre Project  

For your final project for Of Mice and Men, you will be creating a multigenre project. The goal is to look at John Steinbeck’s novel in new ways and from different perspectives in order to better understand the plot, characters, and themes. Print copies of ALL THREE COMPONENTS BEFORE the exam so you can turn them in! There will be a penalty for printing in Mrs. Erlinger’s classroom.

1. A 2- to 3-minute presentation over the following THREE components of your project. Essentially, you are answering two questions: What did you do? Why did you do it? Presentations will take place during exam time. This is worth 20 points.

2. A 1- to 2-page required writing. Select one of the following: 1) an alternate ending to Of Mice and

Men, OR 2) a book review over Of Mice and Men. This is worth 40 points.

3. Select 2 of the following choices to finish your multigenre project. Each is worth 20 points. ● Character theme song ● Poem connection ● Collage ● Bumper sticker ● Found poem ● Story bag ● New book cover ● Social media page ● Graphic novel panels of your favorite scene ● Character diary or blog ● An obituary for a character who has died ● Fictional dialogue/interview between you and any of the characters ● Artwork ● Poems ● If you have another idea that you think might fit the bill, just check!

4. Additional details: ○ This list of projects involves skills related to reading, writing, critical thinking, media, visual

and performance art, and public speaking. Therefore, you have the opportunity to select tasks that relate to some of your strengths, but you are also encouraged to select a task that challenges you in an area you are typically not prone to choose.

○ Each of the projects requires you to return to the text for quotations or textual evidence, so please be sure to do so. Cite multiple, specific quotes with page numbers, specific chapters, scenes, etc.

○ Please be as creative and thoughtful as possible!

Name _______________________________________________________________________________ Period _______________

Of Mice and Men Multigenre Project Rubric

Write your name on the line above, and give this to Mrs. Erlinger before your presentation!

____________ / 40 points for component 1: required book review OR alternate ending (circle choice)

● Writing is worthwhile and specific ● Writing is thoughtful and purposeful ● Writing uses clear, unambiguous sentences ● Writing is organized in a logical, concise manner ● Writing was carefully edited and proofread, leaving few or no mechanical errors ● Writing is formatted according to MLA guidelines ● Writing is 1- to 2-pages in length ● Writing includes features necessary for the genre

○ Alternate ending: characterization consistent with book, plot continued (with new conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution), style same as Steinbeck, explanation that includes textual evidence

○ Book review: concise summary (include TAG), critical assessment (a.k.a. analysis), suggestion, rating and three references to book included

____________ / 20 points for component 2, choice: _____________________________________________________________

(write your choice on the line)

● Component is worthwhile, specific, thoughtful, and purposeful ● Component is well-organized ● Component exhibits quality and creativity ● Component includes textual evidence ● Component includes explanation that is complete and thorough

____________ / 20 points for component 3, choice: _____________________________________________________________

(write your choice on the line)

● Component is worthwhile, specific, thoughtful, and purposeful ● Component is well-organized ● Component exhibits quality and creativity ● Component includes textual evidence ● Component includes explanation that is complete and thorough

____________ / 20 points for presentation

● Student thoroughly explains each component of the completed project ● Student provides insightful reasons for completing each component of the project and thoroughly

explains why the project was completed as it was ● Student employs vocal quality when speaking (articulation, pronunciation, rate, pauses, volume) ● Student delivers speech professionally (eye contact, nonverbals/gestures, posture, preparedness,

polish) ● Student delivers a speech that is 2- to 3-minutes in length - DO NOT EXCEED THE TIME, PLEASE! ● Student is attentive throughout others’ presentations (this includes having phone out or head on

desk)

____________ / 100 POINTS TOTAL

Of Mice and Men Multigenre Project Descriptions  

Required Writing - pick one (40 points)

Alternate ending ● Write an alternate ending chapter to Of Mice and Men. The format and structure for this should remain similar to John

Steinbeck’s. Also, include a brief explanation for the turn of events and why you chose to alter the way things turned out, including textual evidence supporting your decision.

Book review

● Similar to book reviews in newspapers or magazines or on the internet or TV, write a review for Of Mice and Men. Be sure to include a rating (ex. 1 to 4 stars). Your review must also reference at least three different parts of the book, providing quotes or examples for your rationale on the review. You may want to read some reviews to get an idea of the format. For further instruction on writing book reviews, visit the following link: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/book-reviews/

Choices - pick two (20 points each)

Character theme song ● Pick a theme song for one character from Of Mice and Men. Include a copy of the lyrics and a brief explanation citing at

least three pieces of textual evidence that connect the song and the book. Poem connection

● Find a poem that somehow relates to Of Mice and Men (not Robert Burns’s “To a Mouse”!!!). Include a copy of the poem and write a brief explanation citing at least three pieces of textual evidence that connect the poem and the book.

Collage (pictures or words)

● Create a collage containing at least 15 words or pictures about a character in Of Mice and Men or the book in general. You may create this by using a website, cutting out words/pictures, or making your own art. Include a brief explanation for at least three of the key words or pictures, using textual evidence to explain why you chose to include them.

Bumper sticker

● Create a motto based on Of Mice and Men that you could use as a bumper sticker. Illustrate your bumper sticker with images, clip art, or your own art. Include a brief explanation for your motto and design choices by using three specific pieces of textual evidence.

Found poem

● Choose a number of meaningful, significant words from Of Mice and Men and reframe them to create an original poem of at least 10 lines. This poem can focus on a certain theme, scene, or event in the story, or perhaps the author’s writing style. You may add or delete words as you go, just be sure to underline the words in the poem that you pulled from the book. Include an explanation for three of the underlined words or phrases and explain their significance in the book, using textual evidence.

Story bag

● Put together a bag that contains a variety of at least five items that would be useful or significant to a character in Of Mice and Men or that relate to a theme from the book. Using textual evidence, included a description of each item and its relevance to the book by making connections between the item and the text. Be creative with these items, as well as the type of bag you decide to use.

New book cover

● Design a new book cover for Of Mice and Men. Using textual support, include an explanation for the illustration and cite three connections between the text and your illustration.

Social media page—if one of the characters had a social media page, what would it look like? (Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

● Create a social media account for a character from Of Mice and Men. This can be done digitally or illustrated in detail by hand (perhaps posterboard or in a packet format with a new page for each tab). The account must contain the same pieces and parts of a normal social media page in the format you select. At least three pieces of textual evidence defining this character should be incorporated somewhere on the profile, and an explanation for why you decided to create the social media page as you did should also be provided.

Graphic novel panels of your favorite scene

● Use your imagination to create a multiple (at least three) panel illustration in the format of a graphic novel for a key part from Of Mice and Men. Use actual quotations from the book, as well. Include an explanation for the importance of the scenes selected and why they are a significant part of the book.

Character diary or blog

● Write a diary or blog containing at least three different entries from the perspective of a character in Of Mice and Men. Cite specific textual evidence that refers to moments and events throughout the book. The diary/blog should sound authentic to the character (same tone of voice, speech style, etc.). Also, include an explanation for the choices you made in the diary or blog.

Obituary

● Write an obituary for an Of Mice and Men character who has died. The obituary should be modeled after those that appear in newspapers or magazines or on the internet. The obituary should include at least two quotations from the book, and you should also provide an explanation for structuring the obituary as you did.

Dialogue/interview

● Create a fictional dialogue/interview between you and any of the characters in Of Mice and Men. The dialogue/interview should include three pieces of textual evidence, and you should include a brief explanation for the decisions you made in your writing.

Artwork

● Create a piece of art that represents a character, a scene, or an idea from Of Mice and Men. Include an explanation of how your artwork represents the story, and include three quotations in the explanation.

Poems

● Write three poems that represent characters, scenes, or ideas from Of Mice and Men. Incorporate three quotation from the book into your poems (one per poem) and briefly explain why you crafted the poem as you did.

If you have another idea that you think might fit the bill, just check!