Jesse+James+CyberInquiry


 * A sample of our Jesse James CyberInquiry: **


 * Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_ **

** The Notorious Jesse James **
 * Developed by Melissa Kloc emeladdress@gmail.com**

  Jesse James is a criminal from the post-Civil War American west. He was a big time bandit who led a gang that earned not only money but widespread fame and even popularity; James was revered by many in his home state and by many today, as a hero. But who was Jesse James? Was he a Robin Hood type character, or did he represent something else for the people who admired him? How was he affected by the Civil War? What were his politics, and how did they influence his illegal career choice? You are a biographer-turned-screenwriter who has been asked to write the defining film of Jesse and his gang, based on your best-selling book. You need to write a script that tells the true story of James, so audiences can decide once and for all if he was a hero or a criminal. Steven Spielberg will produce the best film, and since he is actually a Jesse James scholar, he will reject anything he finds inaccurate. **Truth is stranger than fiction; stick to the facts!**
 * || This lesson strives to get to the bottom of the legend of Jesse James, an outlaw in post-Civil War Missouri, whose robberies made him a controversial figure. ||
 * || This is for Secondary Students, from grades 9-12; US History ||
 * || 1.1.11.A, 1.1.11.D, 1.2.11.A, 1.2.11.B, 1.4.11.A, 1.5.11.A, 1.5.11.B, 1.5.11.C, 1.5.11.D, 1.5.11.E, 1.5.11.F, 1.6.11.A, 1.6.11.D, 1.6.11.E, 1.6.11.F, 1.8.11.B, 1.8.11.C ||
 * || Students will need access to the internet, and audio and visual components (so if you are in a library, bring headphones). ||

You will be divided into groups of 4 writers. You are each responsible for researching and writing a 2-page biography of one section of Jesse James’s life: Before you begin your research, decide on 4 preliminary research questions with your group for what you think you will need to know about Jesse James. Each group member will conduct his or her own research. You will use this to create your mini-biography. You will then present the biography to your group for a peer-editing workshop. Using your revised mini-biographies, each group must take their 4 different stories and put them together to create one concise, narrative biography of Jesse James. You will use these biographies for a class presentation and skit based on Jesse’s life that you will perform.
 * 1.** **His Childhood (1847-1859)**
 * 2.** **His Civil War Experience (1859-1865)**
 * 3.** **The beginning of his criminal career (1865-1876)**
 * 4.** **The downfall of the James Gang, ending with Jesse’s death (1876-1882)**

**__ Investigation __**
 * Use the class portfolio, the website I list below, and any other resources you find to research for your individual biographies. Be sure to keep track of your sources; you must turn in a Works Cited page to me along with your group biography. It should be in Chicago/Turabian format, and should have a total of 20 sources; 5 per person.**
 * 1.** [|**http://www.tjstiles.com/bio.htm**] Stiles gives a brief overview of his book, //“Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War.”// His website has great ideas and an excellent breakdown of his main points. Use this at least to form an outline for your paper.
 * 2.** [] This is a newspaper article that challenges the myth of Jesse James, the legendary hero.
 * 3.** [] PBS’s website is based on documentary that aired in 2006 about Jesse and Frank James and their gang. This site is great for primary sources; everything from photos to newspapers from James’s life.

**__ Gathering & Sorting __** Additional Resources: Video of “The Ballad of Jesse James” [] Primary Source article from 1906: [|http://books.google.com/books?id=NUIrAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA204&ots=6FdxvZL0Vi&dq=%22The%20Way%20of%20the%20Transgressor%20is%20Hard%22%20as%20illustrated%20in%20the%20narrative%20of%20mary%20fox%2C%20a%20former%20accomplice%20of%20the%20james%20boys%20band%20of%20outlaws'&pg=PA204#v=onepage&q=frank%20james&f=false] Additional Requirements: 1. List and annotate URL’s that provide information that helped answer original and new questions 2. Collect one artifact to use in the multimedia presentation 3. Provide essential question(s) that look(s) at the original question(s) from a historical/ cultural perspective or any other fashion that you designate. You may even rephrase the guiding question(s) to suggest a new CyberInquiry, if you want!

**__ The portfolio __** 1. T.J. Stiles’ Biography 2. Newspaper article on James (see above link) 3. Some photos of Jesse and Frank James, as well as some gang members an lady friends 4. Dime novels and comic books (or pictures of them!) Your team must add one artifact to the portfolio from a source other than the ones I have provided. Each team must have a unique artifact, which can be anything from a scholarly article to a photo of James’s house. The artifact must also have a 5x6 index card attached that gives reasons for the addition, and explains why this piece is useful and important. You will have to turn in your independent research list to me and to each other before you compile your group biography. At the end of the Cyber Inquiry, each group must write a scene from Jesse’s life and perform it for the class. We will vote on which scene(s) were the most accurate and entertaining, and these will go into Spielberg’s film.
 * Already included:**
 * Assignment:**

**__ Sharing __** · In your group, come to a consensus about what information should be presented to the class. · You will prepare a 5 minute presentation of your research and bibliography before you act out your skit. This is so Spielberg can tell you’ve done your research. · Provide enough background for classmates to gain an understanding of the topic even if they have never heard of it (pretend you’re teaching the story from scratch). · You will have opportunities in class for research, peer-editing, and skit/presentation planning. Any additional time you need must be completed for homework. If groups do not finish their teamwork during class, they are required to meet outside of school for additional preparation. //(I cannot grade you for this, because I will not be stalking you, but if you haven’t rehearsed or worked together, it will be obvious in your presentation).//

**__ Evaluation __** //Your assignment consists of these components:// //1.// //How well your group worked together to formulate a research plan and questions// //2.// //The quality of individual research as shown in a Works Cited list and your 2-page biography// //3.// //How well your groups worked together to CONSTRUCTIVELY peer-edit and compile a narrative for James’s life…// //4.// //…as evident by the quality of that work and how you communicated during class time// //5.// //The artifact your group turns in should be the only one of its kind and should be relevant and the 5x6 card must be filled out according to my directions.// //6.// //The quality and preparedness of your skit and brief presentation// //7.// //The respect your group shows other groups while watching presentations// a. Everyone should edit at least one other paper //(10 points)// b. Your criticisms should be constructive and accurate //(5 points)// //c.// The quality of revision according to the edited paper (all of your drafts must be turned in to me). //(5 points)// a. Students should respect each other’s opinions and be respectful with their opinions //(5 points)// b. Students must give everyone a chance to speak //(5 points)// c. Students must listen when others are talking //(5 points)// d. Students must participate equally //(5 points)// a. Should be 5 minutes long b. Should reflect effort and knowledge of the subject c. Should be evident of team work (if one student is talking, be sure to emphasize which parts the others did) a. Students will vote on who was the most accurate and entertaining b. The team(s) with the best skits will get the best grades c. Skits should be 5-10 minutes long d. Every student must have a role e. They should look rehearsed and complete f. They should be historically accurate g. I will take votes and student comments into account and will give a grade according to the effort and historical content of the skit
 * Breakdown of how you will be graded:**
 * 1.** **Your peer-edits and biography rough draft //(20 points total//:**
 * 2.** **The group biography, which I will edit //(22 points)//**
 * 3.** **The artifact, which I will grade //(5 points)//**
 * 4.** **The quality of group work (Participation Grade-//20 points//):**
 * 5.** **Your presentation to the class //(10 points)//**
 * 6.** **Your skit for the class //(23 points)//**