Carrier-Hagerman 1

The Great Gatsby Summative Essay*

English 11 Bradley
Due date: Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Objectives:
To show knowledge and understanding of the novel The Great Gatsby
To show awareness of the ways in which the production and reception of
texts contribute to their meaning
To evaluate conflicting viewpoints within and about particular literary
texts
To analyze the style, register and structure of a text
The Product:
An 800- to 1,000-word formal essay that answers one of these six questions:
1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different
readers?
2. If the text had been written in a different time or place or language or for a
different audience, how and why might it differ?
3. How and why is a social group represented in a particular way?
4. Which social groups are marginalized, excluded, or silenced within the
text?
5. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a
particular genre, and for what purpose? (For example is this a history text?)
6. How has the text borrowed from other texts, and with what effects?
7. How does the novel reflect one of the given themes?
What meanings does the novel suggest to you about the
theme?
What in the novel leads you to this conclusion?
How does this topic relate to your life, ideas, or beliefs?
List of possible themes created by past students/teachers.
8. Other proposals? Just get it approved by Mr. Bradley prior to starting the
writing.
Step 1 - Complete proposal form (due next class) - Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Scroll to next page for the form.
Step 2 Outline (in class, use form provided): - due Thursday, January 15, 2015
Must include:
the prescribed question that has been chosen
the title of the text(s) for analysis
the part of the course to which the task refers
three or four key points that explain the particular focus of the task
Step 3 Write the paper
Formatting Guidelines:
Use MLA format for your written task (see page 8 of this assignment
sheet).

Carrier-Hagerman 2
At the beginning of your essay, copy the question youre answering.
Your task must be written in English.
You must acknowledge all sources you use, including the text that you are
analyzing. You really shouldnt need secondary sources.
*Note: Summative assessment refers to assessment that summarizes learning at the end of
a literature unit. In other words, this is our end-of-unit assessment for The Great Gatsby.

Carrier-Hagerman 3
The Great Gatsby Summative Paper - Topic Proposal
Due via Google Drive- Wednesday, January 14, 2015
English 11 Bradley
Question
Answer
What is your
Blythe Carrier-Hagerman
name?
What is the title
The Great Gatsby
of the text you are
using as the basis
of your analysis?
1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently
Circle the
by two different readers?
question you are
2. If the text had been written in a different time or place
answering.
or language or for a different audience, how and why might it
differ?
3. How and why is a social group represented in a
particular way?
4. Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or
silenced within the text?
5. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the
conventions of a particular genre, and for what purpose?
6. How has the text borrowed from other texts, and with
what effects?
7. Thematic Essay- Type in theme here:
8. Other - Please type it here:

What in the text

has led you to
believe that you
can answer this
question
adequately?

In the book Fitzgerald has both of the social classes

interacting. Tom having an affair with Myrtle and Gatsby
being friends with Nick who comes from new money and
not old like he does.

Carrier-Hagerman 4
Answer the
questions for the
prompt you
chose.
Put your
responses below
the questions.
The space
available should
give you an
indication of the
length of this. Be
concise yet
specific; do not
write a novel,
please.

1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently

by two different readers?
a. Who are the two readers?
b. What are the two interpretations?
c. Why are these interpretations different?
2. If the text had been written in a different time or place
or language or for a different audience, how and why might it
differ?
a. What is the different time, place,
language, OR audience (pick ONE)?
b. How might the text differ?
c. Why might it differ?
3. How and why is a social group represented in a
particular way?
a. What social group are you discussing?
b. What is the particular way that social
group is represented?
c. How is the group depicted in that way?
d. Why is the group depicted that way?
4. Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or
silenced within the text?
a. Which social group are you discussing?
b. Are you focusing on the group being
marginalized, excluded, OR silenced (pick ONE)?
c. How and why is this marginalization,
exclusion, or silencing occurring in the text?
5. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the
conventions of a particular genre, and for what purpose?
a. What genre are you discussing?
b. Are you discussing how the text
conforms to OR deviates from the genre (pick ONE)?
c. How does the conforming or deviating
occur in the text?
d. For what purpose?
6. How has the text borrowed from other texts, and with
what effects?
a. What borrowed text are you discussing?
b. How has The Great Gatsby borrowed
from said text?
c. What are the effects of this borrowing?
7. Please explain your themes context and how it applies
to the text.
8. Other: Please explain your planned independent
proposal.

Answers to questions relating to your prompt below: Question 4. The social groups that i
am discussing are the wealthy, middle class, and poor. I am focusing on how the groups
are marginalized ( the separation of the classes that socialize but are split at the same
time.) The marginalization occurs in the text because back in the 1920s many were
classed by either new money, old money, or whether you had money at all. It is occurring

Carrier-Hagerman 5
when Nick and Gatsby become friends, when Gatsby and Daisy starting seeing each
other, and when Tom and Myrtle get together.

Carrier-Hagerman 6
Outline Form The Great Gatsby Summative Paper
English 11 Bradley
Question
Answer
What is your
Blythe Carrier-Hagerman
name?
What is the title
The Great Gatsby
of the text you are
using as the basis
of your analysis?
1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently
Circle the
by
two
different readers?
question you are
2.
If the text had been written in a different time or place
answering.
or language or for a different audience, how and why might it
differ?
3. How and why is a social group represented in a
particular way?
4. Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or
silenced within the text?
5. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the
conventions of a particular genre, and for what purpose?
6. How has the text borrowed from other texts, and with
what effects?
7. Thematic Essay- Type in theme here:
8. Other - Please type it here:

What is your
central argument?
You can respond
in the form of
bullet points or a
thesis statement.

How the social groups of the 1920s were marginalized.

Key point 1,
including textual
evidence* to
support your
point
*By textual
evidence, I
mean
quotations
from the
novel.

Key point 2,
including textual
evidence* to
support your
point
*By textual
evidence, I
mean
quotations
from the
novel.

Key point 3,
including textual
evidence* to
support your
point
*By textual
evidence, I
mean
quotations
from the
novel.

Carrier-Hagerman 7
On page two of the book Nick explains about the money he
came from.
My family have been prominent well-to- do people in this
middle western city for three generations. The Carraways
are something of a clan.
I graduated from New Haven in 1915, just a quarter of a
century after my father.

On page 43 Nick is at one of Gatsbys parties and is talking

to Lucille who received a new dress from Gatsby.
When i was here last i tore my gown on a chair, and he
asked me my name and address- inside of a week i got a
package from Croiriers with a new evening gown in it.
said Lucille.
Did you keep it? asked Jordan.
Sure i did. I was going to wear it tonight, but it was too
big in the bust and had to be altered. It was gas blue with
lavender beads. Two hundred and sixty-five dollars.

On page 26 Nick meets Toms other woman, Myrtle.

I want to see you, said Tom intently. Get on the next
train.
All right.
Ill meet you by the news-stand on the lower level.
She nodded and moved away from him just as George
Wilson emerged with two chairs from his office door.

(Optional - not
recommended)
Key point 4,
including textual
evidence* to
support your
point
*By textual
evidence, I
mean
quotations
from the
novel.

Carrier-Hagerman 8
On pages 26 Myrtle convinces Tom to get her a dog
I want to get one of those dogs, she said earnestly. I
want to get one for the apartment. Theyre nice to have- a
dog.
Page 28
Is it a boy or a girl? she asked delicately
That dog? That dogs a boy.
Its a bitch, said Tom decisively. Heres your money. Go
and buy ten more dogs with it.

Carrier-Hagerman 9

Criteria

Advanced

Proficient

Basic/Below Basic

Question typed at
the beginning of
your essay

Yes, the question is retyped

at the beginning of your
essay. You copied it exactly.
(5 pts)

There is a vague
reference to the question
youre answering, but
you did not copy it
exactly. (3 pts)

You did not include the

question at the
beginning of your essay.
(0 pts)

Understanding of
the question

Clearly understands the

prompt and addresses all
parts of it.
Response is thorough,
detailed, accurate and
specific. (10 pts)

Some understanding of
the prompt; addresses
part of it.
Response is on the right
track but somewhat
superficial or sometimes
inaccurate. Feels like a
SparkNotes job. (6 pts)

Lack of understanding
of the prompt; does not
address prompt.
Response is vague,
inaccurate, and/or
extremely superficial.
Clearly a SparkNotes
job. (1 pt)

Thesis statement

Clear, concise, has a so

what factor; Presents clear
argument that goes beyond
summary; Demonstrates
understanding of effect of
literary technique (5 pts)

Missing one or more of

clarity, conciseness, and
so what factor;
Presents adequate
argument but may be
more summary than
analysis; adequate
understanding of effect
of literary technique (3
pts)

Unclear, wordy,
confusing, or lacking in
a so what factor;
Lacks argument; lacks
understanding of effect
of literary technique (1
pt)

Body of paper

Points clearly support

thesis; Uses relevant
quotations to support ideas;
develops thorough
argument; clear
understanding of how style
effects meaning (10 pts)

Points sometimes
support thesis;
Quotations are more
descriptive than
analytical; develops
basic argument;
superficial understanding
of how style affects
meaning
OR: Your ideas match
your thesis, but because
your thesis was not an
argument, neither is your
paper.
(6 pts)

Points do not support

thesis;
Paper is all summary;
lacks analysis;
Lacks understanding of
how style affects
meaning

Adequate introduction,
transitions, and
conclusion.
Thesis statement found
later in the essay.
Conclusion restates
ideas; adequate sequence
of ideas
(3 pts)

Missing or poor
introduction, transitions,
and/or conclusion;
no thesis statement to be
found;
Ends abruptly; lacks
sense of closure; ideas
are all over the place;
lacks focus and

Organization

Strong introduction,
transitions, and conclusion.
Thesis statement found in
the first paragraph
Conclusion synthesizes
ideas and does not
introduce new information;
Logical sequence of ideas
within and between

(automatic deduction of
5 pts in this category if
there are no quotations
at all)

Carrier-Hagerman 10
paragraphs.
(5 pts)

Quotation
integration
Click here for a
video tutorial!
http://goo.gl/iA8
BnI

Quotations embedded into

own sentences extremely
smoothly. Quotations do not
stand alone. You never refer
to quotations as quotes or
quotations in your
sentences. (5 pts)

sequence
(1 pt)

Quotations embedded
into paper somewhat
smoothly; still too much
filler like on page 35
or you can see this in
this quote. You refer to
a quotation as a quote
or quotation once. (3
pts)

Quotations placed in
paper in a clunky
manner; Quotations
stand alone and are not
embedded into your
own sentences; You
refer to a quotation as a
quoteor quotation
multiple times. (1 pt)
(automatic zero in this
category if there are no
quotations at all)

Sentence
structure/word
choice

Effectively uses
variety of sentence
types to create a
smooth flow;
Sentences are clear;
Uses words correctly;
effectively uses a
varied, vivid
vocabulary; finds the
delicate balance
between sounding
sophisticated and
purple prose (5 pts)

Overall smooth writing;

some issue w/ sentence
structure, but they dont
necessarily interfere with
meaning;
Attempts to use a
sophisticated
vocabulary; may
misuse words from
time to time (3 pts)

Issues w/ sentence
structure interfere with
meaning;
Many words used
incorrectly;
vocabulary is bland
OR too much
purple prose (1 pt)

Conventions

Engaging, formal, and

objective tone; very few
grammar errors;
consistently uses present
tense verbs (5 pts)

Formal tone; a handful of

grammar errors, but
theyre not overly
distracting; usually uses
present tense verbs (3
pts)

Limited awareness of or
inconsistent tone; Many
grammar errors that
distract from the content
of the paper (1 pt)

Format (MLA)
Times New
Roman 12
Double spaced
MLA heading
Header w/ page #
Descriptive title
(in addition to the
copied question)
Margins (1 or 1.25
inches)
In-text citations
Works cited page

Zero errors (5 pts)

Two errors (3 pts)

Four or more errors

(1 pt)

See last page of this

handout for sample format!

Carrier-Hagerman 11
Word count

800-1,000 words

750-799 words

749 or fewer words

Word count typed at the end

of the essay

OR

OR

1,001-1,050 words

1,051 or more words

Word count typed at the

end of the essay
(3 pts)

Word count not typed at

the end of the essay
(1 pt)

Example
Word count: 947
(5 pts)

The Great Gatsby Summative Rubric Conversion:

60=100

59=99

58=98

57=97

56=96

55=95

54=94

53=93

52=92

51=91

50=90

49=89

48=89

47=88

46=88

45=87

44=86

43=85

42=85

41=84

40=83

39=82

38=81

37=80

36=80

35=80

34=79

33=79

32=78

31=78

30=77

29=76

28=75

27=74

26=73

25=72

24=71

23=70

22=70

21=70

20=69

19=68

18=67

17=66

16=65

15=64

14=63

13=62

12=60

11=60

10=60

9=59

8=58

7=57

Carrier-Hagerman 12

Blythe Carrier-Hagerman
Mr. Bradley
English 11
January 15th 2015
The Trouble of Love
Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or silenced within the text?
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald takes place in the 1920s and is about the
forbidden love between people in different social classes. He writes about Daisy and her
husband Tom, and their differing life styles. Tom is cheating on Daisy with a woman who
lives in The Valley of Ashes and Daisy is cheating on Tom with Jay Gatsby, a rich man
who lives in West Egg. In the book you can pick up on how he marginalizes the social
classes. The wealthy and the poor and how they are kept in check by reality.
An example of how the two classes mingle and one shows the other how much
money they have is when Nick meets Toms girl, Myrtle, who lives in The Valley of
Ashes and convinces Tom to buy her a dog. I want to get one of those dogs, she said
earnestly. I want to get one for the apartment.Theyre nice to have- a dog( Fitzgerald
26). Is it a boy or a girl? she asked delicately. That dog? That dogs a boy. Its a
bitch, said Tom decisively. Heres your money.Go and buy ten more dogs with it
(Fitzgerald 28). In this example you can see how Tom ( a upper class man) buys things
for Myrtle ( a lower class girl) to show how much money he has and that he has control
over what she gets. She doesnt have a lot of money to spend, her husband George, works
at a gas station and fixes cars that dont sell for much or are never finished. She relies on

Carrier-Hagerman 13
Tom to buy her all the things that she wants or thinks she wants, but doesn't need.

Nick gets a taste of how much money Gatsby has when he shows up at one of his
parties and talks to a girl named Lucille who received a new dress from Gatsby. When I
was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address- inside a
week I got a package from Croiriers with a new evening gown in it said Lucille. Did
you keep it? asked Jordan. Sure I did. I was going to wear it tonight, but it was too big
in the bust and had to be altered. It was gas blue with lavender beads. Two hundred and
sixty-five dollars ( Fitzgerald 43). You can see that Gatsby is not afraid of spending
money and this also shows that he has a lot of it. By throwing the party he is showing that
he has more money and power, that he can throw elaborate parties and buy girls new
expensive dresses with out much hassle. He doesn't even pinch his pockets to do so.
Nick talks about how he came into his money and the type of education that he
received. My family have been prominent well- to - do people in this middle western
city for three generations. The Carraways are something of a clan. The family that he
came from and how big it is. I graduated from New Haven in 1915, just a quarter of a
century after my father. The type of education that he received that got him his job on
Wall Street ( Fitzgerald 2). Stocks reached record peaks, and Wall Street boomed a
steady golden roar. The Parties were bigger, the shows were broader, the buildings were
higher, the models were looser, and the ban on alcohol had backfired. Making the liquor
cheaper. Wall Street was luring the young and Ambitious, and I was one of them
( Fitzgerald 9). His job on Wall Street is what made him able to live in West Egg next to
Gatsby and others who had self made money, in a small Cottage like house and make
enough money to not worry about being poor or struggle to get the things he wants. He

Carrier-Hagerman 14
also gets to enjoy the big parties that are thrown by people with plenty of money to spare
at no cost to him.
In the end neither Tom nor Daisy end up with the one they want. Daisy hit Myrtle,
as she was driving Jays car after having a fight with Tom in the city, Myrtle thought it
was Tom, because he was driving the car earlier that day. Gatsby gets shot by George
Wilson, Myrtle's husband, as he is stuck with grief and is convinced that he killed Myrtle
and believed it when Tom told him that he was not the one driving the car that night, that
he was driving his blue Cope, George also believed that Gatsby was the one that was
having an affair with Myrtle. Daisy is still with Tom and Nick is left trying to pick up the
pieces of his life now that he has lost both his friend but also the one person that might
have liked him Jordan. The characters learn that their futures with the ones they wanted
to be with would never happen because the people they loved were either richer than
them or poorer than them.
Word count:850
<<<imaginary page break>>>
Works Cited
Fitzgerald, F S. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995.
Print.