OliviaB1WQText

=G.R.A.S.P.S= =Understanding(s)= // •Common literary elements and devices shape the effectiveness of the plot by allowing the reader to draw conclusions and make connections to their own lives and/or other texts. // // •The point of view and narration of a text benefit the perspective and believability of a novel. // // •History and setting play important roles in the development of plot and action. //
 * Goal || To create the next number one hit song using //Gatsby// as your inspiration. ||
 * Role || A pop group or trio and residents of East and West Egg inspired by the scandals surrounding Jay Gatsby and his social circle. ||
 * Audience || The Virgin Records company, looking for the next Lady Gaga or Lil Wayne. ||
 * Setting || Create a catchy, authentic song to impress the label and get signed. ||
 * Presentation || An original song created with Garageband or Audacity and an oral presentation defending your masterpiece. ||
 * Standards || **Product criteria:** • Content 45% • Length 5% • Participation 20% • Appropriateness 5% • Creativity 15% • Clarity 10%
 * Presentation criteria:** • Confidence 15% • Creativity 20% • Preparedness/Timeliness 10% • Appropriateness 5% • Participation 20% • Content 30% ||

=Introduction= It's the sumer of 1922. You and your best friends just finished an ravishing round of golf, and now you're sitting on the front porch drinking an ice cold glass of lemonade and reading the daily newspaper. You scan the paper looking for that familiar name, '//Gatsby.//' You've followed his actions and scandals through the newspaper all summer now, growing more and more disgusted and outraged at each mention of his name. What could he have possibly got himself into this time? You begin to worry as you don't see his name on the front page as usual, but as you flip through, you eventually find him...in the obituaries. You are initially astounded, shocked, and horrified, perhaps a little amused, and as you read, less and less surprised at this man's fate. You knew he was chasing an unobtainable dream, and that eventually led to his unfortunate death. As you start to drum your fingers against your glass and hum quietly to yourself, you begin to worry if life here in the Eggs will eventually turn everyone into just another Gatsby...

=Task= So you're sick and tired of East and West Egg's scandals, competition, and general nastiness - who isn't? The talk surrounding Jay Gatsby and his social circle this summer has your head spinning and searching for a way out! You want to find a way to use all of the knowledge you have of East and West Egg to break away and see the world. You have the tools necessary to break away from Long Island and make the world hear your voice because you just so happen to be a member of an up and coming pop group or trio looking to make it big. If you want to create the next number one hit and be on the next flight to Hollywood, you must impress the Virgin Records company, who came to the Eggs looking for the next Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne. If you impress the record label with your original song using //Gatsby// as your inspiration, they will sign your group and make you a star! The road to becoming a popstar is no walk in the park, as anyone featured on Vh1's //Behind the Music// will tell you. Virgin Records compiled a specific list of criteria your song must meet in order to truly impress them and prove you've got what it takes. Your original song may be from any genre of your choice, but it must be at least two minutes long and authentically represent where you came from. You're not "Jenny from the Block,"you're "(your name here) from the 'Eggs'"! Really prove you know what happened this summer with Gatsby and his "friends." Feel free to record your own instruments, or use Garageband or Audacity's presets. As always, keep the language clean and save the dirty stuff for when you're famous. Good luck!

=Conclusion= So, do you feel like a rock star yet? I have a feeling you all will be getting calls from the Virgin Records company looking to sign some deals. Watch out for shady characters, though! Never sign your life away for a record deal without reading the fine print. You wouldn't want to end up like just another Gatsby: dead, with dead dreams. Now that your job is done, and you've really proved your knowledge of what happened during that summer of 1922, through perspective, themes, symbols, and setting, are you satisfied with the results? All of these scandals and issues circulating the Eggs this summer just couldn't go undiscussed, and you proved that although these events were trashy, the way they were explained didn't have to be trashy as well. Thanks for spreading the word to the masses, in our most favorite way of channeling drama - through song. You are all true brooding pop and rock stars now. Go make millions.