Of Mice and Men: Short Essay on Steinbecks Hierarchy of Oppression

Oppression is a common theme throughout Of Mice and Men. Various characters are oppressed throughout the book in many ways. Your job is to determine, after reading the first few chapters from the book, what you believe is Steinbecks hierarchy of oppression. To do this, think of the groups which are oppressed throughout the book (women, those of a different race, the elderly, people with disabilities, etc.) According to your interpretations of the book, think about how each group is oppressed and how Steinbeck shows this oppression. Which group is the most oppressed? Rank the groups: 1. 2. 3. 4. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

After you have ranked the groups, factor in whether some characters, even though they are oppressed, have more freedoms than other characters. (Example: Candy, as an elderly man, is oppressed, but he stays in the bunkhouse with the other men. You could argue he is less oppressed than Crooks, who has to stay in his own room, isolated from the others). Once you have chosen the most oppressed group, prove that the chosen group is the most oppressed using evidence from the book. As you write this 3 paragraph paper explaining why your chosen group is most oppressed, be sure to use a quote from the book to support your answer. Focus on how characters treat one another and choices Steinbeck made to show oppression. (Example: Curleys wife never had a first name in the book). *Be sure to ICEE your quote in the 2nd paragraph.

Name _________________________________

Period __________________

Steinbecks Hierarchy of Oppression: Short-Essay Rubric

Your own Assessment Paragraph 1 Teacher Assessment

Introduction: -Hook -Pertinent Background -Thesis

Paragraph 2

X2

The hook is interesting, the pertinent background creates context for the thesis, thesis is clearly stated

Body paragraph: -Claim -Evidence (ICEE) -Warrant

Paragraph 3

X3

Body paragraphs have proper structure (topic sentences, introduction to evidence, cited sources, explanation of evidence, and elaboration of how it relates to the thesis) Effectively wraps up and goes beyond restating the thesis No forbidden words. All writing is on two, typed, double-spaced pages. One-inch margins, size 12 font, Times New Roman or Californian FB. Name and period. Rubric on top, stapled. Masterful writing is error-free. Underline in red pen two complex sentences and two compound sentences and label.

Conclusion: Forbidden words Format Mechanics

X2 X1

Sentence Structure

X2