Gatsby Research Project

Gatsby Research Project

Objectives:

1.  Students will analyze The Great Gatsby as a social commentary.

2.  Students will complete each stage of the writing process to include: research (note cards), pre-writing (outline), draft (first draft), revise, edit (self and peer edit), publish (final draft).

3.  Students will use a variety of resources (print, reference, electronic) to research selected sub-topics related to the 1920s and The Great Gatsby.

4.  Students will link literary analysis with historical research.

Standards:

Reading

1: The student understands and uses different skills and strategies to read.

1.1 Use word recognition skills and strategies to read and comprehend text.

1.3 Build vocabulary through wide reading.

2: The student understands the meaning of what is read.

2.1 Demonstrate evidence of reading comprehension.

2.2 Understand and apply knowledge of text components to comprehend text.

2.3 Expand comprehension by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information and ideas in

literary and informational text.

2.4 Think critically and analyze author’s use of language, style, purpose, and perspective in

informational and literary text.

3: The student reads different materials for a variety of purposes.

3.1 Read to learn new information.

3.4 Read for literary/narrative experience in a variety of genres.

Writing

1. The student writes clearly and effectively. To meet this standard, the student will:

1.1 develop concept and design

1.2 use style appropriate to the audience and purpose

1.3 apply writing conventions

2. The student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes. To meet

this standard, the student will:

2.1 write for different audiences

2.2 write for different purposes

2.3 write in a variety of forms

3. The student understands and uses the steps of the writing process. To meet this

standard, the student will:

3.1 pre-write

3.2 draft

3.3 revise

3.4 edit

3.5 publish

Directions:

You will be writing a paper that integrates The Great Gatsby with historical research. The prompt for your paper is:

How/Why is The Great Gatsby an accurate portrayal of the 1920s in regards to corruption and the pursuit of the American Dream?

To answer this prompt, you will read and analyze Fitzgerald’s social commentary, as well as conduct independent research. You will select 2 of the following 5 sub-topics to research, and ultimately prove your thesis.

·  Prohibition

·  Organized Crime *You will choose one subtopic to tie to the American Dream

·  Industrialism and one subtopic to tie to corruption in the 1920s*

·  Ethnic Prejudice *NOTE: You may not choose both Organized Crime and

·  Gender Roles Prohibition as your two subtopics- they are too similar*

The focus of your paper is to show how/why The Great Gatsby is considered the best social commentary of the 1920s. Once the research component is complete, you will be prepared to start the writing process.

You will write a “paragraph couplet” (or pair) for each sub-topic (2 paragraphs x 2 sub-topics = a total of 4 body paragraphs). The “paragraph couplet” will include a historical background paragraph, followed by a literary analysis paragraph.

The first paragraph of each couplet will be the historical background paragraph. This paragraph will cover historical information. Here you will cover the important/necessary historical facts and prepare the reader for the literary analysis paragraph. **Use past tense here**

The second paragraph of the couplet will be the literary analysis paragraph.

This paragraph will link the historical facts to the characters and/or the plot of Gatsby, once again proving how/why the novel is it a successful social commentary. **Use present tense here**

Requirements:

Length: 6 paragraphs AND a minimum of three pages (4 page maximum)

Font: Times or Times New Roman

Font size: 12

Margins: 1.25 inches

Spacing: Double

Parenthetical Documentation: at least 2 per paragraph. Follow MLA format

Number of sources: 6 total (2 per sub-topic): 3 print (1 must be a reference, 1 can be your history textbook), 2 electronic (databases only). The Great Gatsby will be your 6th source.

INTERNET SOURCES AND PRINT/ELECTRONIC ENCYCLOPEDIAS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS CITABLE SOURCES (these should only be used to build background information).

Number of bib cards: 6 total (minimum of 2 bib cards per sub-topic)

Number of note cards: 50 total (minimum of 20 note cards for each sub-topic).

Where to look in Gatsby:

1. PROHIBITION- pgs. 61 , 97 and 133

2. ETHNIC PREJUDICE- pg. 12-13

3. GENDER ROLES- pgs. 17 & 37

4. ORGANIZED CRIME- pgs. 68 & 70

5. INDUSTRIALISM- pg. 23-24, 99 & 168

Also check the packet entitled "EXPLANATORY NOTES" for more information on how the novel connects to history.

Reminders:

1.) For this paper you will be writing about history, as well as literature, so you must remember the rules:

~When writing about history, you must use the past tense.

~When writing about literature, you must use present tense.

2.) Introduction paragraph

• Mentions the text and author and that the text is considered a social commentary of the 1920s

• Sets up the reader with enough information to understand your thesis

• Ends with a persuasive thesis statement

3.) Conclusion Paragraph

• Restates the thesis (either at the beginning or at the end) using different words

• Is all commentary

• Summarizes the main points in the essay (hint: go over the TSs again)

• Uses persuasive, powerful language - this is a "closing argument"

• Contains at least five sentences (minimum)

• Remains in the 3rd person

• Does not introduce any new information

4.) Ultimately, it is your job to show how Fitzgerald exposes corruption and/or the illusion of the American Dream in the 1920s.

Outline format for the Research Paper:

Title of Paper

Note: the outline is made up of ONLY body paragraphs. When you move from outline to first draft, you must add the introduction and conclusion paragraph.

Thesis:

I.  Historical background paragraph (for subtopic #1)

·  Turn slug into TS

·  Each historical paragraph must have at least 4 CDs

·  This is where you include the historical facts you have written on the note cards

II.  Literary analysis paragraph (for subtopic #1)

·  Discussion of characters and/or the plot of Gatsby

·  Each literary analysis paragraph must have at least 2 references to Gatsby (either direct quotes or paraphrased info)

III.  Historical background paragraph (for subtopic #2)

·  Turn slug into TS

·  Each historical paragraph must have at least 4 CDs

·  This is where you include the historical facts you have written on the note cards

IV.  Literary analysis paragraph (for subtopic #2)

·  Discussion of characters and/or the plot of Gatsby

·  Each literary analysis paragraph must have at least 2 references to Gatsby (either direct quotes or paraphrased info)

English 11/ Junior Research Paper: Evaluation Checklist

1. IDEAS AND CONTENT

c Introduction sparks interest and defines topic

c Thesis statement is clear, strong and answers the prompt

c Topic sentences support thesis

c Relevant, accurate concrete details that support topic sentences

c Commentary gives relevant elaboration and/or interpretation

(not more facts)

c Concluding sentences refer back to ideas in topic sentences and

provide a transition to the next paragraph

c Conclusion offers final insights and interpretation

c Paper proves thesis

2. ORGANIZATION

c Information is presented in a clear and logical format

(paragraph couplets support each other)

c Information continually develops the main idea

c Minimum of 2 documentations per body paragraph

c Intro paragraph makes reference to text mentions author & title

c Weaving is used, maintaining the correct ratio (2:1- history, 1:2- lit.)

c Lead ins and lead outs precede and/or follow the concrete details

c Transitions and transition sentences are used effectively

3. CONVENTIONS

c No glaring punctuation errors

c Correct spelling

c Correct grammar

Capitalization when appropriate

Subject/verb agreement

No sentence fragments

No run-on sentences

Paper written in 3rd person throughout

c Effective word choice

c Correct verb tense is used (past tense for history/present tense for literature)

c No contractions

c Writing is articulate; advanced vocabulary is used

c Writing is clear and fluent/no awkward sentences

4. FORMAT

c Length of paper is at least 6 paragraphs and 3 full pages/double spaced

c Font is Times/Times New Roman - Size 12

c Parenthetical documentation is in proper MLA format

c A minimum of 5 sources used (following assigned ratio)

c Works Cited page is formatted properly