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TKAM Historical Background Project

English I PAP (Spring 2016)

TKAM HistoricalBackground Project English I PAP (Spring 2016)

TKAM Historical Research Paper (HRP)

  1. Purpose:

    1. Investigate the historical, cultural, social, and/or geographical context of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird

    2. Learn scholarly research techniques and MLA formatting


  1. Topics:

    1. Lynch Mobs

    2. Plessy vs. Ferguson

    3. Jim Crow Laws

    4. Scottsboro Trials

    5. Rosa Parks

    6. Montgomery Bus Boycott

    7. Brown vs. Board of Education

    8. Civil Rights Act of 1964

    9. Voting Rights Act of 1965


  1. Requirements:

    1. Google Folder of Sources

    2. 3 – 4 Pages

    3. 3 Scholarly Sources

      1. One Database

      2. One GVRL or print source

      3. One Google Smart Search

    4. MLA Formatting


  1. Progress Checks:

    1. Working Thesis

    2. Google Folder

    3. Annotated Bibliography and Final Thesis

    4. Outline


Come to class with your Final Draft stapled in the following order:

  • Rubric (-5 pts if no rubric)

  • Final Draft

  • Works Cited

  • Outline

  • Annotated Bibliography

To Kill A Mockingbird-Historical Background

How should I organize my sources?

Use Google Drive!


  • Make a new Folder - name it TKAM
  • In the folder, open a new Google doc and name it TKAM Sources (or something)
  • Create 3 Google Docs to put in this folder - one for each source; in each Google doc should be: (1) the citation for the source, and (2) the relevant passages from the source that you plan on using

Database Source - Mackinvia.com

1) Why do I need databases Video : https://youtu.be/Q2GMtIuaNzU


2) Which database am I supposed to use? Mackinvia


  • login = your 6-digit student ID
  • password = your 8-digit birthdate


3) Once I'm in there, which database should I use for this project?


Mrs. Vincent recommends two (you must be logged in to use these) :


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Print Resources - Where do I find them?

1) Library Cart - Books Pulled for you


  • Keep organized on cart
  • Don't forget to look in the index for what you want!
  • Don't forget to cite your source - see below


2) Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) - it's books in a database!


  • in Mackinvia
  • search for your topic
  • counts as your book print resource :)
Wicked Witch of the West - The Wizard Of Oz

GOOGLE "SMART" SEARCH

  • go to Google.com and type in your topic
  • click on "gear" at top right
  • choose "Advanced Search"
  • under "site or domain" type in ".edu"
  • click "Advanced Search"


Remember: you must still use your best judgement to decide if these are credible sources!

How to Cite your Sources

1) For databases: click where it says "Cite" or "Citation" and choose MLA format - copy and paste the citation into your Works Cited page


2) For print resources: Use Easybib.com!

  • easiest way: type in the book's ISBN (number above barcode), check information for correctness, and copy and past citation into your Works Cited page
  • harder way: type in title (or all) information from front of book

3) Using GVRL

  • choose "Citation Tools" (top right)
  • select MLA format
  • copy and paste the citation into your Works Cited page