Twitter Character ProfilesASSIGNMENT SHEET

There is no way to escape technology these days. Instead of trying to avoid it, we are going to use it to make a connection between technology and our reading of The Great Gatsby. Once we meet some of the main characters in the novel, we are going to create Twitter profiles for them. We will create these profiles in class, and you will be responsible for tweeting every night as we read the novel. You will react to plot events, show emotions, and creatively incorporate trends of today (hashtags, retweets, etc.) Ultimately, we are going to bring these characters back to life!

GRADING: This project is worth 50 points (rubric attached). I will create a Twitter profile for F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author, and I will check in

weekly to make sure that everyone is tweeting appropriately. I may comment, quote, or retweet creative tweets from my account! F. Scott Fitzgerald will be checking in to make sure that you are accurately

representing his characters!

GOALS: To imagine 1920’s characters living in modern society with current technology. To embody a character from the text and imagine the way they would use technology

today.

REQUIREMENTS: You must sign up your username on the master list at

http://meetingwords.com/42JLubXUJP so that your classmates may follow you. You must be following at least 10 classmates and your teacher. You must engage in re-tweeting and quoting to make a collaborative learning

environment for you and the whole class.

If you do not feel comfortable with this assignment, don’t worry! Come talk to me and we can figure out an alternative assignment.

Twitter Character Profiles“HOW TO”

CREATE A USER: Go to twitter.com You should be at the main login page. Click where it says "New to Twitter? Sign up" Click "sign up for twitter" to input your information.

- Name – use your character’s name, NOT your own name.- Email Address - use your personal email address - if you already have a

twitter, you can still use your gmail address. Type in your email and place a period anywhere in your address before the “@” sign.

- Password - create a password that meets the strength requirements.- Username – choose a username that suits your character (this may be take a

few tries). Uncheck both boxes – you don’t want twitter to keep you signed in or tailor twitter to

the websites I visit. Click "Create my account" Prove that you are human. SAVE YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD. WRITE IT DOWN. YOU MUST

REMEMBER THIS INFORMATION!

CONFIRM YOUR PROFILE: Cancel out of browser. Confirm your email address. Re-open and log into Twitter.

EDIT PROFILE: Click the settings tool to the right of the search bar. Click "Edit Profile.” CHOOSE A PROFILE PICTURE:

o To choose a photo, save a photo of an actor/actress to your desktop from Google search.

o You may use characters cast for the new movie coming out or the old movie or others who you think should have been cast.

o You may NOT use a personal photo of you or anyone else you know.o Once photo is saved to your desktop, click "Change Photo" and upload your

chosen image. Changing header is optional. Leave "Name" as character's name. Under "Bio" provide a brief description of your character’s situation and personality.

Do not mention your name or any other personal information. Click "Save Changes" at the bottom.

PRIVACY SETTINGS: Click the "Settings" tool again (next to the search bar) and click "Settings" on the

drop-down menu to edit privacy settings. Next to "Tweet Privacy" check "Protect my Tweets." This means that only your

approved followers may view your Tweets. Your teacher and classmates will request to follow you and you will have to approve them.

Click "Save Changes" at the bottom.

FOLLOWERS: Do not follow anyone outside of this class. You may follow anyone from the class. You must follow at least 10 of your classmates

and your teacher. You may retweet, quote, and interact with each other on Twitter. To follow someone, type their username into the search bar and locate their profile.

Click “Follow.”

REMEMBER YOUR LOG-IN INFORMATION: Write your username and password somewhere so you will not forget it. INCLUDE YOUR USERNAME ON THE SIGN UP SHEET FOR YOUR CLASS!

o Go to http://meetingwords.com/42JLubXUJP and add your name and username.

Follow all of your classmates on this website.

Name___________________Username___________________

Hour___________

Character Twitter ProfilesREQUIREMENTS

30 Tweets __________ / 20Student regularly and consistently tweets throughout reading, and does not wait until the end of the unit to tweet all 30 tweets. If there is a specific prompt, student completes the prompt promptly and accurately.

Relevant __________ / 10Tweets are relevant, incorporate plot events and character traits, and have a purpose.

Creative __________ / 10Student incorporated hashtags, retweets classmates, and includes other profile details to illuminate and emphasize the character’s personality. To do this, you must be following at least 10 of your classmates.

Believable __________ / 5Student embodies the character and imagines the way the character would realistically use social networking technology.

Appropriate __________ / 5Student used appropriate language that the teacher will understand.

FINAL GRADE __________ / 50

Comments:

Technology Use in the Classroom

Dear Parent/Guardians:

Part of my teaching goals for this trimester is to incorporate technology into the classroom in a positive and beneficial way for students. By using various forms of technology in my lessons, I hope that students will find a personal connection with the content of the course.

I am asking students to create a Twitter profile for one of the characters in the The Great Gatsby. Throughout the reading, students will be asked to “tweet” in response to plot events in the book from the point of view of their chosen character. This activity has a number of educational purposes and requires higher level thinking skills. Students will not provide any personal information whatsoever on this profile: it will be entirely anonymous. I will keep track of each student’s username in my own records. I will monitor the accounts frequently, and we will delete the accounts at the end of the unit.

I ask that you please read the above assignment sheet and rubric. If you have any questions or concerns about this assignment or you do not feel comfortable allowing your student to participate, please let me know and we will make accommodations according. Thank you so much for your support.

Best,

Arianne Frink Mary Conversearianne.frink@gmail.com