In your introduction, explain that you read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Tell about questions that you had about the real background for the book.
In the body paragraphs, explain what you wondered about, and tell about what you found out when you did research to find your answers. Use informal citation three times in your essay.
Possible topics:
Martin Luther King, Jr. is mentioned at least three times in the book.
Medgar Evers is mentioned at least seven times. The book uses his murder as part of the plot-line.
Skeeter takes a booklet of Jim Crow Laws from the library.
Here is an article about Martin Luther King, Jr. found on Pioneer in SIRS Discoverer:
http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000275182
And here is one about Medgar Evers:
http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000327042
Jim Crow Laws: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000294762
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/
