The Great Gatsby

 

 

 

A Web Quest by Renee Shackelford, North Heights Alternative School

TAKS:  1(A,C), 4(A,B,C,E,F), 6(A,B,C,G), 9(B), 10(A),13(B,D,E),15(B), 18(A,B)

TEKS:  R (1, 2, 3), W (4, 5, 6)

 

 

 

Introduction   TASK   PROCESS   EVALUATION   RESOURCES   CONCLUSION

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald would like to introduce you to an era in American history called the Roaring 20s.  As one of the most flamboyant periods in history, Fitzgerald captures the essence of the time in his novel The Great Gatsby.   Put on your favorite “zoot suit” and follow Fitzgerald on a journey into the past and find out about what the “cat’s meow” and “hullabaloo” is all about.

 

 

 

 

TASK

 

Students will do an independent mini-research study of the novel The Great Gatsby by researching the era of the 1920s.  In this study the students will analyze characters and the changes the characters undergo, connect literature to historical contexts, and analyze the way Fitzgerald organized and presented his ideas.

 

 

 PROCESS

 

1.     Choose any two from the following list and write a report for each one.  The report must be one well-developed paragraph that is double spaced and contains no fewer than eight sentences.

Choose any two from the era of the “Roaring Twenties.”

·        Fads

·        Music

·        Sports

·        Literature

·        Entertainment (movies, movie stars, theater, actors, etc.)

·        Slang

·        Fashion

·        Home décor

 

2.     Make a Time Line of the 1920s that spans the time from 1920 until 1929.  Make three categories and put one event into each category for each year.  Use EXCEL or make a spread sheet.  You may also use poster board that has three columns for the events.

 

3.     Select any prominent person from the 1920s and write a five-paragraph biographical essay about that person. Include in the essay the bio information and the contributions that he/she made to society.  Use parenthetical documentation in the paper itself and make a Works Cited page.  Double space.

 

 

4.     Make a power point presentation of  20+ slides. Include in the presentation no less than five (5) characters. Also, include the colors green, blue, gold/yellow, gray, and white.  Give the symbolism of the colors and how Fitzgerald uses the color symbolism in The Great Gatsby. Incorporate sound, quotes, and clip art.    Put quotation marks around the quotes and in parenthesis the page number of the quote.

 

5.     Take the final test The Great Gatsby.

 

 

EVALUATION

Teacher Project Grading Rubric

	Awesome 4 points	Admirable 3 points	Acceptable 2 points	Amateur 1 point	Score
Organization	Well Organized Logical format Transitions from idea to idea were excellent, enhancing the project	Thoughtful organized easy to follow most of the time Transitions easy to follow, but at times ideas unclear	Somewhat organized Somewhat incoherent Transitions not always smooth and at times distracted the audience	Choppy and confusing Difficult to follow Transitions were abrupt and distracted audience
Content      Xs 2	Excellent job of research Utilized information effectively	Good job of research        Utilized information in an efficient manner	Acceptable job of research          Limited information	Unacceptable job of research               Little or no fact gathering
Presentation	Original, unique approach       Engaging, provocative	Clever, at times unique             Well done, interesting	Few original touches At time interesting	Predictable, bland   Did not keep audience interested
				Total Points
Formula for calculating grade	Add points scored from each row	Total points divided by16 (12/16= .075)	Multiply that number by 100 to find your grade.(.75 x 100=75)	Grade

 

CONCLUSION

From completing this mini-research unit, students will gain an understanding about the subjects and sources that Fitzgerald used in writing The Great Gatsby. By using different strategies from various links, the students will gain a knowledge about using the Internet and other resource materials. The students can also transfer this learning into other disciplines.

 RESOURCES

 

The Booming 20's-
http://www.geocities.com/thebooming20s/

 

The Great Gatsby Project
http://www.park-ridge.il.us/deines/gatsby97

 

The Jazz Age Page
http://www.btinternet.com/%7Edreklind/Jazzhome.htm

 

The Great Gatsby Website
http://www.geocities.com/andrew_dilling

The Great Depression
http://www.geocities.com/mrmiekosz/depress.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/1104/index.html

 

CREDITS

Fitzgerald, F.Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1986.

 

INTRODUCTION   TASK   PROCESS   EVALUATION   RESOURCES   CONCLUSION