Themes
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Task 13: Pretest time to complete task - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are
graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 14: Background 1 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch: Crash Course History WWI and The Roaring '20s
From the WWI lesson, explain how the war changed American lives (think the theme of past and future). In the Roaring ‘20s lesson, choose
one major change mentioned and explain how it changed the country.
Task 15: Background 2 time to complete task - 2 hours
Watch the following video on the Harlem Renaissance. Choose one of the highlighted artists, research their life and write a 3-paragraph
essay on that person.
Task 16: The Great Gatsby time to complete task - 10 hours
Online text Online audio Text with audio
Complete the study guide.
Task 17: Themes in modern non-fiction time to complete task - 2 hours
Read:
"The Fallacy of Success" or see Supplemental Reading Grade 11, pages 10-161.
"Can Money Buy You Happiness"
"What Money Can't Buy" Thai advertisement
As you read/watch these three short articles, think about Jay Gatsby. Write a three paragraph essay on: What can money really buy and what
power does it have over us?
Task 18: Essay time to complete task - 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY
YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include
examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. You may use the link from the OWL Lab for a
complete understanding of what is involved in writing a persuasive/argumentative essay.
Choose 1 essay topic: DO NOT PLAGIARIZE.
1. Write a persuasive/argumentative essay on: Is is possible to live the American Dream?
2. Research income inequality. You must use and cite at least three sources.
Task 19: Music and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour
Many contemporary songs are inspired by literature and share common ideas and themes. Pick a song or songs from the list below, which
share common ideas or themes from this unit. Write 1 ABC paragraph explaining how the The Great Gatsby and your selected song share a
theme or idea. See Music and Literature Assignment.
List of songs for this unit:
Task 20: Art and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour
Take your time and explore this interactive exhibit from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Be sure to click on all the little
boxes to get additional information. This exhibit is dedicated to the works of Rene Magritte. He was just one of many modernist painters.
Choose one painting and write a one paragraph essay on either your emotions or what you think the artist was trying to make you feel as you
studies the painting. Be sure to tell which painting you chose and why.
Task 21: Exam time to complete task - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 22: FIT/Grammar
Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 23: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 12 hours
Read The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and write 200 word (minimum) essay or multimedia project with presentation.
What sacrifices do the characters in the novel make in pursuit of their dreams for themselves and for others? Do you think any characters
sacrifice too much, or for the wrong reasons? Consider the sacrifices Mr. Okabe makes, for example, and those of Mr. Lee. Both fathers are
acting for the sake of their children, yet the results are quite different. Why?
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 24: Projects time to complete task - 6 hours
First Presentation: Prepare a presentation in which you discuss the themes from The Great Gatsby across literature, film, art, and music.
Second Presentation: Prepare a presentation, using a different tool than the one used in the first presentation, in which you discuss The
American Dream or Enduring Love across the pieces you have studied.
- The Roaring Twenties
- American Dream
- Class (Old Money, New Money, No Money)
- Past and Future
- Enduring Love
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Task 13: Pretest time to complete task - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are
graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 14: Background 1 time to complete task - 1 hour
Watch: Crash Course History WWI and The Roaring '20s
From the WWI lesson, explain how the war changed American lives (think the theme of past and future). In the Roaring ‘20s lesson, choose
one major change mentioned and explain how it changed the country.
Task 15: Background 2 time to complete task - 2 hours
Watch the following video on the Harlem Renaissance. Choose one of the highlighted artists, research their life and write a 3-paragraph
essay on that person.
Task 16: The Great Gatsby time to complete task - 10 hours
Online text Online audio Text with audio
Complete the study guide.
Task 17: Themes in modern non-fiction time to complete task - 2 hours
Read:
"The Fallacy of Success" or see Supplemental Reading Grade 11, pages 10-161.
"Can Money Buy You Happiness"
"What Money Can't Buy" Thai advertisement
As you read/watch these three short articles, think about Jay Gatsby. Write a three paragraph essay on: What can money really buy and what
power does it have over us?
Task 18: Essay time to complete task - 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY
YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include
examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. You may use the link from the OWL Lab for a
complete understanding of what is involved in writing a persuasive/argumentative essay.
Choose 1 essay topic: DO NOT PLAGIARIZE.
1. Write a persuasive/argumentative essay on: Is is possible to live the American Dream?
2. Research income inequality. You must use and cite at least three sources.
Task 19: Music and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour
Many contemporary songs are inspired by literature and share common ideas and themes. Pick a song or songs from the list below, which
share common ideas or themes from this unit. Write 1 ABC paragraph explaining how the The Great Gatsby and your selected song share a
theme or idea. See Music and Literature Assignment.
List of songs for this unit:
- “Castles Made of Sand” by Jimi Hendrix
- “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Can You Hear Me” by David Bowie
- “Boats Against the Current” by Eric Carmen
- “Only in America” by Brooks and Dun
- “America” by Simon and Garfunkel
- “Money Money Money” by Abba
Task 20: Art and Literature time to complete task - 1 hour
Take your time and explore this interactive exhibit from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Be sure to click on all the little
boxes to get additional information. This exhibit is dedicated to the works of Rene Magritte. He was just one of many modernist painters.
Choose one painting and write a one paragraph essay on either your emotions or what you think the artist was trying to make you feel as you
studies the painting. Be sure to tell which painting you chose and why.
Task 21: Exam time to complete task - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 22: FIT/Grammar
Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 23: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 12 hours
Read The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and write 200 word (minimum) essay or multimedia project with presentation.
What sacrifices do the characters in the novel make in pursuit of their dreams for themselves and for others? Do you think any characters
sacrifice too much, or for the wrong reasons? Consider the sacrifices Mr. Okabe makes, for example, and those of Mr. Lee. Both fathers are
acting for the sake of their children, yet the results are quite different. Why?
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 24: Projects time to complete task - 6 hours
First Presentation: Prepare a presentation in which you discuss the themes from The Great Gatsby across literature, film, art, and music.
Second Presentation: Prepare a presentation, using a different tool than the one used in the first presentation, in which you discuss The
American Dream or Enduring Love across the pieces you have studied.