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2009
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May
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- Non-Fiction Book Suggestions
- Just Some Fun with Gatsby
- 1. What is the American Dream? (Everyone must answer)
- 2. The Great GAPsby Society
- 3. Social Rules
- 4. Nick Carraway's Sense of Morality
- 5. Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan
- 6. POV
- 7. Nick's Feelings
- 8. Social and Moral Behavior
- 9. Symbols
- 10. Poetry
- 11. Tragic Hero
- 12. Females
- 13. Believable?
- 14. Climax
- 15. Archetypes
- 16. Stereotypes
- 17. The Relationship
- 18. Gatsby's Actions
- 19. Style
- 20. Gatsby and Tom
- 21. Compare and Contrast
- 22. The Real Daisy
- 23. Minor Characters
- 24. Title
- 25. Nick's Role
- 26. Who was responsible for Gatsby's death.
- 27. Gatsby's Death
- 28. Myrtle's Death
- 29. How was Nick different
- 30. Was Gatsby different
- 31. Tom and Daisy
- 32. Classic
- 33. Rotten Crowd
- 34. Money
- 35. The Green Light
- 36. Gatz
- 37. The Funeral
- 38. The Child
- 39. The Party
- 40. Myrtle
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May
(42)
Your Summer Assingment
1. Read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. You should be prepared to take a test on the book on the first day of class.
2. Participate on The Great Gatsby Blog (Due the first day of class.)
Rules for Discussion Board
a. You must make ten postings over the next two months. Each posting is worth a maximum of ten points. Therefore, make sure that what you say is valid, supported, and original.
b. Five of these postings should be in response to a posting made by someone in the class. You may agree or disagree, but you must provide support for your point of view using MLA citation format.
c. The remaining five postings must be original observations by you. You should use the book to give help you support your answer and use internal citations.
d. Each posting must be thoughtful and grammatically correct sentences.
e. Use correct grammar and spelling; do not use slang, abbreviations, or IM speak. (Watch capitalization.)
f. It is a good idea to type your response in a word processing program first to eliminate basic errors. Then copy and paste it into the discussion board. Proofread carefully!
g. Do not use any cute nicknames. I will only grade the work by the names that are given to me on my roster. You must use your real name. h. Any postings that are defamatory or the least bit obscene will be deleted and will receive no credit.
i. Be creative, thoughtful, and open.
j. Remember your comments are now public.
3. Read a non-fiction book of high academic rigor. It must be at least 150 pages long. I have suggestions for you if you need any help.
4. Write an essay about your non-fiction book. It should be one of the following formats:
Language Analysis Essay – evaluates the use of language devices such as metaphors, figurative language, diction, etc. which support the theme.
Writing Strategy/Structural Analysis Essay – evaluates the organization, structure, point of view, etc. which support the theme.
Argumentative/Persuasive Essay – includes identification of strategies by the author and students writing a persuasive essay in response to the text.
You essay should be typed double, spaced, following MLA formats and using correct MLA citations. This paper should be emailed to me the first day of class. Please analyze the form of the book, do not summarize.
5. To go with your paper, you must prepare a PowerPoint that highlights your paper. Please have your thesis on a separate slide and PLEASE do not summarize the book. You should analyze the book, not summarize it.
6. Have a great summer and prepare for an engaging and hopefully challenging class.
7. If you have any questions over the summer please email any time. My email is ehogshead@cm.edu.gt or elroark@yahoo.com.
2. Participate on The Great Gatsby Blog (Due the first day of class.)
Rules for Discussion Board
a. You must make ten postings over the next two months. Each posting is worth a maximum of ten points. Therefore, make sure that what you say is valid, supported, and original.
b. Five of these postings should be in response to a posting made by someone in the class. You may agree or disagree, but you must provide support for your point of view using MLA citation format.
c. The remaining five postings must be original observations by you. You should use the book to give help you support your answer and use internal citations.
d. Each posting must be thoughtful and grammatically correct sentences.
e. Use correct grammar and spelling; do not use slang, abbreviations, or IM speak. (Watch capitalization.)
f. It is a good idea to type your response in a word processing program first to eliminate basic errors. Then copy and paste it into the discussion board. Proofread carefully!
g. Do not use any cute nicknames. I will only grade the work by the names that are given to me on my roster. You must use your real name. h. Any postings that are defamatory or the least bit obscene will be deleted and will receive no credit.
i. Be creative, thoughtful, and open.
j. Remember your comments are now public.
3. Read a non-fiction book of high academic rigor. It must be at least 150 pages long. I have suggestions for you if you need any help.
4. Write an essay about your non-fiction book. It should be one of the following formats:
Language Analysis Essay – evaluates the use of language devices such as metaphors, figurative language, diction, etc. which support the theme.
Writing Strategy/Structural Analysis Essay – evaluates the organization, structure, point of view, etc. which support the theme.
Argumentative/Persuasive Essay – includes identification of strategies by the author and students writing a persuasive essay in response to the text.
You essay should be typed double, spaced, following MLA formats and using correct MLA citations. This paper should be emailed to me the first day of class. Please analyze the form of the book, do not summarize.
5. To go with your paper, you must prepare a PowerPoint that highlights your paper. Please have your thesis on a separate slide and PLEASE do not summarize the book. You should analyze the book, not summarize it.
6. Have a great summer and prepare for an engaging and hopefully challenging class.
7. If you have any questions over the summer please email any time. My email is ehogshead@cm.edu.gt or elroark@yahoo.com.
The American Dream is to be successful. Men should be the major breadwinners in their families. The men want to have a life where they live in big houses and have a large quantity of money that they are able to spend. The American Dream included the perfect family and the perfect marriage. Fitzgerald shows the struggle and the want of the American Dream through the situation of Tom Buchanan cheating on his wife, Daisy. Daisy didn’t react to this in an extremely negative way because she wanted her marriage to seem like the ideal marriage, which was the American Dream (Fitzgerald 19). All the people that attend Gatsby’s parties regularly are people that wish they had the American Dream. Some of these people already have the American Dream because they are celebrities. Gatsby is one of the only people who live the American Dream. Although he is not married, he appears to have the perfect life.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments Tania.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Does Gatsby truly live the American Dream? If so what does his death symbolize then?
Also, how does Nick's narration et the tone for the American Dream then?
These are just some questions to think about.
The American Dream is the idea that anyone, regardless of there status or family background, can obtain wealth, happiness and a comfortable life style, if they work hard enough. The perfect example of this is James Gatz; otherwise know as the rich and famous Jay Gatsby. He came from nothing; “his parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people” (Fitzgerald 104). With determination and wit James Gatz was able to rise from the slums and turn himself into the successful business man that everyone knew, the famous or infamous, Jay Gatsby. A main part of the American Dream is wealth. Most of the characters in the Great Gatsby had to sacrifice a part of themselves to get one step closer to the unobtainable American Dream. James Gatz had to give up his integrity and morals to become the wealthy Gatsby. He started doing “business gonnegtion” (Fitzgerald 75) and hanging out with the wrong crowds. Personally, I think that all the characters in the novel, except Nick, are trying to pursue the American Dream. But in reality, none of them ever will. Gatsby has got the money and the comfortable life style, but he never achieved happiness; he never got his girl. Tom and Daisy both have money, but Tom was obviously not happy with his life because he had to have a mistress. Daisy was miserable; she did not marry the man she loved and, she had to act as a submissive wife. In the end, I believe that, the American Dream is simply a marketing strategy because no amount of money, wealth, power or comfort will make a person happy.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe american dream is every man's dream of wealth and success in capitalist societies like the one of 20th century America. It is the ultimate goal where money is not a problem and a man follows his lust and greed for useless but flashy possessions. It is a life where you can live the most carefree life. In the part of the book where Gatsby reaches out toward the green light, it shows one man's struggle for the american dream (Fitzgerald 25). Though he has popularity, a mansion, a great amount of possesions, and whatever any person could want, he is still missing the satisfaction needed by any person in the world: love. This demonstrates how people that appear to have everything in the end do not possess it and always try to get more than they can, maybe suggesting the American Dream is unattainable. At first sight, both Tom and Gatsby have the american dream. Everything in a man's dream is theirs, only as the story progresses, they both are missing something to help them be at peace, for Tom his concern over Daisy's affair and Gatsby is missing the woman he loves. if the american dream were like anything else in history, it'd be like El Dorado, because you can never find its exact spot and the wonderful stories told about it are beyond anyone's reach.
ReplyDeleteEduardo nice connection to El Dorado. Is the American Dream the impossible dream that people have chased after for centuries?
ReplyDeleteAgain and again the American Dream is brought up in this book. The American Dream is about being in a high class in society where one has sweltering amounts of money, a lavish lifestyle, without ever having to worry about bills. The American Dream, as shown by Fitzgerald, is about persevering and never losing hope. It is, like Ana said, success that can be achieved by anyone, against all odds. Fitzgerald presents us the character of James Gatz, Mr. Gatsby. Gatz was never born with money. Ever since he was a young man he worked hard to become a great person. He goes through many adventures during his early age, and eventually ends up becoming rich. He is the epitome of a person who is searching for the American Dream. Gatz shows us that part of “achieving” the American Dream requires ambition, which is matched with undying hard work, and a sense of adventure. Despite the fact that Gatz may not have a lot of money to begin with, he shows us everlasting hope. He works hard to achieve his dream of being with Daisy. But he does not achieve the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream is mostly about having money. Tom and Daisy both have it but, similar to Gatsby, neither achieves the American Dream. This is because the American Dream is a fallacy. It cannot possibly be achieved because it goes against all the innate characteristics of being human. We will always work hard for something, for our “here” to become our “there”. We will eventually reach to get “there”. However, once “there”, it will become our “here” again, and so there will emerge another “there”. This will go on for the rest of our life. Tom and Daisy both have enough riches. They should have been satisfied with their lives, however, neither really is. Greed for something more, something better, inhibits anyone from reaching the American Dream. Tom is not satisfied with Daisy and has an affair with Myrtle. The image of their American Dream is, therefore, not real. On the other hand, Gatsby worked hard to be with Daisy. Once he gained enough riches, he finally met her. But she was already married and Gatsby could not do anything about it. In the end, Gatsby is killed and he dies, never having reached the American Dream. Everybody wants the American Dream, but no one has it. I personally believe that the American Dream can never be reached. We will never truly be satisfied with our lives. The American Dream is something everyone in the book is searching for, but it is just a Journey. It should be called the American Journey, not the American Dream.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Eduardo. The American Dream was about having everything you wanted, whenever you wanted it. But the one thing that was hard to achieve for most of the characters in The Great Gatsby, was happiness.
ReplyDeleteTwo perfect examples of it are Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan.
The only thing Gastby wanted was to be with Daisy. He had everything but her.
And Tom actually had Daisy, but did not appreciate her at all. He had a mistress, Myrtle, who was Wilson’s Wife.
So the difference between these two men is that Gatsby knew exactly which would be the catalyst to make him happy. This was easier for him because he did not grow up having everything as Tom Buchanan did. I think this is why Tom was so lost. He did not know what he wanted, because he always had everything. The trouble with that is that if someone does grow up like that, he or she will not have to strive and work for anything, they will have everything handed easily. They may even think it is their right to have everything.
One of the main things I caught from The Great Gatsby is that no one has the same American Dream everyone has their own version of it. And not being able to have the American Dream handed to one on a silver platter, makes one strive and work hard to have it.
Like everyone else said, the American Dream is a dream of large amounts of money, a beautiful house, a perfect lifestyle with a perfect marriage and/or family. People in the United States dream about the American Dream, hoping that all their problems would go away, especially with the shortage of money they own, and wishing that once they become part of the dream, money would not exist as a problem and can get whatever they want . They dream that they would be happy for ever with their perfectly set lives. However, the word perfect is overrated. Not everything can be perfect; there would be always a conflict with something or someone. For example, between Daisy and Tom, their marriage isn’t perfect, or even happy. Tom has a mistress and already some people know about their affair (Fitzgerald 19).
ReplyDeleteGatsby had already a beautiful large mansion and lots of money. However, he was not happy. He was in love with Daisy and always tried to reach that happiness but Daisy goes back to her husband instead. I agree with Josefina how you are always “here” and trying to get over “there” throughout your whole life. The American Dream may have simply just a dream that is unreachable for everyone. Also, not only this dream happens in the US, it happens everywhere in the world, where people are always trying to find the large amounts of money, beautiful house and the perfect marriage and/or family.
America is the land of opportunity and as such anyone has the chance to improve their life, prosper in their social and economic stand. That is the American Dream; the opportunity any person has to improve their life, from “rags to riches”. To triumph in life is the ultimate goal; to finally have the American Dream. Fitzgerald shows this struggle for the American Dream mainly through the character of Gatsby, but he also shows it through the difference of the East Egg and the West Egg in how those in the west want to be as the rich in the east and do so with their new riches. At first sight, the one character that pops out as the person to achieve the American Dream in the Great Gatsby is James Gatz. He started his life in humility with little money to spare, but through hard work and perseverance he finally triumphed, became rich and known as Gatsby. He was rich but he truly did not achieve the American Dream. He was in love with a girl named Daisy, yet he couldn't be with her. When he is rejoined with his beloved Daisy, he is shot and killed. He never really had the American Dream. No one has the true American Dream because it is factious. It is an illusion that helps guide the people to strive and work harder to improve their life. It is a light in the horizon which can never be reached. The character that closest is to this goal is the narrator, Nick Carraway. He is the most stable character in the book. He has a good job, a decent house and a well located house. He is not rich as Gatsby or Tom Buchanan but he has enough and is in a better position in other aspects of life such as in his social life.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream is the freedom to act as you see fit (within the law). The American Dream is meant for those who wish to be free. For those who want to be a store clerk, a C.E.O., a member of the government, a doctor, physician, a vet or anything else they wish to be. That’s the American Dream, to be able to succeed in any way fit for you. To have the education to do so, to have the help required in order to act. This is the American Dream. In the states you are given the right to work, to speak, to write, etc. You are also allowed the right to go to court. You will only be convicted by the public, not just one person. The American Dream is absolutely wonderful. Where anyone person is allowed to be treated just as normally as the person next to them. As well as having the freedom to practice your religion. Thus, the American Dream is all about the freedom to succeed and act with in the law. Fitzgerald shows us how people of the 20’s were susceptible to everything the American Dream had to offer. He shows us how the rich never quite had the ability to grasp the American Dream since they were able to do anything they wanted considering they were wealthy. Those in Fitzgerald’s book, “The Great Gatsby,” who have and will always continue to have the American Dream are those in it who have not experienced the over rated glory of wealth. Owl Eyes, the Wilson’s and everyone like them are the ones within Fitzgerald’s book who will experience and has hold of the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream is to have the perfect life that everyone wishes for. As Inti said, it is a world where people have the perfect marriage, the perfect job, the perfect environment to live in; nothing gets in their way, life moves on smoothly. Fitzgerald shows the struggle for the American Dream in his book, "The Great Gatsby," through the characters that have problems in life. For example, Tom Buchanan and Daisy's relationship symbolize the perfect marriage; however, in reality, Tom was cheating on his wife with another woman called Myrtle. At the same time, Mr. Gatsby wanted Daisy to come back. He wishes to relive his past. Regardless of their infinite wealth, they still seem to be unhappy with their lives. As seen in this book, the American Dream is difficult to reach. Even if one is rich and has the perfect wife/husband, it is still difficult to be satisfied. That is why we see no one living the American Dream in "The Great Gatsby," since it is an unrealistic goal for anyone. Life will always have obstacles and problems. The results are shaped by how people resolve the problems and move on with their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream is having a goal and no matter how crazy and tremendous it is, or how hard you might need to work to accomplish it, you achieve that goal. Gatsby is an example of the successful American dreamer, a person who knows what he wants (a huge house and enough money to spoil Daisy,) and accomplishes it. But luckily he did not have to struggle a whole lot since chance landed in his lap and he inherited much wealth. In the book Gatsby, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan have accomplished the American Dream, or in other words they have accomplished their goals. Nick is in pursuit of the American Dream, and goes to New York to try and make it in the bonds business.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream is the way of living most Americans would want to live, just like Inti said. Having a luxurious house, getting whatever they want, and never worrying about life. Fitzgerald shows this American Dream in his book "The Great Gatsby," in various ways. Gatsby accomplishes this dream. He is rich, and can do anything he wants, including taking away the woman of Tom, Daisy. But also, this American Dream might mean to accomplish your hapiness, like Xara said. In that case, most of the characters achieved this dream, however immoral it might be. Like Gatsby got Daisy, Tom's wife but Tom had Myrtle, Wilson's wife. Many people try to reach this American Dream, but do not end up like Gatsby does. The Dream has a price to pay. One has to work very hard and never lose hope, like Josefina said. None of the characters could reach this goal except this hard working man called Gatsby.
ReplyDelete