The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

To begin with, students need to divide up into groups of four; these people will be their partners for the entirety of the project.

1)      Once you are in your groups of four, you will all take responsibility for researching one of the three classes that existed during the Pre-Civil War South (also known as the Antebellum Era) These areas include:

a.      Slaves

b.      Abolitionists

c.      Slave owners

The fourth person will research the themes that Mark Twain addresses in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Note: Once you have chosen your areas, you can begin researching your class. While researching make sure to cover these four areas of the classes

d.      Religious Beliefs

e.      Political Issues and Rights

f.       Social Treatment and Place

2)      When you’re researching, use these links to find your information and research.

Slaves:

Life as a Slave

Slave’s Education

Conditions of a Slave

                              Slave Owners:

                                             The Plantation Economy

                                             Black Slave Owners

                              Abolitionists:

                                             History of an Abolitionist

                                             Christian Abolitionists

                              Mark Twain’s Themes:

                                             Themes, Motifs, and Symbols

3) After the research is complete, you should return to your group to share your information and to create your reports for each of the three divisions of people and what living in the South during that time period meant for each one of them. Make sure to include each aspect (religious, political, and social) in each one.

4) Next, you each need to create four 1-2 page diary entries; there should be one for each role (slave owner, slave, and abolitionist) and they should make sure to display the effects of the historical setting in their accounts. Each journal should also include aspects at least one of the themes Mark Twain presents in Huckleberry Finn.

5) After each of the you have completed their diary entries, you should return to your groups and compile all of these items (your research articles and all of your diaries) into an encyclopedia that explains each of the three roles and gives the diaries as examples of each. You are encouraged to include pictures and formatting because you will be graded on the creativity of your encyclopedias. After this is all done, the final product will be left on display for other students to examine until the instructor evaluates the project.