Gatsby+Project+Page

// The Great Gatsby // : The True (East or West) Egg Story


 * Topic:** Your assignment is to provide a thoughtful, comprehensive and detailed analysis of one character from the novel, //The Great Gatsby. // The project must convey an answer to the question: Who is ____________, really? You may choose from one of the following: Gatsby, Nick, Tom, Daisy, Jordan or Myrtle Wilson.

Your analysis should include most of the following elements:
 * 1) a biographical overview (relevant personal background provided in the text)
 * 2) motivation of actions (desires, hopes, fears, dreams, etc.)
 * 3) character conflicts (what obstacles did the character face, how they overcame them or failed to)
 * 4) gossip or scandal that surrounded the character (affairs, scandals, rumors, etc.)
 * 5) where are they now (how it all ended up)
 * 6) primary and influential relationships (either positive or negative)
 * 7) major influences or role models (could be a person, could be a time period, could be a societal norm or social convention)
 * 8) connection to significant symbol or image in the text
 * 9) fatal flaw (things would have been different, only if...?)


 * Product:** You may choose any of the following products to demonstrate your deep knowledge of the character you are studying. You may write an essay that is 3-4 pages long, you may create some sort of artistic representation of the character (scrapbook, Gatsby fathead, etc), you may create and perform a skit or presentation in class, or you may create a multimedia project (a mockumentary movie or digital story).

All projects, no matter what form, will include a ton of significant textual references (quotes) that help provide a thesis for your project. How you work them in depends on your product type. If you are writing an essay, of course they will follow correct MLA format and be properly integrated into your text. If you are creating a different project, you will have to be more creative in the way you use text to support your analysis of the character.


 * People:** You may also choose how many people you would like to work with on this project. You can choose to work alone, or with up to 3 other people. NO groups will be larger than 4 people total. (This is not negotiable.)


 * Due Dates:**
 * Project Proposal:** You need to make the choices I have proposed to you, at the end of class on May 13th. Your proposal should include a detailed plan for the project. (What do you envision creating? Who is in the group? Which character will you study and why?)


 * Full script/Essay draft:** There will not be an intermediate due dates for the project, but I strongly suggest you show me your work along the way.

//**Points:** 100 // 
 * Project Due:** May 21st or 22nd. Or whenever. (Kidding, but let me know how much time you need to do a good job on the project.)

//****Mockumentary Movie Option:** //<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> As I mentioned in class, the mockumentary option is the one where you create the "True Hollywood Story" version of this character's life. This will be a way for you to highlight your knowledge of the characters in Gatsby in a fun, creative way. You will need a few pieces of equipment that I cannot guarantee I can assist you with, though: you will need a computer that runs Windows XP and a video camera. If one or two of your group members have these things, then you are good to go. I can also arrange for a few of you to access one of GBS's video cameras. Here are my ideas about what you can include in your movie: <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Use text to enhance your story, including labeling characters as they appear for interviews, and for the title and credits for the movie.<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
 * 1) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Interviews with the character him/herself, interviews with other characters, interviews with the character's friends or family (ie, interview Henry Gatz about Gatsby, or interview Nick's father)
 * 2) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Re-enact a dramatization of an important moment of the character's life (or death). This could be narrated with a voice-over by the narrator
 * 3) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Use period-appropriate still images when you don't have footage of the character or when you are describing biographical details or social influences. Here is a link to a great source for this:
 * 4) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Voice-over narration is essential. Have you ever seen a VH1 behind the music without a narrator?
 * 5) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Use video and transition effects that match your content
 * 6) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Have a soundtrack. Here is a link to royalty-free music: (You can't really use ones that are popular without violating copyright. So yes, the guy who did the Gatsby video on this page has broken the law.)
 * 7) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Have an appropriate setting for the scenes you film.

//**MOVIEMAKER HANDOUT!!! **//