1920’s Creative Story Using Period Appropriate Vocabulary
(100 points)
Today you are going to begin writing a story that is reflective of the 1920’s time period.
For the completion of this project today, you will need to break up into small groups. Together,
the groups will do the following:
1. The group is to decide what characters they will use to tell their story. Choose characters from
the following list: Bootlegger, Policeman, Bar Owner or Bar Tender, Flapper, A man with a new
car going on a date or a musician in a speakeasy.
2. Each group will be assigned a city as the scene for their story. The story must be historically
accurate for the city. You must reference real places/bars/people throughout your story.
3. The group must come to consensus about what characters they will use in the story and how
each character will contribute and interact throughout the story.
4. Each member of the group will individually write a narrative/story, consistent with the other
members of their group. The group characters must interact throughout the story.
5. Be sure that the story has a clear narrative, well developed plot, fully developed characters and
a consistent reference to the 1920’s time period.
Target Length: MINIMUM 3 pages (typed, single spaced). Not to exceed 5 pages.
All work must be typed and your work will be graded on historical accuracy, elements of fiction
used in the story, and usage of proper slang from the time period.
Papers are to be spell checked and grammatically correct
(10% penalty for persistent infraction)
Use MLA format in setting up the paper. Font should be 10 or 12 Times New Roman.
Name______________________________
Class/Period_________________________
Total Points - 100
A
B
Paper has a strong
and interesting plot
line. Characters
are well
developed. Story
line is concluded
successfully
without any
inconsistencies.
(10 points)
Paper has a
competent plot
line. Characters
are developed.
Story line is
concluded
successfully.
Date______________________
C
Paper has an
acceptable plot
line. Characters
are adequately
developed. Story
line contains
weaknesses in plot
and or conclusion.
F
Paper has a weak
plot line.
Characters
development is
weak. Story line is
unclear and not
concluded
successfully.
Poor and
unfocused plot.
The story is not
ineffective at
engaging the
reader.
(4 points)
Has very little
connection or
consistency with
other members of
the group.
(0 points)
Has no consistency
with other
members of the
group.
(4 points)
Not well supported
with 1920’s slang.
Uses a minimum
of 5 slang terms
throughout.
(0 points)
Uses fewer than 5
slang term
throughout.
(4 points)
Paper contains
major historical
inaccuracies and
inconsistencies
(0 points)
Paper contains
unacceptable
historical
inaccuracies.
(6 points)
(8 points)
The plot is
consistent with
other members of
the group,
although
characters may not
always interact
appropriately
The plot contains
inconsistencies
with other
members of the
group and
characters don’t
interact
appropriately
(10 points)
Well supported
with 1920’s slang.
Uses a minimum
of 20 slang terms
throughout.
(8 points)
Well supported
with 1920’s slang.
Uses a minimum
of 15 slang terms
throughout.
(6 points)
Supported with
1920’s slang.
Uses a minimum
of 10 slang terms
throughout.
(10 points)
Paper is
historically
accurate in every
way, with real
historical figures
and locations.
There are no
anachronisms or
historical
inconsistencies.
Understanding of
new technology,
role of women and
prohibition are all
exhibited.
(attached sheet
explaining the
above
components)
(70 points)
(8 points)
Paper is
historically
accurate. There
may be
anachronisms or
historical
inconsistencies
that would be
difficult for a
student to verify.
Understanding of
new technology,
role of women and
prohibition are all
exhibited.
(attached sheet
explaining the
above
components)
(60 points)
The plot is
consistent with
other members of
the group and
characters interact
appropriately
D
(6 points)
Paper contains
some historical
inaccuracies.
There are
anachronisms or
historical
inconsistencies
(40 points)
(15 points)
(0 points)
LANGUAGE OF THE 1920s
Female Slang (used for Males)
smooth - a well-dressed man without qualification
doggy - a well-dressed man but very self-conscious and conspicuous in manner
Joe Broobs - a perfect dresser
wet - an odd dresser or over-dresser
Joe Zlish - a male college student
Sheik - boyfriend
Male Slang (used for Females)
wife - a steady girlfriend
quite the beevies - very good
baby - one's sweetheart
Sheba - girlfriend
bear cat - attractive girl
bug-eyed Betty, crumb, chunk of lead - unattractive girl
angel, thrill, bird, live, doll, one, baby vamp, choice bit of calico - popular girl
Language in School
drag - a dance
dragging -taking a girl to a dance
blind date - a date that has not met
necking - kissing
party - a girl who kisses
stuck on - in love with
rush - to court membership in a fraternity
Neutral Words
oodles - a lot of something
V tub - to take a bath
hit on all six - to perform 100%
applesauce - nonsense
beef - a complaint
bees knees - something excellent
beeswax - business
bird - a man, woman, or an odd person
breezer - a convertible top auto
cast a kitten - to have a fit
chewing gum - double talk
dough, jack - money
fly boy - aviator
hayburner - an auto that is expensive to run
on the lam - fleeing from the police
pinko - liberal
sap - fool
screaming meemies - heebie jeebies
Prohibition
giggle water - alcohol
lap - to drink
gin mill - speakeasy
half cut or soaked with a bar rag - pleasantly tipsy
fried, barreled, canned - full blown intoxicated
non-skit - could hold her liquor
hip hound- serious drinker
drunken goof - flask
apple alley - drunk sailor
Slang
baloney - nonsense
cheaters - glasses
darb - excellent person or thing
dumb Dora - stupid girl
flat tire - dull, boring person
gaga - crazy/silly
gam - girl’s leg
hard-boiled - tough
hotsy-totsy - pleasing
Jake - okay
nerts - interjection of disgust
ritzy - elegant
Sheba - young woman with sex appeal
Sheik - young man with sex appeal
spifflicated - drunk
white cow - vanilla milkshake