Chapters 15-20: Family Discussion Blog

Part 1: Research

Topic: Survivors of the Great Depression

Research: This article relayed the stories of survivors of the Great Depression. In particular, it focused on families who suffered quietly, some who had better lives before the stock market crashed, and some just as bad, but they all suffered a great deal. Even those who were educated couldn't find jobs, which made buying food even harder. One woman recounts the story of how she had to be boarded out as a young girl, because her parents could not afford for her to live at home.

Evaluation: There are obvious parallels between this article and The Grapes of Wrath. In both, it explains the struggles of various families when the Depression hit. In both circumstances, basic needs, such as food and shelter, are not being met. Similarly, both show that hard work won't always pay off, and that the best you can do might not meet normal living standards.

Citation:Ellis, Neenah. "Survivors Of The Great Depression Tell Their Stories." NPR. NPR, 27 Nov. 2008. Web. 09 Nov. 2014.

Part 2: Questions
1. Did the Great Depression have an equally destructive impact on the lives of all Americans?
2. Did the people who lived through the Great Depression benefit from any life lessons along the way?
3. What are the most rudimentary needs that humans need to survive?

Parts 3-4 Reflection: The most memorable moment of the conversation I had with my Dad was his connection of the hardships faced by people in the Great Depression and our family's attitude toward money and spending now. His parents lived through the Depression, and the frugality that they practiced transferred to him, and he, in turn, taught it to me. This moment was also the what made my conversation so satisfying. I felt I understood and emphasized more with the frugal actions of my parents and grandpa, who will never let me go for seconds until every scrap of food is off of my plate. This also made the struggles of the characters in the book more relatable.To improve my questions, I think I should broaden the subject. This way the answer will be more universal, as opposed to just being centered around one topic, which in this case was the Great Depression.