Assignment: You are to keep a journal and respond as you read The Great Gatsby. The required length of each response is with each assignment and all responses are to be turned in by due dates given. Your honesty and integrity is at stake here as any response is expected to be only your reaction. I do not care what study aids say about the novel: I want your honest responses. These literary journals will count as summative grades. You will still be held responsible for knowledge of content at teacher discretion.
Chapter 1 Writing response one: a. Point of view in literature refers to the voice telling the story. It may be the author as narrator or one of the characters in the story. From whose point of view is this story told? Why do you think the author chose this point of view? b. Irony refers to a statement or event that turns out to be the opposite of what was expected. Explain the irony in the following statement Daisy made in reference to Jordan: "I think the home influence will be very good for her." (One page typed, two pages handwritten)
Chapter 2 Writing response two: How do you feel about the characters that you have met in The Great Gatsby so far? Do any of the characters remind you of anybody that you know? How have the female characters been portrayed so far (use textual evidence to support your answer)? (1/2 to one page typed; one to 1 1/2 pages handwritten)
Chapter 3 Writing response three: Use the party at Gatsby's house to complete a chart on sensory language. Fill in the chart with the language Fitzgerald used to evoke the senses of smell, sight, hearing, touch, and taste. Then, write a description of Gatsby's party. Would you enjoy attending one of Gatsby's parties? Why or why not? Use textual evidence to support. (Completed chart; 1/2 to 3/4 page typed; 3/4 to one page handwritten)
Chapter 4 Writing response four: a. A flashback is a literary device in which a scene or series of scenes show events that happened at an earlier time. The flashback is inserted into a current situation. At what point in Chapter IV did the flashback begin? What purpose did it serve? b. Write about a time when you or someone you know acted in a way that was meant to impress another. What was the result of this activity? (1 page typed; 1 1/2 half to 2 pages handwritten)
Chapter 5 Writing response five: The reader does not know what is actually said between Daisy and Gatsby after Nick leaves them alone in his house. Write the dialogue that might have occurred between the two characters. (3/4 to 1 page typed; 1 1/2 to 2 pages handwritten)
Chapter 6 Writing response six: A symbol in literature is an object, event, or person that represents an idea or a set of ideas. “Write about your school mascot. Why is your mascot a good symbol for the school? What are some other symbols of schools or businesses that you can think of? How do these work?” Starting with the eyes of Dr. T.J.Eckleburg, list at least five symbols in the book so far and tell what each represents. Choose wisely, your list should be original NOT from a study aid!!! (1 1/2 pages typed; 2 to 3 pages handwritten)
Chapter 7 Writing response seven: Write a theme that centers on the difference between dreams and reality. Write about a personal disillusionment--a time when you were disappointed with something that you had imagined to be wonderful. How does your experience compare to what Jay has experienced with his dream of succeeding with Daisy? (1 1/2 pages typed; 2-3 pages handwritten)
Chapter 8 Writing response eight: A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person, usually in honor of a deceased person. Write a eulogy for Gatsby. (1 page typed; 1 1/2-2 pages handwritten)
End of Novel Writing response nine: Until the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression of the 1930s the American Dream was alive and well. It was widely believed that an enterprising young person, from whatever station in life he came, could rise by his own initiative to a life of wealth and accomplishment. How did Fitzgerald's story of Jay Gatsby foreshadow the Great Depression and the death of the American Dream? (2 pages typed; 3-4 pages handwritten)
Chapter 1 Writing response one: a. Point of view in literature refers to the voice telling the story. It may be the author as narrator or one of the characters in the story. From whose point of view is this story told? Why do you think the author chose this point of view? b. Irony refers to a statement or event that turns out to be the opposite of what was expected. Explain the irony in the following statement Daisy made in reference to Jordan: "I think the home influence will be very good for her." (One page typed, two pages handwritten)
Chapter 2 Writing response two: How do you feel about the characters that you have met in The Great Gatsby so far? Do any of the characters remind you of anybody that you know? How have the female characters been portrayed so far (use textual evidence to support your answer)? (1/2 to one page typed; one to 1 1/2 pages handwritten)
Chapter 3 Writing response three: Use the party at Gatsby's house to complete a chart on sensory language. Fill in the chart with the language Fitzgerald used to evoke the senses of smell, sight, hearing, touch, and taste. Then, write a description of Gatsby's party. Would you enjoy attending one of Gatsby's parties? Why or why not? Use textual evidence to support. (Completed chart; 1/2 to 3/4 page typed; 3/4 to one page handwritten)
Chapter 4 Writing response four: a. A flashback is a literary device in which a scene or series of scenes show events that happened at an earlier time. The flashback is inserted into a current situation. At what point in Chapter IV did the flashback begin? What purpose did it serve? b. Write about a time when you or someone you know acted in a way that was meant to impress another. What was the result of this activity? (1 page typed; 1 1/2 half to 2 pages handwritten)
Chapter 5 Writing response five: The reader does not know what is actually said between Daisy and Gatsby after Nick leaves them alone in his house. Write the dialogue that might have occurred between the two characters. (3/4 to 1 page typed; 1 1/2 to 2 pages handwritten)
Chapter 6 Writing response six: A symbol in literature is an object, event, or person that represents an idea or a set of ideas. “Write about your school mascot. Why is your mascot a good symbol for the school? What are some other symbols of schools or businesses that you can think of? How do these work?” Starting with the eyes of Dr. T.J.Eckleburg, list at least five symbols in the book so far and tell what each represents. Choose wisely, your list should be original NOT from a study aid!!! (1 1/2 pages typed; 2 to 3 pages handwritten)
Chapter 7 Writing response seven: Write a theme that centers on the difference between dreams and reality. Write about a personal disillusionment--a time when you were disappointed with something that you had imagined to be wonderful. How does your experience compare to what Jay has experienced with his dream of succeeding with Daisy? (1 1/2 pages typed; 2-3 pages handwritten)
Chapter 8 Writing response eight: A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person, usually in honor of a deceased person. Write a eulogy for Gatsby. (1 page typed; 1 1/2-2 pages handwritten)
End of Novel Writing response nine: Until the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression of the 1930s the American Dream was alive and well. It was widely believed that an enterprising young person, from whatever station in life he came, could rise by his own initiative to a life of wealth and accomplishment. How did Fitzgerald's story of Jay Gatsby foreshadow the Great Depression and the death of the American Dream? (2 pages typed; 3-4 pages handwritten)