Essay 2
Topics: The Great Gatsby
Length: 5-6 paragraphs
Grade: See the Syllabus
Due: Monday, June 8 via Blackboard by 11:59 p.m.
With Extensions Wednesday, June 10 via Blackboard by 11:59 p.m.
Other Requirements: Your Editing List must be submitted with this essay
(See the Module on Essay Writing for Editing Lists)
No Works Cited--2% penalty
No Editing List--2% penalty
Instructions:
1. Use your ideas and the lecture notes to help with the essay topics. A secondary
source, li
ary and/or web resource, may not be used for this essay.
2. Write a well-developed and well-organized essay on one of the following topics. Your
essay should contain an opening paragraph with a clear, concise thesis statement, a
logically organized argument, and a closing paragraph.
• You need to quote directly from the literary work in each body paragraph to
support your arguments
3. Literature essays use MLA format (in-text parenthetical references to document
quotations and a Works Cited page). See Requirements for Essays and your writing text
for help with the conventions of documentation.
4. Use the Essay Evaluation Checklist (see the Module on Essay Writing) and your Editing
List to help you assess your final copy.
5. I also encourage you to submit your essay for feedback to the DEU Writing Centre for
feedback. http:
distanceeducation.usask.ca/support/writing-centre.php
Marking:
You will be marked on content, writing skills, and formatting:
Ideas, Organization, Development = 60 points;
Writing Skills = 35 points; and
*Formatting = 5 points
http:
distanceeducation.usask.ca/support/writing-centre.php
Topics:
1. What are the three most significant elements that Fitzgerald critiques about 1920’s
society through Nick’s na
ative?
2. Discuss Nick Ca
away’s 3 most significant character traits, explaining how those traits
affect his actions and his presentation of events.
3. Unreliable first-person na
ators are often identifiable by the omissions, contradictions,
and lies found in their na
atives. Discuss these three elements of unreliable na
ation in
Nick Ca
away’s na
ative in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
4. Given the title of the novel, the idea of Gatsby’s greatness is of the utmost importance.
In what ways is Gatsby a great man? In what ways is he not? Remember that Nick is
presenting Gatsby, so his opinion of Gatsby is central to this topic.
5. What makes Nick a reliable storyteller? Why should we believe the tale that he tells
since he does omit events or parts of them, contradicts himself, and lies about events
and other characters. Discuss Nick’s omissions, contradictions, and lies in relation to
his telling the story truthfully.