Process Paper
We heard about Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle, and wondered how it could have caused a turning point in
history. Our parents explained how many laws were created as a result of the publication of this book because the
general public became very upset with the way business and government ran their affairs. We were also interested in learning more about the environment of the United States in the early 1900’s.
We found our information in many different ways. We knew we needed various sources to prove that The Jungle was a turning point in history for both the meat packing industry and for labor laws. We read several books and identified many websites about Upton Sinclair as well as his critics. We learned how the people of that time period spoke and felt about what he wrote. We found pictures from that time that helped us visualize what the period looked like and what the work environment for the meatpacking employees was like. We also read newspaper articles written about the book. All of these sources helped us by explaining what was the reaction of the media, the public, and the government during this time period.
We liked the idea of a website because we thought it would be a more fun and efficient way to present the information. We used an online website builder so that each group member could have access to help create it.
We created an outline of the major points that we wanted to include in our website. We divided up the different sections for each team member. Each of us added our own research to that topic. Each of us gathered pictures to build on the written information. Finally, we also added a video for more historical proof of the turning points that lead to the labor laws.
Upton Sinclair and his book The Jungle had a big influence on the United States government, business and workers. Once the book was published and people read it, the government and citizens began to investigate the situation
in the meat packing industry and found it needed lots of improvement. They found that the workers were treated terribly and lived in horrible conditions and the working environment was very disgusting.
This lead to big changes in the United States: worker’s rights, immigrant rights, child labor laws and factory standards.
history. Our parents explained how many laws were created as a result of the publication of this book because the
general public became very upset with the way business and government ran their affairs. We were also interested in learning more about the environment of the United States in the early 1900’s.
We found our information in many different ways. We knew we needed various sources to prove that The Jungle was a turning point in history for both the meat packing industry and for labor laws. We read several books and identified many websites about Upton Sinclair as well as his critics. We learned how the people of that time period spoke and felt about what he wrote. We found pictures from that time that helped us visualize what the period looked like and what the work environment for the meatpacking employees was like. We also read newspaper articles written about the book. All of these sources helped us by explaining what was the reaction of the media, the public, and the government during this time period.
We liked the idea of a website because we thought it would be a more fun and efficient way to present the information. We used an online website builder so that each group member could have access to help create it.
We created an outline of the major points that we wanted to include in our website. We divided up the different sections for each team member. Each of us added our own research to that topic. Each of us gathered pictures to build on the written information. Finally, we also added a video for more historical proof of the turning points that lead to the labor laws.
Upton Sinclair and his book The Jungle had a big influence on the United States government, business and workers. Once the book was published and people read it, the government and citizens began to investigate the situation
in the meat packing industry and found it needed lots of improvement. They found that the workers were treated terribly and lived in horrible conditions and the working environment was very disgusting.
This lead to big changes in the United States: worker’s rights, immigrant rights, child labor laws and factory standards.