The American Dream in Literature, Life, and Art
For this component of the American Dreamers' Project, you will:
Locate your own favorite excerpt from The Great Gatsby-- an excerpt that you believe is relevant to your own American
dream.
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Locate and select paintings and/or photographs from recognized American artists/photographers which you believe
complements the literature excerpt.
You will then prepare a "literature and art square," an essay, and a Works Cited page in MLA format. The Works Cited page should
encompass all sources used in all aspects of your American Dreamers Project.
Below you will find a sample "literature and art square". The art is essentially from two paintings -- both located on the Web -- "The Couple"
by Gilbert Joseph Alexander and "Keeping the Light" by Darrell Bush.
LITERATURE AND ART SQUARE
CAUTION: American art galleries, like all galleries, often display the work of foreign artists. Van
Gogh, Picasso, and Dali are not American artists. Be sure the paintings you select are by
American artists!
Size = 8" x 8" (You will be provided with cardstock in this size to mount your art square.)
The text on the example above is from The Great Gatsby and should be cited as follows:
"I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. . . his
dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it" (Fitzgerald 189).
Resources for finding American artwork are available on the class website.
THE 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY THAT ACCOMPANIES YOUR ART AND LITERATURE SQUARE
SHOULD ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
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What is your American Dream? Why is it important? How do you expect to achieve it?
What impact has your family and your cultural heritage had on your American Dream?
Why is it important to your family (your parents and the family you expect to one day have)
that you achieve your dream?
Explicitly state how your American Dream is reflected by, or connected to, the quote from
the novel and the art you have chosen. Why is this particular excerpt important, and how
is it enhanced or illustrated by the chosen art? MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THE CITED
QUOTE AND THE TITLE AND ARTIST’S NAME OF YOUR ARTWORK IN THIS SECTION OF
THE PAPER.
WORKS CITED: Use your class Noodletools account to generate your Works Cited page.
Include the source for the quote, the artwork and any secondary sources you use.
SOME FINAL TIPS
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Write about literature in the present tense. However, when you speak of people who have
died, you generally must use the past tense. Be careful with tense transitions. Often, you
will find the perfect tense helpful (e.g., Fitzgerald, through the character of Gatsby, has
created a unique vision of the American Dream).
Use transitions between and within paragraphs.
Edit and revise. Do not leave this project until the last minute. Write your essay a few days
before it is due. Type it up. Then go back and re-read it. Does it make sense to you? If not,
it won't make any sense to anyone else.
Use a style manual to check for grammar, punctuation, and stylistic errors. They COUNT!
There are many excellent style manuals on the Web.
Make sure your printer works and that you have ample cartridges before the due date. This
project won't travel well by email. You need to turn it in -- in print -- on time.
Take pride in your work!
DUE DATE (for literature and art square, essay, and works cited): ___________________
NOTE: LATE Work and Work sent by email will not be accepted!
Grading Rubric:
Essays will be graded using the informational Expository Keystone rubric and the MLA rubric for
a total of 200 points.
Art Squares are graded using the following rubric:
____/20 American Artwork
____/20 Literary Quotation
____/5 Citation Format
____/5 Project is mounted professionally on provided cardstock.
____/50 Total