Smith

TheGreatGatsby
SummativeEssay*
English11Bradley
Duedate:Tuesday,January20,2015

Objectives:
Toshowknowledgeandunderstandingofthenovel
TheGreatGatsby
Toshowawarenessofthewaysinwhichtheproductionandreceptionoftexts
contributetotheirmeaning
Toevaluateconflictingviewpointswithinandaboutparticularliterarytexts
Toanalyzethestyle,registerandstructureofatext

TheProduct:
An800to1,000wordformalessaythatanswersoneofthesesixquestions:
1. Howcouldthetextbereadandinterpreteddifferentlybytwodifferentreaders?
2. Ifthetexthadbeenwritteninadifferenttimeorplaceorlanguageorfora
differentaudience,howandwhymightitdiffer?
3. Howandwhyisasocialgrouprepresentedinaparticularway?
4. Whichsocialgroupsaremarginalized,excluded,orsilencedwithinthetext?
5. Howdoesthetextconformto,ordeviatefrom,theconventionsofaparticular
genre,andforwhatpurpose?(Forexampleisthisahistorytext?)
6. Howhasthetextborrowedfromothertexts,andwithwhateffects?
7. Howdoesthenovelreflectoneofthegiventhemes?
Whatmeaningsdoesthenovelsuggesttoyouaboutthetheme?
Whatinthenovelleadsyoutothisconclusion?
Howdoesthistopicrelatetoyourlife,ideas,orbeliefs?
Listofpossiblethemescreatedbypaststudents/teachers
.
8. Otherproposals?Justgetitapprovedby
Mr.Bradley
priortostartingthe
writing.

Step1Completeproposalform(duenextclass)Wednesday,January14,2015
Scrolltonextpagefortheform.

Step2Outline(inclass,useformprovided):dueThursday,January15,2015
Mustinclude:
theprescribedquestionthathasbeenchosen
thetitleofthetext(s)foranalysis
thepartofthecoursetowhichthetaskrefers
threeorfourkeypointsthatexplaintheparticularfocusofthetask

Step3Writethepaper
FormattingGuidelines:
UseMLAformatforyourwrittentask(seepage8ofthisassignmentsheet).
Atthebeginningofyouressay,copythequestionyoureanswering.
YourtaskmustbewritteninEnglish.
Youmustacknowledgeallsourcesyouuse,includingthetextthatyouare
analyzing.Youreallyshouldntneedsecondarysources.

Smith
*Note:Summativeassessmentreferstoassessmentthatsummarizeslearningattheendof
aliteratureunit.Inotherwords,thisisourendofunitassessmentfor
TheGreatGatsby
.

Smith

TheGreatGatsby
SummativePaperTopicProposal
DueviaGoogleDriveWednesday,January14,2015
English11Bradley

Question
Answer
Whatisyour
ShadowSmith
name?
Whatisthetitle
TheGreatGatsby
ofthetextyouare
usingasthebasis
ofyouranalysis?
1. Howcouldthetextbereadandinterpreteddifferentlybytwo
Circlethe
differentreaders?
questionyouare
2.
Ifthetexthadbeenwritteninadifferenttimeorplaceor
answering.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Whatinthetext
hasledyouto
believethatyou
cananswerthis
question
adequately?

Answerthe
questionsforthe
promptyou
chose.

Putyour
responsesbelow
thequestions.

Thespace
availableshould
giveyouan
indicationofthe
lengthofthis.Be
conciseyet
specificdonot

languageorforadifferentaudience,howandwhymightit
differ?
Howandwhyisasocialgrouprepresentedinaparticularway?
Whichsocialgroupsaremarginalized,excludedorsilenced
withinthetext?
Howdoesthetextconformto,ordeviatefrom,theconventions
ofaparticulargenre,andforwhatpurpose?
Howhasthetextborrowedfromothertexts,andwithwhat
effects?
ThematicEssayTypeinthemehere:
OtherPleasetypeithere:

Thecheating,thelivingsituations,thewealth,andthe
controversy.Ifthishadalltakenplacein,say,2011,things
wouldhavebeenhandleddifferently.

1. Howcouldthetextbereadandinterpreteddifferentlybytwo
differentreaders?
a. Whoarethetworeaders?
b. Whatarethetwointerpretations?
c. Whyaretheseinterpretationsdifferent?
2. Ifthetexthadbeenwritteninadifferenttimeorplaceor
languageorforadifferentaudience,howandwhymightit
differ?
a. Whatisthedifferenttime,place,language,ORaudience
(pickONE)?
b. Howmightthetextdiffer?
c. Whymightitdiffer?

3. Howandwhyisasocialgrouprepresentedinaparticularway?
a. Whatsocialgroupareyoudiscussing?
b. Whatistheparticularwaythatsocialgroupis

Smith
writeanovel,
please.
4.

5.

6.

7.
8.

represented?
c. Howisthegroupdepictedinthatway?
d. Whyisthegroupdepictedthatway?
Whichsocialgroupsaremarginalized,excludedorsilenced
withinthetext?
a. Whichsocialgroupareyoudiscussing?
b. Areyoufocusingonthegroupbeingmarginalized,
excluded,ORsilenced(pickONE)?
c. Howandwhyisthismarginalization,exclusion,or
silencingoccurringinthetext?
Howdoesthetextconformto,ordeviatefrom,theconventions
ofaparticulargenre,andforwhatpurpose?
a. Whatgenreareyoudiscussing?
b. AreyoudiscussinghowthetextconformstoOR
deviatesfromthegenre(pickONE)?
c. Howdoestheconformingordeviatingoccurinthetext?
d. Forwhatpurpose?
Howhasthetextborrowedfromothertexts,andwithwhat
effects?
a. Whatborrowedtextareyoudiscussing?
b. Howhas
TheGreatGatsby
borrowedfromsaidtext?
c. Whataretheeffectsofthisborrowing?
Pleaseexplainyourthemescontextandhowitappliestothe
text.
Other:Pleaseexplainyourplannedindependentproposal.

Answerstoquestionsrelatingtoyourpromptbelow:

Smith
Thedifferenttimeitcouldbewritteninisin2011insteadof1925.Thetextwoulddiffer
inlanguage,perspectives,andactionstakenbypeople.Wehaveamuchmoreaccepting
kindofeconomynow,soIthinkthingswouldbedifferent.
OutlineForm
TheGreatGatsby
SummativePaper
English11Bradley

Question
Answer
Whatisyour
ShadowSmith
name?
Whatisthetitle
TheGreatGatsby
ofthetextyouare
usingasthebasis
ofyouranalysis?
1. Howcouldthetextbereadandinterpreteddifferentlybytwo
Circlethe
differentreaders?
questionyouare
2. Ifthetexthadbeenwritteninadifferenttimeorplaceor
answering.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Whatisyour
centralargument?

Youcanrespond
intheformof
bulletpointsora
thesisstatement.

languageorforadifferentaudience,howandwhymightit
differ?
Howandwhyisasocialgrouprepresentedinaparticularway?
Whichsocialgroupsaremarginalized,excludedorsilenced
withinthetext?
Howdoesthetextconformto,ordeviatefrom,theconventions
ofaparticulargenre,andforwhatpurpose?
Howhasthetextborrowedfromothertexts,andwithwhat
effects?
ThematicEssayTypeinthemehere:
OtherPleasetypeithere:

Nowadaysthingsaresomuchmoreacceptingthanthey
wereinthe1920s,andthingssuchascheatingarentas
muchofahorriblething.Thisbookwouldbewrittenand
overalljustbemuchdifferent.

Smith
Keypoint1,
includingtextual
evidence*to
supportyour
point

*Bytextual
evidence,I
meanquotations
fromthenovel.

Cheatingusedtobeconsideredoneofthebiggestsins,as
wasgettingadivorce.SoeventhoughTomwascheating
onDaisy,sheputupwithitsoshedidnttainther
reputation.

Keypoint2,
includingtextual
evidence*to
supportyour
point

*Bytextual
evidence,I
meanquotations
fromthenovel.

Prohibitionwasbiginthistimeperiod.Thisportrayshow
ifyouwerewealthy,youcouldgetawaywithprettymuch
anything,becausealltherichpeopleweredrinkingalcohol
regardless.

Keypoint3,
includingtextual
evidence*to
supportyour
point

*Bytextual
evidence,I
meanquotations
fromthenovel.

Alotofthewaypeopletalkedwouldchange,too.Gatsby
oftensaysoldsportinthebook.Yourarelyeverhear
thattoday.Thewaytheysaidandwordedthingsisvery
oldtimeyandIthinktheydusemoreslangiftheywerein
the2010s.

Smith
(Optionalnot
recommended)

Keypoint4,
includingtextual
evidence*to
supportyour
point

*Bytextual
evidence,I
meanquotations
fromthenovel.

Smith

Criteria

Advanced

Proficient

Basic/BelowBasic

Yes,thequestionisretyped
atthebeginningofyour
essay.Youcopiedit
exactly.(5pts)

Thereisavague
referencetothequestion
youreanswering,but
youdidnotcopyit
exactly.(3pts)

Youdidnotincludethe
questionatthe
beginningofyour
essay.(0pts)

Understandingof Clearlyunderstandsthe
thequestion
promptandaddressesall
partsofit.
Responseisthorough,
detailed,accurateand
specific.(10pts)

Someunderstandingof
thepromptaddresses
partofit.
Responseisontheright
trackbutsomewhat
superficialorsometimes
inaccurate.Feelslikea
SparkNotesjob.(6pts)

Lackofunderstanding
ofthepromptdoesnot
addressprompt.
Responseisvague,
inaccurate,and/or
extremelysuperficial.
ClearlyaSparkNotes
job.(1pt)

Thesisstatement

Clear,concise,hasaso
whatfactorPresentsclear
argumentthatgoesbeyond
summaryDemonstrates
understandingofeffectof
literarytechnique(5pts)

Missingoneormoreof
clarity,conciseness,and
sowhatfactor
Presentsadequate
argumentbutmaybe
moresummarythan
analysisadequate
understandingofeffect
ofliterarytechnique(3
pts)

Unclear,wordy,
confusing,orlackingin
asowhatfactor
Lacksargumentlacks
understandingofeffect
ofliterarytechnique(1
pt)

Bodyofpaper

Pointsclearlysupport
thesisUsesrelevant
quotationstosupportideas
developsthorough
argumentclear
understandingofhowstyle
effectsmeaning(10pts)

Pointssometimes
supportthesis
Quotationsaremore
descriptivethan
analyticaldevelops
basicargument
superficial
understandingofhow
styleaffectsmeaning
OR:Yourideasmatch
yourthesis,butbecause
yourthesiswasnotan
argument,neitherisyour
paper.
(6pts)

Pointsdonotsupport
thesis
Paperisallsummary
lacksanalysis
Lacksunderstandingof
howstyleaffects
meaning

(automaticdeductionof
5ptsinthiscategoryif
therearenoquotations
atall)

Organization

Strongintroduction,
transitions,andconclusion.
Thesisstatementfoundin
thefirstparagraph
Conclusionsynthesizes
ideasanddoesnot
introducenewinformation
Logicalsequenceofideas
withinandbetween
paragraphs.
(5pts)

Adequateintroduction,
transitions,and
conclusion.
Thesisstatementfound
laterintheessay.
Conclusionrestates
ideasadequatesequence
ofideas
(3pts)

Missingorpoor
introduction,transitions,
and/orconclusion
nothesisstatementto
befound
Endsabruptlylacks
senseofclosureideas
areallovertheplace
lacksfocusand
sequence
(1pt)

Questiontyped
atthebeginning
ofyouressay

Smith

Quotation
integration

Clickherefora
videotutorial!
http://goo.gl/iA8
BnI

Quotationsembeddedinto
ownsentencesextremely
smoothly.Quotationsdo
notstandalone.Younever
refertoquotationsas
quotesorquotationsin
yoursentences.(5pts)

Quotationsembedded
intopapersomewhat
smoothlystilltoomuch
fillerlikeonpage35
oryoucanseethisin
thisquote.Youreferto
aquotationasaquote
orquotationonce.(3
pts)

Quotationsplacedin
paperinaclunky
mannerQuotations
standaloneandarenot
embeddedintoyour
ownsentencesYou
refertoaquotationasa
quoteorquotation
multipletimes.(1pt)

(automaticzerointhis
categoryifthereareno
quotationsatall)

Sentence
structure/word
choice

Effectivelyusesvarietyof
sentencetypestocreatea
smoothflow;Sentences
areclear;
Useswordscorrectly;
effectivelyusesavaried,
vividvocabulary;findsthe
delicatebalancebetween
soundingsophisticated
andpurpleprose(5pts)

Overallsmoothwriting
someissuew/sentence
structure,buttheydont
necessarilyinterferewith
meaning
Attemptstousea
sophisticated
vocabulary;maymisuse
wordsfromtimeto
time(3pts)

Issuesw/sentence
structureinterferewith
meaning
Manywordsused
incorrectly;vocabulary
isblandORtoomuch
purpleprose(1pt)

Conventions

Engaging,formal,and
objectivetoneveryfew
grammarerrors
consistentlyusespresent
tenseverbs(5pts)

Formaltoneahandful
ofgrammarerrors,but
theyrenotoverly
distractingusuallyuses
presenttenseverbs(3
pts)

Limitedawarenessofor
inconsistenttoneMany
grammarerrorsthat
distractfromthecontent
ofthepaper(1pt)

Format(MLA)
TimesNew
Roman12
Doublespaced
MLAheading
Headerw/page#
Descriptivetitle
(inadditiontothe
copiedquestion)
Margins(1or1.25
inches)
Intextcitations
Workscitedpage

Zeroerrors(5pts)

Seelastpageofthis
handoutforsampleformat!

Twoerrors(3pts)

Fourormoreerrors
(1pt)

Wordcount

8001,000words

Wordcounttypedatthe
endoftheessay

Example
Wordcount:947
(5pts)

750799words

OR

1,0011,050words

Wordcounttypedatthe
endoftheessay

749orfewerwords

OR

1,051ormorewords

Wordcountnottypedat
theendoftheessay

Smith
(3pts)

(1pt)

TheGreatGatsby
SummativeRubricConversion:
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

Smith

ShadowSmith
Mr.Bradley
English11
11415
TheGreatGatsby
Ifthetexthadbeenwritteninadifferenttimeorplaceorlanguageorforadifferentaudience,
howandwhymightitdiffer?

TheGreatGatsby,anovelbyF.ScottFitzgerald,isabookthatwaswrittenin
1925,and,inthebook,thingstakeplaceinthesummerof1922.Thingswerevery,very
differentinthe1920s,includinglanguage,culture,perspectives,andbeliefs.Thingslike
cheatinganddivorcewereunheardof.Prohibitionwasbiginthistimeperiod.The
languagepeopleusedintheUnitedStateswasverydifferenttowhatwesaynow,aswell.
The1920s,oftenreferredtoastheRoaring20s,isdisplayedintheGreatGatsbyas
justthat.Roaring.Althoughalcoholwasbanned,thatdidntstoppeople,especiallythe
wealthiersideofNewYork.PeoplelikeTomandDaisyBuchanan,JordanBaker,and
evenGatsbydidandsaidprettymuchwhatevertheypleased.Ifthisbookwaswrittenina
yearlike2011,thingswouldbeverydifferent.Thewaypeopletalkwouldchange,the
waytheydress,andact,eventhewaytheylive.
Inthistimeperiod,divorcewas
not
acceptable.Ifyougotmarriedtosomeone,
youstayedmarriedtothem,nomatterwhat.Ifyouweretogetdivorced,bychance,it
wouldextremelyalteryourreputation.AgirllikeDaisyBuchanan,caredalittletoo
muchaboutherreputation.AlthoughherhusbandTomBuchananwascheatingonher
withMyrtleWilson,andsheknewaboutit,Daisykepthermouthshut.Shedidntmake
himstop,andshedidntdivorcehim,either.Astheysaymanytimesinthebook,Daisy

Smith
isthegoldengirl.Richandbeautiful.Shedoesntwanttheembarrassmentofherhusband
goingoutonhertogetaround.Whatwouldpeoplethinkofher?Shealsorefusesto
divorcehimforthatsamereason.Whatwouldpeoplethink?Ifthiswashappeninginthe
2010s,itwouldbelessofabigdeal.Peoplegetdivorcedallthetime.Hardlyanyone
staystogetheranymore,andwhensomeonedoesgetdivorced,peopledontreactallthat
harshlytoit.Itisntabigordeallikeitwasin1922.
Peopleliketobrushitoffandsay
kidswillbekidsandthingsofthatnature,buttherecomesapointwhereitsnotjusta
joke.
Whenmenorwomendocheatontheirpartners,itsnotmadeintoasbigofa
scandalasitwouldhavebeen.Ifitwere2011,TomandDaisycouldhavegottena
divorceiftheydesiredone,andpeopleprobablywouldhavebarelyshrugged.
Prohibitionwasaverybigthinginthistimeperiod,aswell.Thebanofalcohol
cameasnewstomany,andmostpeoplewerenotpleased.Althoughpeoplefoundaway
arounditwiththeinventionofspeakeasies,somehaditeasierthanthat.Thewealthier
peoplecouldprettymuchdoanything,aslongastheywerentdrawingtoomuch
attentiontothemselves.JayGatsbythrewoutstanding,extravagantpartieseveryweekfor
thelongesttime.Granted,hewasonlythrowingtheminhopesoffindingDaisy,buthis
partiesdidincludealcohol,thathundredsofpeoplewereconsuming.ButIcantsayonly
thewealthygotthisbenefit.MyrtleWilsonwasfarfromrich,yetshewasabletodrink
withoutgoingtoaspeakeasyaswell.WhenNickCarraway,Myrtle,andTomBuchanan
wenttoMyrtlessistersapartment,Nicksaidhehadonlybeendrunktwotimesinhis
life,andthatwasoneofthem.Theyweredrinking,laughing,partying,andjustmessing
around.Now,ifthisweretotakeplaceinthe2010s,itwouldntbeabigdeal.
Prohibitionisntaroundanymorepeoplecangetasdrunkastheywantwheneverthey
wantaslongastheydontdrive.Nowwehavebars,liquorstores,alcoholsectionsin

Smith
grocerystores.AlcoholisthebiggestfactorwhenitcomestocelebrationslikeNew
YearsEveorMardiGras.Itsnotsomuchofasecretanymore.
OurlanguagehereintheUnitedStateshasexpandedandgrowna
lot
inthepast
centuryorso.Inthebook,Gatsbysaysoldsportveryoftenwhenhestalkingtopeople,
mostlytomen,Today,yourarelyhearthat,oranythinglikeit.Ihaveneverheardanyone
saythatinthesixteenyearsIvebeenaround.Ithinkpeoplecursealotmoretodayas
well.Inthe1920s,theytriedtorestricttheirlanguagesotheydsoundmoreformal,
respectful,andappropriate.Todayyoucantevengotoamallorrestaurantwithout
hearingpeopledroptheFbombatleastafewtimes.Ourlanguagehasgrownvulgar.
Wereinfluencedbymovies,andshows,andbooks,andaswecontinuetogrow,and
childrengrow,thatlanguageisbeingusedinhomesmoreandmore.Itwasntlikethisin
thetimeTheGreatGatsbywaswritten.Peoplecensoredthemselvesmore,mostlikely
anotherwaytoholduptheirreputation.
IfTheGreatGatsbywaswritteninayearlike2011,manythingswouldchange.
Thelanguage,thescandals.Divorceandcheatingwouldbelessofahorrorand
unacceptablethingtodo.Cursingwouldbethrownatpeoplemuchmorethaninthe
1920s.Alcoholwouldntbeanissueatall,andtherewouldbenoneedtosneakaround
withit.Inthepastfewdecades,ourculturehasgrownandexpandedalot,causingpeople
tospeakmorefreely,anddomoreofwhattheywant.Theperspectivesofpeoplehave
changed,too,andthingsarentseenasbeingsohorribleliketheywerebefore.IfThe
GreatGatsbywaswrittentoday,Ithinkitdbeamuchdifferentbook.

WorksCited

Smith
Fitzgerald,FS.
TheGreatGatsby
.NewYork:ScribnerPaperbackFiction,1995.Print.