Introduction

Visualize this: You are sailing down a river on a raft. In fact, you are sailing down the Mississippi River on a raft-a raft of about 15 feet by 12 feet in the summer during the mid-nineteenth century. You are not alone on this raft. You are sailing down the Mississippi on a raft with a runaway slave, and he's not the only one who is running. You are, too, and you're a boy of about thirteen years old.

Now come back to reality and think about this: The person who wrote this novel, Mark Twain, did so with the purpose of commenting on the society and culture of his day, and the readers of that day definitely got his point. They didn't like it!

Add to all this one further complication: Most of you do not like to read, do not read anymore than you have to, and think you are not good at reading. Therefore, you need this Web Quest to help you get ready to read and understand The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a great book which has been loved and accepted, judged and hated for generations.

The Quest

This Web Quest will serve several purposes as we begin the study of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. First, it will acquaint you with the author, the historical, cultural, and geographical setting of the novel, and the main thrust of the story line. Second, it will heighten your awareness of the controversial nature of the novel and its history as a challenged piece of literature. Last, this entire reading project, starting here, will make you examine your own perspectives on several volatile subjects such as racism, the power of society, and man's inhumanity.

The Process and Resources

Answer all questions or respond to prompts in the designated space in the “student packet” that was handed out except where instructed otherwise. You will turn in everything you develop from this Web Quest for a grade. There is a rubric that will be used to grade you on this project. The aspects of the rubric are the completion of the project in its entirety, the accuracy of your answers, the depth that you went into with your answers, the creativity of your project (where applicable), and your behavior and time-on-task while working on this project.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

All the web sites containing the information you need to complete this Web Quest are listed and linked. You should not be surfing anywhere on the Net at all or searching anywhere except where listed below. YOU WILL BE WRITTEN UP AND SENT TO THE OFFICE IF YOU ARE CAUGHT ON ANY OTHER WEBSITES OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED!! Web sites are in no particular order.

A word to the wise: there are extra credit (EC) opportunities scattered throughout this process. You should mark your responses to these in some way with color or symbol.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

The following items are things that you will need to complete for this project. You have been given a rubric/checklist in your student packet so make sure that you use it wisely. Check things off in the boxes provided to ensure that you have completed all aspects of this project. On the final day of the project a classmate will look at your packet and check off the things that are completed in your packet. This will be part of the grade!! There is a place for everything in your packet so use it wisely!!

Twain's personal life and professional career

Use the Internet links to answer the following questions & complete the activities about Twain and his life in the designated area in your packet.

1. Develop a brief summary of the personal life of Mark Twain. You do not need to address his professional development in this summary. See number two.

2. Develop a timeline of his professional career. This can be very creative so use the space provided wisely!! Don’t forget that you are graded on creativity!!

3. List three Mark Twain quotes that you particularly like. There are many, so be discriminating about this. (The word 'discriminate' applies to many uses other than racial prejudice. You might look it up on the dictionary site listed below.) EC: definition of 'discriminate.'

• Mark Twain's Interactive Scrapbook - This website will allow you to research Mark Twain, his works, and other interesting facts about his life.
• Mark Twain Quotations, Newspaper Collections, & Related Resources - This (obviously) is where you can find our quotes!!
• Meridian Webster Dictionary Site - This is where you define words!! (duh)

General information on Huckleberry Finn

Use the Internet links listed to answer the following questions and complete the activities in your packet.

4. After whom did Twain model his character Huck Finn?

5. How and when was the term, 'huckleberry' used?

6. Why is Huck running away? You may need to read a summary of the novel to answer this question.

7. Judging from what you know about Huck from these resources, give a brief character sketch of Huck including how his background influences his character and habits.

• Summary of Huck Finn - This website will help you find out some general information about Huck Finn (the novel and the person)!!

Racism and Huckleberry Finn

Use the Internet links listed to answer the following questions and complete the activities in your packet.

8. Throughout the novel Huck and Jim are driven by several cultural and political conditions, the main ones being legalized slavery and fugitive slave laws. Find a map showing slave and free states during the mid-nineteenth century; then color and label the names of slave and free states of pre-Civil War days on the blank map in your packet. All slave states should be one color and free states another. Also, designate the Mississippi River and Hannibal, Missouri. This will be your handy navigator as you follow Huck and Jim on their voyage.

9. What was the law regarding fugitive slaves as stated in the Fugitive Slave Act? How can you expect that this law affected Huck and Jim's voyage down the River and pursuit of freedom? EC: What year was the Fugitive Slave Act ratified?

10. Judging from what you know about fugitive slave laws, what could have happened to Jim once he got to a free state? Was Missouri a slave state or free state?

11. Research a definition of racism. We will address this issue in the character of Huck, the culture of Huck's day, culture today, and yourself, so you need to understand this term thoroughly.

12. Evaluate your own views of racism. Do you think this book is going to offend you in any way? Elaborate on your thoughts, feelings, and even experiences.

• Is Huck Finn a Racist Book? - This is an article written about the novel and the issue of racism that surrounds this book.
• Eric Foner on the Fugitive Slave Act - This website contains Eric Foner's interview where he answers questions about the Fugitive Slave Act.
• Anthony Burns captured - This website gives you an idea of what it was like to be a runaway slave and all that goes with it.
• Missouri Compromise - This website will provide you with information about the Missour Compromise and everything that surrounded it.
• The Fugitive Slave Act, September 18, 1850 - This website provides you with information that you will need about the Fugitive Slave Act.
• Free States and Slave States, before the Civil War - This is where you will find the information you need in order to color your map!!
• Free/Slave Soil Map - 1820 - This is another map that you may want to look at concerning the free and slave states.

Book banning and other information

Use the Internet links listed to answer the following questions and complete the activities in your packet.

13. When was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn first banned and what was Twain's attitude toward the banning?

14. On what cultural issues is Twian commenting in this novel?

• Mark Twain on Book Banning - This website gives you insight as to how Twain felt about book banning.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

Now that you have completed this webquest, what are your feelings toward this book? Is there anything you hope to learn or expect to get out of this book? This can be brief, but do write your thoughts about the book from what you know of so far on the the designated sheet in your packet. Discuss what you think you will gain from the book, how you think the book will help you, or any other thoughts that you may have.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

What are your feelings on the banning of the book from what you know? Do you think it should have been banned? Why or why not? Think about this question and any others that you may have. Why do you think our school district has not banned it? We will be discussing many things throughout the novel and your input will be needed on all accounts!!

Your Contact is: the designated contact

Conclusion

With this cultural and historical background and a sneak peak at the characters and action of the novel, you are now ready to kick off your shoes and enjoy reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Everything you learned in this Web Quest should increase your enjoyment and proficiency in reading. Have fun and expect to learn a lot with this book. I expect some roaring good debates in class.