ENG 3U
1920s Research Project and Presentation
Research one of the following topics related to The Great Gatsby and make a presentation to the class.
You may work alone or with a partner. You will need to create your own outline. You should check with
me and with others to that your material does not overlap with another group’s topic. Your
presentation should conclude with a statement as to what your research tells us about the values and
morals of the 1920s.
The Great Gatsby and the Roaring ‘20s Research Topics
Each topic will only be researched/presented once
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The Economy – the Roaring 20s; economic and social impacts
F. Scott Fitzgerald (biography, what else he wrote, etc.)
Justice: Sacco and Vanzetti, Scopes trial, Leopold and Loeb
Fashion of the 1920s, especially Flappers
Bootlegging and the rise of organized crime (Capone, Luciano, etc.)
Sports, especially the 1919 World Series
Automobiles (types and who had them)
Prohibition and Temperance
Politics and Politicians; the American Dream
Famous People (actors, sports figures, the rich and influential)
Art and literature (famous works, artists, authors)
Music and Dance (Jazz)
New Technology of the 1920s
Women’s Rights, especially Women’s Suffrage
The Harlem Renaissance (what it was, where was it, and who was involved)
Theater, film and Hollywood
Pop Culture, and Fads
Architecture and Design
The rubric on the reverse of this page outlines the distribution of grades for this project. Keep in mind
that the following elements are key to receiving a strong overall mark:
Knowledge/Understanding: - Research is thorough, meaningful and accurate
- Strong connections are drawn between research and the idea of morals
and values in the 1920s
Thinking/Inquiry:
- Information is presented in an interesting manner
- Students are engaged and actively listening/participating
Communication:
- Presentation has been rehearsed
- Adequate volume/diction/eye contact
Application:
- Handouts/visual aids/PowerPoint presentations are error free and easy to
follow and to read, and is in the student’s own words, not copied
- A ‘user friendly’ note-taking outline is provided to the class
Make sure all research comes from a reputable source. Keep track of all resources used (including
websites). ALL WRITTEN WORK MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS.