The Great Gatsby Party Planners

Introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cTvHhoG1zU

Task

You and your group travel back in time shortly after F. Scott Fitzgerald has had an accident that has caused him to lose his memory and before he has finished The Great Gatsby. You and your group decide that the most appropriate way to jog Fitzgerald's fuzzy memory is to throw him a "This is Your Life" party. This party must be a lavish gala, the type Fitzgerald would throw himself, and it must incorporate all of the important social, cultural, historical, and biographical aspects that Fitzgerald includes in The Great Gatsby.

You will use this WebQuest to research everything from food and fashion to historical figures of the time period in order to prepare for the event. Your group will then create your "party plan" on Google Sites and then present it to the class during our very own Gatsby-inspired party. Feel free to dress for the occasion!

Process

Each group will make their presentations to the class. Remember, the purpose of this party is to help Fitzgerald regain his memory so that he can complete The Great Gatsby. Keep this in mind as you conduct your research.

1. First, you will be assigned to one role. Each of the five groups will plan their own parties and will have a member that is responsible for one of the following jobs below. Your group must address each of the ‘Research Questions’ below for your role.

Role	Research Questions
Biographer	*What important events in Fitzgerald’s life are important to the plot of The Great Gatsby?* Which people in his own life serve as inspiration for the characters in the book? Describe the biographical events in Fitzgerald’s life that influenced the plot and themes of the novel.
Guest Coordinator	Who would Fitzgerald invite to this party? What types of people might grace his mansion with their company? What rules for decorum and etiquette should they be expected to follow (or break)? Include specific names and descriptions of some of the famous people of 1920s era New York for the occasion.
Caterer	What food and beverages should be served at a luxurious party in the 1920s? Where will does one get these refreshments? (Remember, this is during the age of Prohibition, but they are a must for any Fitzgerald party.) How will refreshments be provided? What methods will ensure guests aren’t thirsty?
Fashion Consultant	What is the dress code for the party? What do members of the upper social class of the 1920s wear to a formal event? (Both men and women pay close attention to their attire at this time.) What are the latest trends? Include hairstyles, accessories, jewelry, dos and don’ts.
Entertainment Director	What kind of entertainment would a man like Fitzgerald provide for his guests? What performers would he book? What kind of music would they play? In what dances might the guests engage?

2. Once you have been assigned to a group, do the necessary research for your part of the party plan. You may also want to reread chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby for inspiration. Be sure to address each of the research questions for your role in the table above.

3. When the research step is completed, utilize Google Sites as a group to create your Party Plan to present to the class. Be sure to review all of the required components. FYI, if you are uncertain of how to build a Google Site, follow these step-by-step directions. You can also watch the tutorial video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsNat-3-D3s

4. Once all components of the Party Plan are complete, be sure to revise and edit it into a polished website. In addition, it would be wise to rehearse the presentation that will be given during our Gatsby party. All group members are expected to participate in the presentation.

Evaluation

Rubric for “Party Plan”

Group members_____________________________________________________

	1	2	3	4
Content	No or little attempt to engage the audience; insufficient information; no or little attempt to address tasks; lacks organization and focus	Somewhat engaging; necessary information may be lacking; attempts to address some tasks; somewhat organized and focused.	Creative and original; sufficient amount of information; addresses most tasks; organized and focused.	Thoughtful, creative, and original; ample amount of information; thoroughly addresses all tasks; highly organized and focused; well planned.
Accuracy	Incomplete or inaccurate understanding of topic; many inaccuracies and/or irrelevant information.	Partial understanding of topic; some inaccuracies and irrelevant information.	Complete and accurate understanding of topic; most information is accurate and relevant.	Thorough understanding of topic; all information is accurate and relevant.
Presentation/ Google Site	Little to no use of visual/audio aids or demonstration; unclear or difficult to follow; little to no preparation evident.	Somewhat effective use of visual/audio aids or demonstration; lack of clarity in parts of presentation; preparation is lacking or looks hurried.	Effective use of visual/audio aids or demonstration; engaging, clear, and easy to follow; preparation evident.	Effective use of visual/audio aids in demonstration; engaging, enjoyable, and very easy to follow; cohesive and well prepared.
Writing Conventions	Writing demonstrates limited command of grade-level conventions of standard written English; contains numerous and repeated errors that seriously impede meaning.	Writing demonstrates inconsistent command of grade-level conventions of standard written English; contains many errors that may significantly interfere with meaning.	Writing demonstrates consistent command of grade-level conventions of standard written English; contains some minor and/or major errors, but the errors do not significantly interfere with meaning.	Writing demonstrates consistent and sophisticated command of grade-level conventions of standard written English; may contain a few minor errors that do not interfere with meaning.
Participation	Only 1 or 2 group members participate; Only 1 or 2 group members speak and can be understood; Most group members speak only to part of the audience; Group members help each other very little.	Some group members participate;Some group members speak clearly, but are difficult to understand; Group members speak to only part of the audience; Group members help each other inconsistently.	All group members participate; Most group members speak clearly and are easy to understand; Most group members speak to the entire audience; Group members help each other as needed.	All group members participate equally; All group members speak clearly and are easy to understand;All group members speak to the entire audience;Group members help each other as needed.

Conclusion

Through this process you should have learned a great deal about F. Scott Fitzgerald, the 1920s in America, and the many factors that influenced The Great Gatsby. To sum up your learning, answer the following questions of from this reflection in regard to this project in a Google doc. You do not have to recreate the boxes; just number each item and answer in complete sentences.