On The Way Home

Good morning everyone,

I hope the first day of testing went well! Today we are going to continue reading chapter 7 (Ctrl+F- gibberish). We will read some of it as a class and then you will read the rest independently.

NOTE: Check the homework assignment page under important links for tonight's HW.

Going into Town

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday we began reading the first part of chapter 7. For homework you were supposed to finish reading up to page 130. Today we are going to continue reading chapter 7 (Crt+F-relentless).

In your English journal explain this quote:

"You always look so cool," she (Daisy) repeated.

She had told him (Gatsby) she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded. His mouth opened a little and he looked at Gatsby and then back at Daisy as if he had just recognized her as someone he knew a long time ago."

Things to keep in mind as we read.

Who is driving Gatsby's car into town? What color is it?

Who is driving Tom's car? What color is it?

What does Myrtle think about Jordan Baker when she see's Tom in Gatsby's car?

Good morning everyone,

Take the poll.

On Friday we read more of chapter six. For homework you were to finish reading chapter six and write about the quote on the third slide of the presentation posted on the blog.

Agenda:

1. Chapter 6 quiz (Click on the link that says 'The Great Gatsby Quizzes' under important links)

2. Begin reading chapter 7.

3. Go over the following CST words (The words and definitions are posted under important links on the blog):

1. Complexity

2. Allegory

3. Parody

4. Affixes

The 'Real' Gatsby

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday we started reading chapter six and we learned more about Gatsby's past. Today we are going to finish reading chapter six. You will need to have your EJ open because we will be writing while we read.

Before we start, copy and paste the following words into your EJ. Write down their definitions as we discuss them.

1. Pathos

2. Analogy

3. Issuance

4. Ethical

Presentation

Good morning everyone,

If you are reading this that means you did your homework last night. Good job!

Take a look at the 'important links' section on the blog. I added three new links:

1. The Great Gatsby Quizzes

2. The Great Gatsby Homework Assignments

3. PLHS Bulletin

4. CST Words

5. The Great Gatsby Full Text

Yesterday we read a large portion of chapter 5 of the TGG. It is time to take the chapter 5 quiz.

Copy and paste the CST words into your English journal. Write down the definitions as we review them in class:

1.Etymology

2.Critique

3.Expository

4.Comprehension

We will also begin reading chapter 6.

Gatsby and Daisy are reunited

Good morning everyone,

If you were absent yesterday, make sure you check the blog and complete the homework assignment.

Today's agenda:

1.Copy and paste the CST words into your English journal. Write down the definitions as we review them in class:

1. Origins

2. Convey

3. Anecdotal

4. Aesthetic

2. Finish reading Chapter 5.

Below are the questions for Chapter 5. Copy and paste them into your English Journal. Answer them as we read.

1. Describe the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy.

2. How long did it take Gatsby to make the money to buy the mansion?

3. What did Gatsby do to impress Daisy?

Homework: FInish reading chapter 5 (pg. 95-102). Predict what will happen between Gatsby and Daisy.

Good morning everyone,

Today's agenda:

1.Copy and paste the CST words into your English journal. Write down the definitions as we review them in class:

a. Sophisticated

b. Hostile

c. Assertions

d. Discourse

2. Finish group presentations. Group Presentations Grading Sheet.

3. Begin reading Chapter 5.

I have some data I want to share with you before we begin reading chapter 5.

On the Gatsby Pre-test I asked the following question:

If a husband or wife cheats is it acceptable for the other spouse to cheat also?

65% of the class said NO

35% of the class said YES

On the Chapter 4 Quiz I asked the following question:

Should Nick help Gatsby to see Daisy again?

70% of the class said YES

22% of the class said NO

8% of the class was undecided

If Nick helps Gatsby see Daisy isn't that cheating?

Homework: Summarize the first part of chapter 5. Predict what will happen between Gatsby and Daisy.

Group Project Presentations for TGG

Good morning everyone,

Copy and paste the CST words into your English journal. Write down the definitions as we review them in class:

1. Sophisticated

2. Hostile

3. Assertions

4. Discourse

You will have 15 minutes to get into your groups from Friday and go over what you will be presenting. We will start the presentations after the 15 minutes is finished.

You will be asked to grade each group on their presentation. You must fill out the grading sheet after each group that presents. This means that by the end of the class you should have filled out the form five times. You will not fill one out for your own group.

NOTE: Your grades will NOT count if they are submitted before the group presents or if your submission does not include your name.

Let the presentations begin!

Gatsby Group Project

Good morning everyone,

Copy and paste the CST words into your English journal. Write down the definitions as we review them in class:

1. Sophisticated

2. Hostile

3. Assertions

4. Discourse

Yesterday we finished reading chapter 4. Take the chapter 4 quiz. We are also going to be working on a group project.

Directions:

1. Each group will be given a character from the novel.

2. Have one person in your group create a powerpoint through Google docs.

3. Have this person share the powerpoint with everyone in the group.

4. Create a powerpoint with the following slides:

a. Slide 1: Title (Include the FIRST names of the group members)

b. Slide 2: Physical description of the character

c. Slide 3: Description of the character's personality

d. Slide 4: What the character says (quote, INCLUDE PAGE NUMBER)

e. Slide 5: What is said about the character (by the other characters)

f. Slide 6: A picture of the character (if someone were to play this character in a movie who would it be?)

NOTE: You will present your slide show to the class on Monday.

Gatsby and Daisy Part II

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday we read the first part of chapter 4. Today we are going to finish reading chapter 4. After we are finished reading, take the chapter 4 quiz. I will give you the tinyurl to the quiz once we are finished reading.

Copy and paste the CST words into your English journal. Write down the definitions as we review them in class.

CST words:

1. Evoke

2. Counterclaim

3. Coherent

4. Inference

TGG-Gatsby and Daisy

Good morning everyone,

Before we begin reading chapter 4 we are going to go over some of the CST words you highlighted yesterday. As we go through each word, write the word and the definition in your English journal.

Copy and paste the chapter 4 questions into your EJ. Answer them as we read.

1. Who is Klipspringer?
2. What does Gatsby tell Nick about himself?
3. What "matter" did Gatsby have Jordan Baker discuss with Nick?
4. Who is Mr. Wolfshiem? What does Gatsby say he did?
5. What does Mr. Wolfshiem tell Nick about Gatsby?
6. What does Jordan tell Nick about Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom?

Homework: Finish reading chapter 4.

Assignments you might need to catch up on:

Collage: Collect images and pictures from magazines that you think represent wealth. Cut and paste the pictures on an 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper. This is the size of a regular piece of computer paper. Write your name on the back and bring it in the Monday after spring break.

Diary Entry Chapter 3: Write a journal entry about what happens in the end of chapter 3 from the point of view of a character other than Nick. Write this on a separate sheet of paper.

Homework Sheet for Chapter 1: This assignment was given out in class. If you were absent and need a copy see me after class.

NOTE: I have been reminding some people in the class that they will be marked tardy if they do not remain in their assigned seat for the entire class period. Those reminders will stop. It is your responsibility to make sure you are in the seat you were assigned unless you have spoken to and received permission from me to move.

Gatsby's Party

Good morning everyone,

If you are reading this post that means that you completed your homework. Good job being diligent! Take the chapter 3 quiz.

If you complete the quiz, catch up on any assignments that you are missing. This includes any quizzes and English journals you missed while you were absent.

Then I will hand out packets for the CST. You will be asked to:

1. Read each standard and put check marks next to the ones you understand.

2. Guess how many questions will be on the test for each standard (1-10). 10 being very important.

3. Highlight ALL of the words that you do not know the meaning of.

4. If you are UNSURE of the meaning of the word, highlight that too.

Gatsby's Party

Good morning everyone,

On Friday we completed reading chapter two. In chapter two we were introduced to some new characters. Do you remember who George and Myrtle Wilson are? What about Catherine? Jordan Baker? Today we are going to read chapter three.

Copy and paste the questions for chapter 3 into your English journal. Answer them as we read.

1. Describe Gatsby's wealth.

2. List some of the things that represent his wealth.

3. What kinds of people come to Gatsby's parties?

4. Why did Nick Carraway go to the party?

5. How does Nick meet Gatsby?

6. What are some of the stories about Gatsby?

7. Is Gatsby a "phony"?

8. Describe Nick's relationship with Jordan?

Homework: Finish reading chapter 3. Write a journal entry about what happens in the end of chapter 3 from the point of view of a character other than Nick. Write this on a separate sheet of paper. It will be your ticket to a computer. Tomorrow you will take the chapter 3 quiz.

Link to the picture

TGG-Chapter 2 Quiz

Good morning everyone,

If you are reading this blog post that means you completed your homework assignment. Good job doing your homework so that you know what is going on in the novel and in class. Take the Chapter 2 Quiz. When you are finished you should do the following:

In order of importance:

1. Look through your English journal. Make sure that all your entries are complete and show insightful thinking.

2. Check to make sure you used proper grammar and spell-checked each entry.

3. Work on your nature assignment if you are still unhappy with your grade.

4. Take a look at the Wikipedia page on The Great Gatsby. It has some interesting information.

5. Look for images that you think relate to the novel and email them to me. For example, pictures from the 1920's, polo players, architecture of Long Island homes, etc.

NOTE: I have been reminding some people in the class that they will be marked tardy if they do not remain in their assigned seat for the entire class period. Those reminders will stop. It is your responsibility to make sure you are in the seat you were assigned unless you have spoken to and received permission from me to move.

Gatsby Chapter 2- Meeting Myrtle

Good morning,

Yesterday we read part of Chapter 1 in class and answered quiz questions 1-6. For homework last night you read the rest of chapter 1. It is time to take the Chapter 1 Quiz.

Today we will begin reading Chapter 2. Below are the questions for Chapter 2. Copy and paste them into your English Journal. Answer the questions as we read in class. You can either read the text electronically or in your book.

1. What is the valley of ashes?

2. What are the "eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg"?

3. Who did Tom take Nick to meet?

4. Who are George and Myrtle Wilson?

5. What did Mrs. Wilson buy while she was out with Nick and Tom?

6. Where did they go? What was at 158th Street?

7. Who are Catherine and Mr. and Mrs. McKee?

8. What does Mr. McKee tell Nick about Gatsby?

9. What reason does Myrtle give for marrying George Wilson?

10. What did Tom do to Myrtle when she mentioned Daisy's name?

Homework: Finish reading the rest of Chapter 2. Complete the homework sheet you received in class yesterday.

The Great Gatsby begins

Good morning everyone,

As you learned by doing your background research yesterday Long Island is located in New York. The Great Gatsby takes place during the 1920's in Long Island and also in Manhattan.

You can either use the book to complete today's reading or follow along online. Please click this link to go to chapter 1. You can find the link to the whole book in the important links section on the blog.

Open your English journal now and copy and paste the following questions into it. We will answer them as we read chapter one.

1. How does the narrator describe Gatsby?

2. From where does the narrator come and why?

3. Describe the narrator's house.

4. Describe the Buchannans' house.

5. How does Nick know Tom and Daisy?

6. Describe Tom. What is our impression of him in chapter 1?

Great Gatsby Pre-Test

Good morning,

At this point you should all have your own copy of The Great Gatsby that you checked out of the library. You can keep it at home or bring it to class. The text is also available online if you prefer to read the novel electronically.

Yesterday, some of you had the opportunity to read the biography on F. Scott Fitzgerald. You need to assure me and yourself that you have enough background knowledge to begin reading this novel.

Please take the Pre Gatsby Quiz. This is "open net" which means that you can use the Internet to locate your answers. Make sure you read the directions carefully.

NOTE: You might want to look back at some of the old blog posts and English journal entries we completed during our unit on the Harlem Renaissance.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Picture from this link

F. Scott Fitzegerald

Good morning everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful spring break and worked on your collages on wealth. If you did not finish your collage over the break please have it completed by Wednesday.

Take a look at the back wall. Do you remember some of the questions we discussed before break?

1. Today I want you to choose one question that you have something to say about.

2. Open your English journal.

3. Write a three paragraph answer to the question you choose (200+words).

4. Elaborate on your thinking, include examples, and remember that there are two sides to every argument.

5. Make sure if you say something is 'right' or 'wrong' that you also discuss the other side of the argument.

After you completed the essay, take a look at the biography on F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is the famous author of the novel we are about to begin reading. Make sure you will be able to answer questions on his life such as, Who was he? What was his life like? Where was he when he wrote The Great Gatsby?

Below are pictures from one of Fitzgerald's homes in Montgomery, Alabama.