The word count I provided (1100) is an estimate. There is no required word count or page count.
4.2 Assignment: Culminating
project – The Great Gatsby
Throughout this course, you have engaged in an
independent novel study. You selected a novel to read from in the very first
learning activity of this course, and throughout the units of this course, you
have been reading and collecting observations, notes, images, digital
artifacts, quotations, and references that show your understanding of the novel
to create a reading journal. For the culminating project, you will need to
finalize and submit your reading journal.
This assignment is worth 15% of your course grade.
Instructions
Review the project guidelines stated in Learning Activity 4.2 for the culminating project. As
previously mentioned, your reading journal should be a combination of a
journal and scrapbook and should include images, notes, and artifacts that
capture your understanding of the novel. You may decide the format of your
reading journal as long as it meets the outlined guidelines.
Make sure you have 10 journal entries in
your reading journal and that your
entries meet the requirements outlined in the following Reading Journal Requirements document.
For three of the 10 entries, you had the option to choose what you would
like to do from a list of prompts. For those three journal entries, you
needed to pick a prompt from each of the categories of prompts from the
following List of Prompts for Reading Journal Entries
document.
Make sure your reading journal incorporates multimedia. As stated in Learning Activity 4.2, your entries may include the
following:
images from the setting or
time period of the novel (including art or other pop culture artifacts)
images of what the main
character(s) might appear like, things that might be in their home, and
so on
images inspired by themes
in your novel
references to other media
or texts (for example, song lyrics and poems)
links to videos or audio
recordings (for example, an interview with the author) that provide added
context and perspective for your interpretations
links to videos or audio
recordings you have created of reflections and explanations based on
textual evidence from the novel
Review the rubric to ensure that you are meeting the expectations to the best of your
ability before you submit your reading journal.
Your teacher-marker will grade and provide feedback
on your work using the following success criteria and rubric. Before submitting
your assignment, review the success criteria and rubric. If you are unsure
about how to format your assignments, citation or what constitutes plagiarism,
please review the following support pages:
Referencing and Formatting Submission Guidelines(Opens in new window)
Avoiding
Plagiarism Guide(Opens in new window)
Success criteria and rubric
Demonstrates complex and accurate knowledge of
literary lenses.
Identifies and explains relevant perspectives and
interpretations using examples from the novel.
Explains appropriately and logically how
biographical and historical contexts can inform interpretations and opinions.
Uses multimedia, links, images, audio, and
artefacts appropriately and creatively.
Uses examples from the novel to make relevant and
significant inferences.
Includes journal entries that are organized,
logical, and clear.
Uses appropriate language for the purpose and
audience.
Uses conventions accurately.
Uses multimedia to demonstrate depth and
significant interpretation and analysis.
Applies literary lenses to show depth of
understanding of character and theme.
Makes connections (text- to-self, text-to-text,
text-to-world) with breadth and depth.
Completes 10 required entries.
Here is the Reading Journal. Item No 1-7 are similar to what
I need done, but have been completed with Chat GPT ai. I need them to be
original. Please complete No 1-10 without AI.
Ten journal entries: requirements checklist.
Item No. 1
Week 1:
Day 1-2: Chapters 1-2 (about 50 pages) Day 3: Chapter 3
(about 30 pages) Day 4-5: Chapters 4-5 (about 50 pages) Day 6: Chapter 6 (about
30 pages) Day 7: Chapter 7 (about 30 pages) Day 8: Chapter 8 (about 20 pages)
Day 9: Chapter 9 (about 20 pages)
Week 2:
Day 10: Review and summarize Chapters 1-3 Day 11: Review and
summarize Chapters 4-6 Day 12: Review and summarize Chapters 7-9 Day 13:
Analyze themes, characters, and major events Day 14: Complete any unfinished
analysis, wrap up, and reflect on the book.
Item No. 2
I chose The Great Gatsby because it is a timeless classic
that delves into themes of love, wealth, and the American Dream. F. Scott
Fitzgerald’s masterful storytelling and vivid portrayal of the Jazz Age
captivate readers from the very beginning. The characters are complex and
flawed, yet human, making them both relatable and intriguing to analyze.
Moreover, The Great Gatsby offers a glimpse into the
societal dynamics and cultural values of the 1920s, providing valuable insights
into the human condition that remain relevant today. The novel’s exploration of
the pursuit of happiness, the illusion of success and the consequences of
obsession resonates with readers across generations. the consequences of
obsession resonate with readers, including myself.
Item No. 3
In the first third of the novel, initially portrayed as a
mysterious and enigmatic figure, Gatsby is seen as a wealthy and extravagant
individual who throws lavish parties at his mansion. Through the eyes of the
narrator, Nick Carraway, Gatsby appears to be a self-made man who is deeply
infatuated with Daisy Buchanan, his former lover. His obsession with Daisy and
his desire to win her back drive much of his actions and decisions in this part
of the novel.
In the second third of the novel, Gatsby’s past is gradually
unveiled, revealing his humble origins and his transformation into a wealthy
socialite. His relentless pursuit of Daisy becomes more desperate as he
attempts to bridge the gap between their past romance and the present reality
of her marriage to Tom. Gatsby’s vulnerability and insecurities become more
apparent as he navigates the complexities of his feelings for Daisy and
grapples with the illusions of his own making.
In the final third of the novel, Gatsby’s illusions are
shattered as he confronts the harsh reality of Daisy’s inability to fully
commit to him. His dream of recapturing the past and attaining happiness with
Daisy collapses in the face of betrayal and disillusionment. Gatsby’s tragic
demise serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of love and the
emptiness of material pursuits.
Item No. 4
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, known as F. Scott Fitzgerald,
was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He was a prominent
American novelist and short story writer of the early 20th century. Fitzgerald
experienced the Jazz Age firsthand, a period characterized by economic
prosperity, cultural dynamism, and social change in the United States.
Fitzgerald wrote “The Great Gatsby” during the
1920s, a period often referred to as the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age. This
era was marked by significant social, cultural, and economic changes in the
United States. Following World War I, the country experienced a period of
economic prosperity, technological advancements, and shifting social norms. The
Roaring Twenties was characterized by a booming economy, fueled by
industrialization and consumerism. It was an age of excess and hedonism, with
widespread urbanization, the rise of jazz music and dance, and the emergence of
a new generation of young people known as “flappers,” who challenged
traditional gender roles and social conventions.
“The Great Gatsby” is set in the summer of 1922,
primarily in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on Long Island, New
York. These areas represent the divide between “old money” and
“new money” in American society. West Egg is home to newly rich
individuals like Jay Gatsby, who have acquired their wealth through enterprise
and ambition, while East Egg is inhabited by families with inherited wealth and
social prestige. The novel provides a vivid portrayal of the opulent lifestyles
and decadent parties of the wealthy elite, juxtaposed with the moral and
spiritual emptiness that lurks beneath the surface. Through the eyes of
narrator Nick Carraway, readers are immersed in the glamorous yet
disillusioning world of the American Dream, where success is measured by
material wealth and social status, and moral values are often compromised in
pursuit of elusive happiness.
Item No. 5
Gatsby is perhaps the most resilient character in the novel.
Despite facing numerous setbacks and obstacles, including his humble origins,
social rejection, and the impossibility of winning back Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby
remains unwavering in his pursuit of the American Dream. He demonstrates
resilience through his relentless optimism, determination, and ability to
reinvent himself in pursuit of his goals.
Illusion vs. Reality: Resilience is intricately tied to the
theme of illusion versus reality in the novel. Gatsby’s resilience is fueled by
his unwavering belief in the possibility of recapturing the past and achieving
his dreams, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. However,
the novel ultimately exposes the futility of Gatsby’s resilience, as his
illusions are shattered by the harsh realities of human nature and social
class.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s portrayal of resilience in “The
Great Gatsby” is complex. While he acknowledges the importance of
resilience in overcoming adversity and pursuing one’s dreams, he also
highlights the dangers of blind optimism and the pursuit of illusions. The
novel suggests that while resilience can be a valuable trait, it must be
tempered by self-awareness, moral integrity, and an acceptance of the
limitations of the human condition. Ultimately, Fitzgerald seems to caution
against placing too much faith in the power of resilience to overcome the
inherent flaws and contradictions of human existence.
Item No. 6
Social Class and
Inequality:
The novel vividly
depicts the stark divide between the “old money” elite of East Egg
and the “new money” arrivistes of West Egg. This socio-economic
distinction shapes the characters’ interactions and influences their
aspirations and values.
Characters like Tom
and Daisy Buchanan represent the entrenched upper class, with their inherited
wealth and sense of entitlement, while Jay Gatsby embodies the aspirational
spirit of the “new money”, striving to climb the social ladder through material
success.
Through this lens,
Fitzgerald critiques the superficiality and moral decay of the wealthy elite,
highlighting the social inequality that define American society in the 1920s.
Item No. 7
Mad Men: This
critically acclaimed television series shares thematic similarities with
“The Great Gatsby,” particularly in its exploration of the social and
cultural dynamics of the 1960s. Both works delve into the complexities of
wealth, power, and identity in American society, highlighting the facade of
success and the moral compromises inherent in the pursuit of the American
Dream.
“Death of a
Salesman” by Arthur Miller: Like “The Great Gatsby,” “Death
of a Salesman” explores the illusory nature of the American Dream and the
consequences of pursuing success at any cost. Both works depict protagonists who
are consumed by their pursuit of material wealth and social status, only to
find themselves spiritually and emotionally bankrupt in the end.
Items No. 8 to 10
No. 8: Your choice
from the list of prompts Group A: “Sentence starters…”
No. 9: Your choice
from the list of prompts Group B: “Questions to consider…
No. 10: Your choice
from the list of prompts Group C: “Alternative responses…”
Your reading
journal entries will vary in length and composition and will be a mix of text
and multimedia. Your entries may include the following:
images from the
setting or time period of the novel (for example, fabric, wallpaper, art, other
pop culture artifacts)
images of what the
protagonist might appear like, things that might be in their home, and so on.
images inspired by
themes in your novel
references to other
media or texts (for example, song lyrics and poems)
links to videos
that provide added context and perspective for your interpretations
links to videos or
audio recordings you have created
reflections and
explanations based on textual evidence from the novel
You can decide how
your own reading journal will appear, but keep in mind that you will be graded
on the visual (scrapbook) aspect of it.
