The Great Gatsby Journal

Use the journal to help students focus on literary elements as they read, or in lieu of daily reading quizzes for The Great Gatsby.
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The Great Gatsby Journal Student Handout

For each of the nine chapters you will be expected to write the following in your Gatsby Journals.

  1. Title entries with the chapter number.
  2. Write a five sentence chapter summary.
  3. Each chapter choose a different character to focus on.
    1. Name the character.
    2. Choose a quote that you think best represents the character.
    3. Describe his/her best and worst qualities.
    4. In a paragraph describe the character's role in the novel.
  4. From each chapter choose one meaningful quote, and then describe its significance in the novel.
  5. Each chapter note at least two sightings of one or more of the following symbols: the color green, the color white, silver and gold, the ash heap, the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg, Gatsby's career/Nick's career, Gatsby's library of uncut books/Nick's unread books, Dan Cody, East Vs. West Egg, rain in chapter five, heat in chapter seven, Wolfsheim's cufflinks, faded timetable (showing names of Gatsby's guests), Gatsby's cars/clothes.
(Use the journal in lieu of reading quizzes. At the beginning of class quickly check that students have completed them and collect the journals for grading at the end of the unit.)



Decide how much you want each section to be worth.

Grading Gatsby Journals
Chapter Titles--------
Chapter Summary--------
Character Quote--------
Character's Best/Worst Qualities--------
Character's Role--------
Symbol Tracking--------
Total Points--------

Return to The Great Gatsby Index Page.

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