Monday, December 15, 2014

Essay Topics for THE GREAT GATSBY


  



1.   

Analyze obsession in the novel, THE GREAT GATSBY, and how obsession spurred Gatsby to      material success. Analyze how the attainment of his obsession lead to tragedy.

2.   

 Analyze the concept of carelessness – of careless, wealthy people – and how their carelessness leads to tragedy for others.


3.     

Analyze the author’s use of the motif of seeing and being seen. The most obvious symbol used for seeing is the sign, which is a pair of spectacles advertising the business of Dr. Eckleburg, the optometrist. This sign is used as a metaphor for judgment – judgment of the actions of the actors, both rich and poor, who pass by the all seeing, all judging eyes of Dr. Eckleburg.


4.  

 Analyze the use of the automobile  as a metaphor for the material, decadent world of the 20’s. One should also include the significance of George Wilson’s car garage.


5.   

Analyze the stratification of society as revealed by THE GREAT GATSBY. Analyze the lower class characters, such as Myrtle and George Wilson, and contrast them with Daisy, Tom and Jordan. How does the “carelessness” of Jordan – and ultimately, of Daisy - reveal the power discrepancy between the rich and the poor?


6.    

Analyze the role of women and men in the book THE GREAT GATSBY. Include in your analysis  Daisy's reaction when she finds out the sex of her child, and her comment that she hopes her child grows up to be a beautiful little fool.


7.     

Analyze F. Scott Fitzgerald’s use of symbols in THE GREAT GATSBY, particularly the use of the green light at the end of the dock, the motif of water in all of its permutations – rain, mist, the sound, the beach.


8.     

Analyze the American Dream as realized by Jay Gatsby.

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

December 8, 2014 - December 12, 2014


Monday, December 8th:
First Period:
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Pages 34 – 43

Vocabulary:

Abhorrent: arising disgust or loathing

Pervading: spreading throughout an area without being concentrated in one area. 

Furtiveness: secretiveness; attempting to avoid detection or attention due to guilt or fear of being caught in an illicit act.

Diffuse: to spread throughout, to disperse, 

Malaise: a feeling of unease or discomfort, the origin or cause of which is difficult to identify

Regimen: a daily routine or a routine of consistent regularity designed to produce some desired result or productivity;

Stultifying: tedium or boredom resulting from a restrictive environment or over regimentation.

Dissipation: a state of exhaustion as a result of over indulgence, particularly with alcohol. A lessening of one resources - money, energy, intellectual or physical abilities due to excessive indulgence.

Martyrdom: the state of being a martyr, who is someone who sacrifices his/her life for a cause greater than herself.

Eclipse:to overshadow as in one's accomplishments may overshadow or eclipse or "show up" another person

Shroud: a cloth used to bury the dead; a cloth used to cloak a dead body for burial.

Affluence: a state of being wealthy or having money and the comfort that money or wealth affords.

Spontaneity: unplanned, an immediate impulse which compels one to act in a free, unfettered way

Catapulted: to be launched 

There will be a test over the above words this Friday.

2nd Period:
Read THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 3:
Pages 39 – 52
Discussion




Tuesday, December 9th:

1st Period:
8:00 – 8:20
Write the definitions for the following words and then write a grammatically correct sentence for each word. 

Vocabulary:

Abhorrent: Inspiring disgust, loathing or hatred
Example sentence: Many people abhor the way other people of different cultures live.
Abhorrence: the noun form of the word abhor.
Example sentence: Many people have a natural abhorrence of snakes.

Pervade: (Verb) To spread throughout and to be perceived through the senses. To permeate, to suffuse, to penetrate, to filter through.

Furtiveness: (Noun) Secretiveness; acting in such a way to avoid attention or detection due to guilt or the fear of being caught in something illicit.

Diffuse: (Verb) To spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people. (Adjective) To spread over a large area; not concentrated.

Malaise: (Noun) A feeling of unease or discomfort, the origin or cause of which is difficult to identify

Write an original sentence for each vocabulary word.

Due at 8:20

Read THE BLUEST EYE
Pages 43 – 49
Discussion

Period 2:
Read THE GREAT GATSBY
Pages 52 – 63
Discussion
Vocabulary


Wednesday, December 10th:


Period 1:
Vocabulary Words
Please put the following words into grammatically correct sentences:

Regimen: (Noun) Daily or regular routine of exercise or procedures designed to produce a desired result.

Stultifying: Tedium or boredom stemming from excessive regimentation.

Dissipation: A weakening of energy or diminishment of physical or mental resources due to excessive, indulgent behavior.

Dissipation:
Example sentence: The once great athlete, handsome and strong, has fallen into a state of dissipation after years of hard drinking, drug taking and wild sex.
Example sentence: After a hard night of partying, Elise woke up feeling weak and dissipated.

Martyrdom: A state of being a martyr. A martyr is one who has dedicated one’s life to a cause greater than oneself. A martyr is someone who has died for a worthy cause such as social justice or a religion. Martin Luther King would be considered a martyr.

Eclipse: To be overshadowed by another.  Example: Elvis Presley’s popularity reigned supreme until he was eclipsed by the Beatles.

Collected vocabulary sentences.

Read THE BLUEST EYE
Pages 49 – 63

Period 2:
Read THE GREAT GATSBY
Pages 62 – 82
Discussion
Vocabulary:
Punctilious
Incredulous
Rajah


Thursday, December 11th:

Vocabulary:
Please write down the definitions and then write one grammatically correct sentence for each vocabulary word.

Shroud: (noun) a burial cloth used in ancient societies, which was used to wrap the body for burial.
Shroud: (verb) to cover

Example sentences: The city was shrouded with a thick fog this morning.
Example sentences: The death of the well known and well loved singer was shrouded in mystery.

Affluence: (noun) a state of being wealthy or having enough money to live comfortably.
Affluent: (adjective) describing someone who is rich

Example sentences: Beverly Hills is a city well known for its affluence.

Example sentences: Bentleys, BMWs and Mercedes, mansions with large, well manicured lawns, weekend ski trips and summer vacations in Europe are all marks of affluence.

Spontaneity: unplanned; an unplanned action which arises from a sudden impulse; arising suddenly without forethought.

Catapulted: past tense of the verb to catapult. To launch or be launched. The word catapult can also be used as a noun;  catapult, used as a noun, was a medieval machine used to launch or hurl stones or boiling vats at well fortified castles.

THE BLUEST EYE
Read pages 63 – 70

2nd Period:
Read pages 83 – 93 (Start at top of page 93)
Discussion


Friday, December 12th

1st Period:
Vocabulary test on pages 34 – 43 in THE BLUEST EYE on students’ cell phones.
Passed back Unit Four Vocabulary Test
Define missed words and write grammatically correct sentences with the missed vocabulary words and grades will be raised to a minimum of a “C”.
Read THE BLUEST EYE; pages 70 – 83.
Told them to read up to page 132 over the weekend.

2nd Period:
Passed back Unit Four Vocabulary Test
Define missed words and write grammatically correct sentences with the missed vocabulary words and grades will be raised to a minimum of a “C”.
Read THE GREAT GATSBY
Pages 92 - 102










Monday, December 08, 2014

December 8, 2014 - December 12, 2014 Agenda

Monday, December 8th:
First Period:
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Pages 34 - 43
Vocabulary:
Abhorrent
Pervading
Furtive
Diffuse
Malaise
Regimen
Stultifying
Dissipation
Martyrdon
Eclipse
Shroud
Affluence
Spontaneity
Catapulted
You will be tested over these words on Friday, November 12th.

Period 2:
Read THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 3
Pages 39 - 52
Discussion