Gatsby and the 1920s
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Course Title: Gatsby and the Twenties
Time Frame: January 3rd- February 17th
Course Description: We will begin this class by delving into Fitzgerald’s classic American novel, The Great Gatsby. We will use the novel to begin our study of the culture and history of the United States in the 1920s, and also to investigate the literary elements that comprise a great canonical work of literature. Our study of Gatsby will be comprised of close readings, discussions, vocabulary and a variety of creative writing and visual art assignments. As we read Gatsby, students will practice note taking skills with a series of three or four 30 minute introductory lectures about politics, economics, law, and culture in the 1920s. Students will use these lectures and some scaffolded independent investigation, as a jumping off point for doing in-depth research to be displayed at a collaboratively organized end of unit “living history museum.”
Goals and Assignment/Activities For The Great Gatsby (January 3 -- January 24)
Literary goals/Activities related to Gatsby
Time Frame: January 3rd- February 17th
Course Description: We will begin this class by delving into Fitzgerald’s classic American novel, The Great Gatsby. We will use the novel to begin our study of the culture and history of the United States in the 1920s, and also to investigate the literary elements that comprise a great canonical work of literature. Our study of Gatsby will be comprised of close readings, discussions, vocabulary and a variety of creative writing and visual art assignments. As we read Gatsby, students will practice note taking skills with a series of three or four 30 minute introductory lectures about politics, economics, law, and culture in the 1920s. Students will use these lectures and some scaffolded independent investigation, as a jumping off point for doing in-depth research to be displayed at a collaboratively organized end of unit “living history museum.”
Goals and Assignment/Activities For The Great Gatsby (January 3 -- January 24)
Literary goals/Activities related to Gatsby
- Investigate why and how writers use symbolism.
- Close reading of Gatsby, with ongoing classroom chart
- Discuss the question: “Does it matter if the writer intended to create symbolism? Why do we look at these aspects of literature? Why bother? Are there symbols in real life?
- Create visual art based on Gatsby symbolism.
- Why is this book considered a classic? Why is it in the cannon?
- Examine the Western Literary Canon (In Class)
- Create and justify your own cannon. (In class)
- How does Fitzgerald establish a voice? How does he use complex language and rich imagery to evoke a world?
- Vocabulary
- Close reading of Gatsby
- Creative writing exercise: write in Fitzgerald style (In class)
- Complete The Great Gatsby and understand its major characters, themes, and plot.Two lose readings (Chapters 1-4-, 5-9) with discussions, using “Page on a Passage” assignments (HW) Due Fridays January 6th, 13th. Finish book by Wednesday January 18th.
- One reading check/vocabulary quiz, using passages Tuesday January 10th
- Culminating assignment: Create “Great Gatsby Scrap Book”. or “The Great Gatsby as Soap Opera.” and share. DUE January 24th at the beginning of class.
Personal Goals/Activities related to Gatsby
- Goal: Why do we as humans have trouble letting go?
- Journal writing, discussion of Gatsby’s struggle??
- Goal: Why and how do we create the story of who we are? (our identity)?
- Write a short personal essay about your own story of yourself??
Goals and Assignments/Activities For History/Culture
- Exposure to trends in art, literature, and music/ gaining note-taking skills.
- 3-4 mini (30 minutes) lectures, with note-taking and open note quiz
- Discuss historical events that arise in The Great Gatsby
- Exposure to historical events (knowledge base for museum topics, and deeper study later in life)
- See above
- Create 1920s Museum
- Read chapters or websites
- Connecting defining historical events to current events. (Reputation of the twenties what will the reputation of the aughts (2000-2010) be?
- See above: lecture and reading
- Create 1920s Museum
- Collaborate to create a quality event for an outside audience. Skills practiced: leadership, planning.
- Create 1920s Museum
- Investigate how a small piece of history connects to a larger web of historical events and trends.
- Create 1920s Museum Museum will be on Wednesday February 15th.
After Feburary Vacation and Winterm we will be doing an exciting unit called "Art for Social Change." More detais to follow