Friday, May 30

As a way of modelling an investigation of motif & theme in Gatsby, we examined the final page of the novel an connected several images and words (dream, moonlight, wonder, flower, boats, etc.) with earlier instances in the work.

In-class essay postponed from Monday to Tuesday.

Thursday, May 29

We went to the computer lab, where students searched in the text of Gatsby for words and phrases related to the motifs and themes they will write about on Monday in class.

HW due Friday: Title of Monday's essay as per the form.

Wednesday, May 28

Mr. Potratz passed out forms with the assignment dueFriday: to compose a title for the in-class essay to be written Monday, using the two-line formula explained in Tuesday's class, involving a theme from Gatsby and a motif or motifs Fitzgerald uses to express that theme.

We worked on more sample titles of that kind, using different motifs and themes, and we looked at tomorrow's class, which will require searching the text of Gatsby online in the computer lab.

Tuesday, May 27

We finished reading Gatsby.
Mr. Potratz introduced the requirements for the essay on the novel to be written in class on Monday, June 2, beginning with a formula for a title involving both themes and imagery or motifs.

We talked some about the book's themes.

Friday, May 23
The end of Gatsby and almost the end of Gatsby!

HW due Tuesday: finish the book and finish the note booklet, which is to be turned in at the beginning of class Tuesday.

Thursday, May 22

Vocabulary test.

Gatsby, Chapter VIII.

Tuesday, May 20

Periods 3 & 5: Gatsby, Chapter VII

Periods 4 & 6: Vocabulary review

Vocabulary test postponed again to Thursday.

Mr. Potratz will be absent Wednesday. The class will watch a film based on a Fitzgerald story, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," and compare it with The Great Gatsby.

Monday, May 19

Vocabulary test postponed till Wednesday.

Periods 3 & 5: vocabulary review

Periods 4 & 6: Gatsby. Chapter VII

Friday, May 16

We watched the beginning of Winter Dreams, another documentary about Fitzgerald. Students took notes and turned them in at the end of the period.

Handout: Vocabulary list for Test on Tuesday:

Compiled from SAT practice questions:
extricate
inequity
iniquity
histrionic
axiom
tenuous
infallible
expunge
erroneous
archetype
pedant
autodidact
didactic
ostentatious
timorous
dauntless

From last chapters of Gatsby:
ingratiate – to bring (oneself, for example) into the favor or good graces of another, especially by
deliberate effort
menagerie – a collection of wild animals on exhibition
meretricious – attracting attention in a vulgar manner
septic – causing the presence of pathogenic organisms in the body
turgid – swollen or distended, as if from fluid
vestige – a visible trace, evidence or sign of something that no longer exists or appears
adventitious – not inherent, but added extrinsically
amorphous – lacking a definite organization or form; shapeless
commensurate – of the same size, extent, or duration
inviolate – not violated or profaned; intact
pander – to gratify or indulge a person, a desire, or a weakness
redolent – fragrant
truculent – aggressively defiant; pugnacious

Thursday, May 15

We finished Chapter 6 of Gatsby, then shared some of our notes.

Wednesday, May 14

The cover of Gatsby -- "I wrote it into the book."

We reviewed Chapters 4 and 5 and began reading Chapter 6.

Tuesday, May 13

Review of Chapters 4 & 5, Gatsby. Images of colors, cars, death.

Monday, May 12

Quiz over Chapters 1-5, The Great Gatsby.

Discussion of noses, anti-semitism, social climbing, money grubbing, and The American Dream.

Friday, May 9

We listened to Chapter 4 of Gatsby and took notes.

HW due Monday:
Read and take notes on Chapter 5.
Quiz over Chapters 1-5, open note.

Thursday, May 8

Sin and Syncopation

In connection with Gatsby's wild parties, we looked at white appropriation of black culture in the Twenties.

We read an article about the evils of jazz from the August, 1921, edition of Ladies' Home Journal, watched a Betty Boop cartoon featuring Louis Armstrong as a crazy African barbarian, and read "Note on the Commercial Theatre" by Langston Hughes.

Wednesday, May 7

Apostrophes Are Our Enemies!

Punctuation worksheet-- 40 points.

Tuesday, May 6

We discussed Chapter 3 of Gatsby, and looked at some footage of partying in the Twenties.

Monday, May 5

The Great Gatsby, Chapter 3.
Students listened to the recording and took notes of significant details.

Friday, May 2

Students turned in their research paper folders, with all stages including the final draft.

Next week: paper accepted with 10% penalty.
Following week: paper accepted with 20 % penalty.
Thereafter: paper not accepted.

We spent the short period pursuing vocabulary words at freerice.com.

Thursday, May 1

We finished reading, and discussed, Chapter 2 of Gatsby.

Research paper due Friday.