American Literature - Dr. Swift November 2012
The Great Gatsby: Background Research Presentations
The assignment:
· a powerpoint / keynote presentation (about 5 min.)
· an annotated bibliography (at least 3 sources).
To provide some context for The Great Gatsby, this assignment asks you to research a topic related to the time period and present the results of your research in class. If you work with a partner, preview the topic/resources together and then divide the topic into two complementary parts, so that each of you researches and presents a distinct part of the whole. All of the topics focus on the 1920s and, if relevant, the period leading up to this time.
Topics:
· the booming American economy, from the end of WWI to the stock market crash
· the rise of consumer culture, the birth of advertising, the growth of retail
· prohibition (18th amendment) and temperance
· bootlegging and the rise of organized crime
· technology and how it changed daily life (e.g. radio, television, airplanes, etc.)
· cars: the rise of the automobile, its meaning and impact on American life
· F. Scott Fitzgerald: highlights of his life; his themes and importance as a writer
· the Eugenics Movement in America
· popular culture: fads, crazes, games, pastimes
· flappers and the “New Woman” (changing roles, behaviors, and fashions)
· women’s suffrage - the 19th amendment and its impact
· Margaret Sanger, birth control, its impact on women and society
· sports - women and sports in the 1920s; the 1919 world series
· music and dance (especially jazz and jazz-influenced dance) in the 1920s
· art and architecture of the 1920s
· 1920’s resurgence of the KKK
· politics in the 1920s
Presentation Guidelines
ü Choose content effectively
o Introduce and give an overview of the topic
o Identify key sub-topics/ points
o Explain the significance of information
ü Be organized
o Use headings on each slide
o Follow a logical order in presenting each slide
ü Limit the amount of content on each slide
o Not too much – don’t overwhelm the viewer
o Each slide should be uncluttered and easy to grasp
o Balance words, images, and space in a visually engaging way
ü Use your own words on the slides
o very limited use of very brief quotes
v only when specific words are so powerful, vivid, or memorable that you can’t paraphrase or summarize
ü Don’t just read what’s on the slides
o explain/comment/expand on what the viewer sees
v make written notes for yourself if need be
o speak effectively and with confidence; be aware of eye contact, pacing, emphasis and expression
ü Credit all sources of information (including visual images, graphs, etc.)
o include bibliography at end
ü Stick to the time guidelines
Total points: 20