Research Project
•In
the teleplay, "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" by Rod Serling, a
small community becomes alarmed by unexplained (alien) occurrences happening
all around them. In turn, certain members of the community are scapegoated, or
blamed, for the creepy events taking place. As a result, these innocent
individuals suffered many negative events, including death.
•This
idea of scapegoating has
occurred all throughout history. And, in many cases, these occurrences have
lead to severe negative effects. Take a journey into the past and become an
expert on scapegoating and
how it has influenced the world we live in today.
Task
1. You will start on this investigation alone
2. You will conduct research using websites provided here and found on
your own to learn about scapegoating
throughout history.
3.
Put on your thinking cap and get ready to take a trip back into history!
•
You will examine one of 5 major groups that have been identified as scapegoats
throughout history.
•
Each student will conduct research on a the chosen topics.
–It will be your responsibility to
identify an instance of scapegoating and gather factual information.
–Hold on to this information because later
you will be asked to compare and contrast the information gathered with the
events that took place in "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street."
•
Next, each student will meet with other students who have chosen the same topic
and present/share all information with each other.
–At
this point, your team will have selected one of the "scapegoat"
groups to further research as a team in identifying who was responsible for
their becoming scapegoats, explain why it happened and discuss how the events
have influenced our world today.
–Last,
but not least, you will indepently
write a 3 to 5 paragraph essay about the your research topic.
Process
1. Decide which topic to research.
2. There are five topics to choose
from. Therefore, you will have to look at each and decide
what you are most interested in.
The topics are as follows:
The Salem Witch Trials
Japanese Internment During WW2
African Americans
Jews as Scapegoats During WW2
Native Americans
3. Identify and explain the term
"scapegoat."
Go to:
Research
1.Scroll down to your research area
and explore the links to your topic.
2.
You may do additional research if you feel necessary. Using search engines like
Google
•The Salem Witch Trials
•Explore the following websites on the
Salem Witch Trials:
•
•Japanese Internment During WW2
•Explore the following websites on
Japanese internment during World
•War 2:
•African Americans
•Explore the following sites on African
American Civil Rights:
•Click
here to
answer the question, "What is African American Civil Rights?“
Click
here to
explore "Race: The Power of Illusions"
•Click
here to
view the "African American World Timeline"
•Click
here to learn more about the "American
Civil Rights Movement" and even read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s
"I Have a Dream Speech"
•Jews as Scapegoats during WW2
•
•Native Americans
•Explore the following sites on the
"Trail of Tears":
•Click
here to
read a poem about the Trail of Tears
