Research Project

Income Disparity in The Great Gatsby: An Ongoing Dilemma or a Thing of the

Past?
Now that you have completed The Great Gatsby, it is time to look beyond the
lives of the main characters and really get a hold on Fitzgeralds take on
materialism and income disparity. This project will consist of three
components:
1. Create a Weebly website, where you will post your interactive
presentation, as well as your analytical work
2. Create an interactive presentation using Prezi
3. Present your findings to the class
The overall point of this assignment is to examine the authors own
commentary on the financial situation of the 1920s. We know that the
Roaring 20s were a time of great wealth and livelihood, but what about for
people like George Wilson? Furthermore, how is this disparity reminiscent of
what we see going on in the United States today?
Part 1. Weebly Website with Author Analysis: Citing at least five examples
from the novel, analyze Fitzgeralds opinions on wealth and its importance to
life, character, and destiny.
Criteria

0-6 points

7-14 points

15-22 points

22-30 points

Depth of
Analysis

The website
features one
entry
examining the
authors bias
toward or
against wealth
in the novel;
arguments are
superficial in
nature and do
not require
additional
research. No
thought is
given toward
theme,
symbolism,
motif, etc.

The website
features two
entries
examining the
authors bias
toward or
against wealth
in the novel;
arguments are
slightly
superficial in
nature and
require
minimal
outside
research.

The website
features three
entries
paragraph
examining the
authors bias
toward or
against wealth
in the novel;
arguments are
analytical but
not complete;
some aspects
of theme or
symbolism
may be
referenced; an
average
analysis of
income
disparity in the

The website
features four
entries
examining the
authors bias
toward or
against wealth
in the novel;
arguments pay
special
attention to
symbols and
motifs
emphasized by
the author and
convey a deep
understanding
of the work in
its entirety; a
thorough and
thoughtful

novel.

Conventions

Works Cited

Visual Appeal/
Organization

There are
frequent
instances of
grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation
errors that
detract from
the meaning of
the
assignment.
There are no
references, or
there are few
references,
none of which
are cited
properly or
that fit the
appropriatenes
s of the
assignment.
The website is
lackluster and
shows little
effort with
regards to
design and
organization.
The entries are
not distinct.

There are
frequent errors
in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation,
but the overall
meaning of the
assignment is
not lost.
There are one
or two
references to
outside
sources that
are cited
properly in
MLA format.

The website
shows some
effort with
regards to
organization of
entries and
design.

There are a
few minor
errors in
grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation,
but they do
not detract
from the
content of the
analysis.
There are
three to five
outside
references that
are cited
properly in
MLA format.

The website
shows different
fonts, colors,
and images
selected to
appeal to the
viewer.

examination of
the topic of
income
disparity in
The Great
Gatsby.
There are few
to no errors in
grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation.

There are more

than five
outside
sources that
are cited
properly using
MLA format.

The website
shows a wide
variety of
fonts, colors,
and images
selected to
appeal to the
viewer.

Part 2. Prezi Assignment: Using academic resources from journals, books, or

other approved sources, compare the income disparity seen in the novel to
the current state of income disparity in the United States. How has the
middle class changed? What group of 21st Century people does each
character symbolize? In your opinion, how have things changed since then?

Criteria

0-10

11-20

21-30

Visual Appeal

The Prezi is plain,

featuring few to no
images and/or
animation. The
fonts may be too
small or too
dark/light to read
easily.

The Prezi is easily

readable and
features 2-4
images/videos. The
fonts are
appropriately sized
and colored.

The Prezi is visually

stunning, clear and
easily readable,
and feature more
than 5 images or
videos, utilizing
animation
techniques.

Accuracy of
Information

The Prezi makes

claims that are not
backed up by
reputable sources.
No sources or
cited, or sources
cited are done so
incorrectly.

The Prezi supports

its claims with
support from
outside sources;
citations may be
incorrect, or
sources may come
from secondary
resources.

Conventions

The Prezi is filled

with distracting
errors.

The Prezi has more

than five
conventional
errors.

The Prezi heavily

relies on primary
resources that are
academic and
professional in
nature and
representative of
the facts dealing
with the topic; all
sources are
properly cited.
The Prezi has no
errors or only a
couple of minor
errors that do not
detract from the
assignment.

Part 3. Class Presentation: After adding your Prezi to your Weebly website,
present your site to the class in a clear and coherent manner. Explain your
findings on the authors opinions on wealth and then tell the class what you
discovered about the link between income disparity in the 1920s and today.
Criteria

0-15 points

16-29 points

30-40 points

Vocabulary/Dictio The student uses

n
simple
vocabulary and
does not
enunciate words
so that peers can
understand. The
presentation is
filled with slang
words, run-on
sentences, and
grammatical
errors.
Volume
The student
cannot be heard
throughout the
presentation.

The student uses

a somewhat
elevated
vocabulary at
times but may
struggle with
enunciation or
grammar, as
long as these
attributes do not
detract from the
presentation.

The student uses

elevated
vocabulary,
featuring words
studied in the
class, enunciates
words
effectively, and
speaks with
proper grammar.

The student can

be heard but
may have
moments where
their speech
grows too quiet
to understand.

Organization and
Flow

The student
plans out the
presentation but
may show some
lapses in
information and
timing.

The student
speaks with an
appropriate
volume so all
classmates can
hear and
understand what
is being
presented.
The student is
well-organized,
with a prepared
and practiced
plan of
presentation,
with no lapses in
information or
timing.

The student does

not plan out the
presentation and
instead tries to
wing it. There
are lapses in
information and
timing, and the
overall message
is lost in the
chaos.