Peer editing steps!

Step 1: Make a copy of your partner's essay (do NOT edit on their original copy)
Step 2: Read for spelling, grammar, and mechanical mistakes. Highlight any mistakes you see.
Step 3: Write 1 compliment and 1 suggestion for revision for each paragraph. You may place these comments in the margins of the document using the "comment" function.
Step 4: Assign a score based on the essay rubric.

Day 19!

Chapter 9 Focus Questions

1. What makes Nick assume responsibility for the funeral arrangements? Specify the things he did.

2. What version of the tragedy appeared in the newspapers? How would you account for the fact that this version went unchallenged and uncorrected?

3. How had Gatsby’s father learned of the tragedy? To what extent does the father know his son?

4. Discuss the significance of Gatsby’s boyhood program for self-improvement.

5. What is the irony of Gatsby’s funeral?

6. What is the significance of the scene including Jordan Baker?

7. What moral judgment does Nick make about Tom and Daisy? Discuss.

8. Explain the significance of the last page of the novel in relation to Gatsby’s dream and to the American Dream.

Day 17!

Today, we will discuss the questions from last week, and then we will move right along to Chapter 8! 

Here are the focus questions for Chapter 8, please have them prepared for class tomorrow! 

1. What had prompted Gatsby to talk freely to Nick now, when he was unwilling to do so in the past?

2. What further information do we learn about Gatsby?

3. Explain Nick’s meaning when he balances Gatsby’s supposed “corruption” against his “incorruptible dream.”

4. How does Wilson view the “eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg”? Does Wilson’s statement have a symbolic level for the novel as a whole? Explain.

5. Trace the movements of Gatsby and Wilson at the end of Chapter 8. What is Nick’s meaning when he says, “…the holocaust was complete”?

Day 16!

Yeah for getting to best parts of the book (even though it's all so awesome), and yay for Friday!

Today will be a relaxing reading day (after you turn in your writing assignment from yesterday, that is). You will read chapters 6 & 7 for Monday. Not a spoiler alert: you're going to love it. It's about to get more awesome!

Once you have finished, please answer the focus questions:

Chapter 6

1. What was Gatsby’s real name? Why and when had he changed it?

2. In what way was Dan Cody involved in Gatsby’s destiny?

3. Why does Tom attend Gatsby’s party? How does this scene reveal the contrast between Gatsby and Tom?

4. What is deeply ironic in Tom’s statement, “…I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me”?

5. Note the reactions of Tom and Daisy at different times during Gatsby’s part. Did they enjoy themselves? Explain.

6. What suspicions does Tom have about Gatsby? What does he vow to do?

7. What do Nick and Gatsby talk about after the party?

8. What is Gatsby expecting of Daisy that prompts Nick to warn him, “I wouldn’t ask too much of her… You can’t repeat the past”?

Chapter 7

1. Analyze Daisy’s attitude toward her child as evidenced in this chapter and in chapter 1. Is she a good mother? Explain why Gatsby looked “at the child

with surprise.”

2. With whom does Tom talk on the telephone early in the chapter? About what?

3. What does Gatsby mean when he says that Daisy’s voice is “full of money”? Why does Fitzgerald put those words in Gatsby’s mouth and not Nick’s?

4. What arrangements are made regarding the passengers of each car on the trip to the city? Why?

5. What does Gatsby do that makes Nick want “to get up and slap him on the back”? Why does Nick feel this way?

6. Does Daisy know what love is? Whom does she really love?

7. Is there any significance in the fact that the day is Nick’s birthday?

8. At the end of Chapter 7 Nick observes Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy after the accident. What conclusions does he reach?

9. Explain the last paragraph of Chapter 7.

Day 15! Chapter 5

Good morning!

Today we will take some time to discuss Chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby. Our discussion will be based on the following focus questions:

1. Gatsby’s actions in preparing for Daisy’s arrival seem both flamboyant and absurd. What does he do? Why?

2. Discuss Gatsby’s actions once Daisy arrives. How do we know he is nervous? How does he try to impress her?

3. Toward the end of the chapter, Nick attempts to explain “the expression of bewilderment that had come back into Gatsby’s face.” What explanation does Nick give? Why, in his opinion, is Daisy not at fault?

4. Has Nick been affected by the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy? In what way?

After we have finished discussing the questions, we will do a writing activity! 

Your assignment: 

Re-write this chapter from Daisy's point of view. What is she thinking and feeling throughout? What is her initial impression of the meeting upon arriving at Nick's house? How does she feel when she sees Gatsby for the first time? What do she and Gatsby talk about when Nick leaves? Be sure to use the events of the chapter as a guide and language that is characteristic of Daisy! Also, really push yourself to create an image for the reader. Do as Fitzgerald does, and make use of figurative language. Include at least 2 similes and 2 metaphors. Your chapter should be 1-2 pages in length. This will be due at the beginning of class tomorrow! 

Day 14!

Well, apparently I've been slacking on the posts!

Today we will discuss Chapter 4 of The Great Gatsby. We will base our discussion on these questions:

1.  The introductory section of Chapter 4 gives a long roster of those who attended Gatsby’s parties. How do they behave toward their host? Why, then, do they accept his hospitality?
2. Describe Gatsby’s car.
3. Discuss the details that Gatsby shares with Nick about his past.
4. Does Nick believe Gatsby’s story? Why or why not?
5. Who is Meyer Wolfsheim? What seems to be his connection with Gatsby?
6. Jordan Baker tells Nick about Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom. Summarize the story.
7. Explain the epigraph on the title page of the novel . What does it reveal about Gatsby and his love for Daisy? "Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, Till she cry "lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have you!" - Thomas Parke D'Invilliers. 
8. Do we know why Gatsby has so many parties? Why did he buy the house? Explain.
9. When Gatsby spoke to Jordan in his library in Chapter 3, he had devised a plan involving Nick. What was it? Why did he not ask Nick directly?

Once we have finished discussing our focus questions for the day, you will have time to read Chapter 5! It's getting so good!