Lesson 6

Using our notes and materials from the previous lessons, we will demonstrate our understanding of the characters and narrator in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby by writing a short response to one or both Section 1 Diagnostic prompts about Fitzgerald’s use of narrative point of view and characterization.

Lesson Goals

Reading and Knowledge

Evaluate Effects: How well do I evaluate the effects of literary devices and rhetoric in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby?
Gather and Organize Evidence: How well do I gather and organize relevant and sufficient evidence to demonstrate an understanding of Chapter 1 and to support analytical claims about the narrator’s perspective and the characters’ relationships?

Writing

Form Claims: How well do I develop and clearly communicate meaningful and defensible claims that represent valid, evidence-based analysis of Chapter 1?
Organize Ideas: How well do I sequence and group sentences and paragraphs and use reasoning and textual evidence to establish coherent, logical, and well-developed analyses and explanations?
Use Conventions to Produce Clear Writing: How well do I apply correct and effective syntax, usage, mechanics, and spelling to communicate ideas and achieve intended purposes?

Texts

Core

- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Scribner, 1925

Activity 1: Write

We will write our Section Diagnostic responses.

Consider the following question:

How does Fitzgerald choose to tell the story and develop characters in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby?

Using the materials you have prepared ahead of time, write a one-paragraph analysis in response to one or both of the following questions about point of view and character development in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby.

What seems to be the narrator’s view of the characters and of himself in Chapter 1, and how does this influence the reader’s experience? Analyze Nick Carraway’s perceptions and descriptions and the effects they have on your understanding of the story.
What do the characters’ actions and reactions, words, and interactions reveal about them and their desires, dreams, or goals? Select one character introduced in Chapter 1 and analyze that character’s presentation and development.

For each question you choose to answer, be sure to do the following:

Respond to the specific issues framed by the question.
Form a central claim in response to each question.
Gather and organize strong and relevant evidence from Chapter 1 of the novel.
Organize your analyses into one or two well-developed paragraphs.
Integrate specific references and quotations from the novel.
Use academic language, and demonstrate your understanding of literary elements, devices, and terminology.
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the first chapter of the novel and the author’s choices in developing it.
Use appropriate syntax, grammar, and mechanics.

Activity 2: Write

We will revise our work to ensure we have fully supported and developed our ideas based on the needs of the task, purpose, and audience. This will help us develop work that is clear and coherent.

Revision is the process of seeing your work with fresh eyes. Revision is a challenge for all writers—the art of making writing better is hard work that can feel very messy at times.

Using the Section 1 Diagnostic Checklist, reread your draft response. Ask yourself the following questions:

Does my response address the specific issues framed by the question?
Is my central claim strong and clearly stated?
Is my evidence strong and relevant?
Does my response effectively integrate specific references and quotations from the novel?
Does my response use precise academic language?
Is my response properly punctuated and error-free?

Make any necessary revisions or edits to improve the communication of your ideas.

Activity 3: Write – Discuss

We will reflect on our progress and the knowledge and skills we have developed in preparation for the Culminating Task at the end of the unit.

Step 1

Choose at least three of the questions below about the Section Diagnostic and respond to them in your Learning Log:

How well did you take the necessary actions to prepare for the task?
What went well for you during the completion of this task?
With what did you struggle during the completion of this task? How did you push through those struggles?
How well did you actively focus your attention during this independent task?
How well did you develop and use an effective and efficient process to maintain workflow during this task?
What would you do differently during the next Section Diagnostic?

Now find your Culminating Task Progress Tracker. Think about what knowledge you have gained and skills you have practiced thus far in the unit. Use the Culminating Task Progress Tracker to do the following:

add or refine any skills and content knowledge required for the Culminating Task
evaluate how well you are mastering the skills and knowledge required for the Culminating Task

Step 2

Review the Central Question of the unit:

How do perceptions, illusions, and dreams influence our lives?

Use the following questions to guide a discussion with a partner or small group:

What is the relationship between the question and the texts you have read so far? How do the texts shed light on the question? How does the question help you understand the texts?

In your Learning Log, write your response to the question. You will return to this response in later lessons to examine how your understanding of the Central Question has evolved.

Activity 4: Read – Write

For homework, we will begin to read chapter 2 of the novel.

For homework, read and annotate Chapter 2 of the novel (pp. 23-38), using the following questions to guide your annotations:

What stands out about where this part of the story takes place (its setting)?
How does the opening scene of Chapter 2 establish atmosphere and mood? How does it contrast to previous settings and scenes?
Who are the main characters in this section? What, in general, seem to be their stories?
What do you learn about the characters from their actions and interactions? From Nick’s observations of them?
How might the party episode be important to the overall story and progression of the novel? What evidence from the text supports your conclusion?

For one character who is involved in Chapter 2, complete an Analyzing Relationships Tool in response to Question 4. Be sure to write down new or interesting words you encounter in your Vocabulary Journal.