For the culminating project of the first part of this unit, you will create a presentation designed to teach a middle school student about Modernism.

Modernism Project Instructions For the culminating project of the first part of this unit, you will create a presentation designed to teach a middle school student about Modernism. So gather together any notes you have taken and any reading guides you have completed in previous lessons. You’re ready to do this! Presentation Requirements You should have a cover slide with the title of the project, your name, teacher's name, class, and date. This is proper MLA style for presentations. You should have 3-4 slides dedicated to describing Modernism in your own words. Don’t just copy the material in the course or that you find elsewhere. Make sure you address the development of the movement, common forms of experimentation, and major themes. You should then have 1-2 slides for EACH poet from this unit: Frost, cummings, Moore, Williams, and Sandburg. Your slides should what makes the poet’s writing part of Modernism. You may choose to focus on one poem for each poet, or you may select examples from multiple poems for each poet. These should be direct quotations, but be careful not to use large chunks of text; if you can’t narrow the selection down to a shorter quotation, it’ll be clear that you don’t really understand the material. Make sure you include an MLA-style parenthetical citation after each quotation. See the handout in the sidebar if you need help on parenthetical citations. Finally, for each example you include, you need to provide an explanation about what makes it an example of Modernism. Choose examples that will help middle school students really understand Modernism, and make sure you use a variety. For example, every example should not demonstrate the use of imagery. Next, you should then have 1-2 slides with examples of Modernism from the Hemingway short story, “In Another Country.” Follow the guidelines outlined above for the examples of Modernism in poetry. Lastly, you will include a Works Cited slide in MLA format. You do not need to cite the works of literature in the unit, but you do need citations for any images or music you include and any external sites you use. Here are some additional tips to help you do well: Think about your audience as you design every part of your project. This project requires a LOT of information, but don’t let that force you to crowd your slides with a lot of text. Only include the highlights on the slides. Then provide the details of what you would say when making the actual presentation in the “Notes” section of PowerPoint or in a separate document if you use a different program. That way, your teacher knows you understand the information, but your presentation doesn’t become too overwhelming. Make sure that each slide is balanced and looks professional. Words shouldn’t be too close to the edges, and don’t use fonts too small or too silly to be read easily. Although your focus will be on the literature produced during this movement, you should understand by now that Modernism was an artistic movement that impacted music and art as well. That means that you can use Modernist art and music to make your presentation more engaging for middle school students!

Don’t overlook the color scheme. Your slides should all be similarly formatted to give a professional look, but use color for effect. For example, should slides on Modernism use bright, sunny, warm colors? Would that capture the mood of the movement? Consider saving and submitting in PDF format, especially if you’ve worked hard on formatting and want to make sure your teacher sees your presentation exactly the way you intended. This is a creative assignment, so don't hold back! You are the master of this material, and it’s your job to imaginatively present this information so others can learn from your expertise! Use the program of your choice to create this presentation. For recommended tools, contact your instructor. Please view the Modernism Project Rubric linked in the sidebar to see how you will be graded. When finished, submit the completed project.

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The Great Gatsby Analysis Essay: Rough Draft and Final Draft

For the final assessment of this unit, you will write an analysis essay over the novel. Choose one of the following topics and develop a thesis statement that states your opinion on the topic. Your body paragraphs and conclusion should support your thesis as well. Remember that in order to analyze a text, you must explain the significance of your ideas.

Topics

· Consider materialism and idealism in America during the 1920s. Explain how Fitzgerald focuses on this throughout the novel and what message(s) about materialism and idealism the novel expresses. Use specific examples from the book, and remember to explain the significance of your ideas.

· Construct an essay focusing on money as the symbol of success. How is this shown in the book? Why does money play such an important role in the lives of the characters?

· Write an essay explaining the difference between appearance versus reality. What appears to be the case throughout the novel isn't always reality. Explain the significance of your ideas!

· Write an essay about the theme of the American Dream. What is its purpose in the novel? How is it demonstrated? What is the significance of characters pursuing their American Dream?

· Choose a symbol(s) from the novel to discuss in an essay: the green light, the eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg, East and West Egg, Valley of Ashes, etc. Why is the symbol significant? What does it teach us about society and the characters in the novel?

Essay Requirements

· Your paper should be at least 3 pages typed in length – 4 paragraphs minimum.

· It should be formatted in MLA format. (double spaced, Times New Roman or a similar font, 12-point font, correct headings and header, 1-inch margins, parenthetical citations, works cited list, etc.)

· At least 3 quotes from the novel must be integrated within your paper using proper, MLA-formatted parenthetical citations.

· Remember to write in 3rd person only.

· You also need to use the literary present tense. Watch your verbs!

· Create an original title for your essay that is both informative and creative -  The Great Gatsby Essay is not acceptable.

· You are expected to use the feedback you receive on your rough draft to revise your essay before submitting the final draft, so make sure you leave enough time to receive this feedback.

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Fitzgerald's novel is titled The Great Gatsby, but not everyone believes Gatsby is great. Think back through everything you have read about Gatsby, his past, his actions, thoughts, statements, beliefs, etc. Think about him in relation to the actions of other characters. Consider what the narrator, Nick Carraway, has observed. Then answer for yourself: Do you believe that Gatsby is a hero or a fool?

In your discussion post, state your case for Gatsby as a hero or a fool. Explain your reasoning thoroughly and convincingly. Also, make sure you provide at least three supporting details from the text with MLA-formatted parenthetical citations.