MCHS

9550 Carmel Mtn. Rd
San Diego, Calif. 92129

American Literature On-Line

http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/kharkins

email a question: Ms. Harkins--questions email your homework: Ms. Harkins--assignments  


 

East of Eden

Harkins-Slocomb/MCHS

Today begins the novel East of Eden, by John Steinbeck. Some of you have read other works by Steinbeck; he is well-liked in part because of his ability to describe life as it really was during the Dust Bowl era.

The novel that we'll be reading spans a long period of time--two generations, in fact. So Steinbeck will be taking you on a journey across the Salinas Valley and across several decades of time.

To introduce you to some of the issues Steinbeck's novel raises, to expose you to the Bible story the part of the novel is based on, you will be participating in a series of activities.

Your group will be rotating into several actities-- one requires reading and discussion, one requires research and comparison, and one asks you to gather information and participate in an online chat at learningpoint.

You have been broken into six groups. If you can't remember who is in your group, click here. You will be rotating through three stations today. Two groups will be conducting each activitiy at the same time. So, groups A and D will go through the stations in the following order: 1, 2, 3. Groups B and E will go through the stations in the following order: 2, 3, 1. Groups C and F will go through the stations in the following order: 3, 1, 2. It is important that you complete the activities in the correct order. You will have an allotted period of time to complete the activity at each station. If you finish early, you should work on the Steinbeck Crossword Puzzle. We will end the day with a classroom debate based on the information you gather in your groups today.

Here are the explanations of the stations:

Station 1: Allusion

Sation 2: Nature vs. Nurture

Station 3: Steinbeck's biography