They evaluate her essay and read a New York Times article about the Kansas law and other accounts of the Scopes trial from 1925. They take notes and write short essays on their opinions of the events. They also read an article outlining the conflict between religious faith and the theory of evolution. Again they take notes and write essays expressing their opinions. They also read the play in class and discuss issues raised and the literary devices the authors use in a play, which is a fictionalized account of the 1925 trial.
Students write essays based on the play and choose five topics to research using the Internet.
WHAT YOU NEED Completion of this project will take ten or more class periods. Students will be reading the play Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Computers with an Internet connection and search engine such as Netscape are needed. A basic working knowledge of computers is necessary. A wide range of student ability is acceptable.