YEAR 12 LESSON FOURTEEN [23rd Oct 13]: Homework.

Today's session was very important as students were asked to consider the essay title:
WHAT KIND OF AMERICA IS PRESENTED TO THE READER BY FITZGERALD IN THE FIRST FOUR CHAPTERS OF THE GREAT GATSBY?

Students were made aware that the assessment objectives for this question are different to the assessment objective that was the key focus of the last essay title. The assessment objectives for this task demand that students display an understanding of historical context and an awareness of the critical heritage that links to the novel. For example Lionel Trilling once stated that 'Gatsby is America' and students could refer to this critical interpretation to support and reinforce their own argument or use this quote to construct a critical argument that argues against Trilling's interpretation of the text.
The aim of the lesson was to encourage students to construct a detailed and informed response to this question. Class discussion was shaped into potential content. This content involved paragraphs that explored:

• The theme of inequality and how Fitzgerald presents a nation very different to the idealised version of America reflected in the poetry of Emma Lazarus or the lyrics of the National Anthem or the ethos enshrined in the 1776 Declaration of Independence. Reference was made to The Valley of Ashes and the hellish imagery constructed by FSS. 
• The second paragraph considered conspicuous consumption and the dissatisfaction that seems to envelop every 'restless' character. Students referred to the comments of Friar Barron, the literary critic and Catholic priest, who states that this novel is about 'the collapse of meaning' and Gertrude Stein's comments relating to 'the lost generation' were also considered. Class discussion explored how all the characters seem isolated from each other and that America appears to be a country populated by unhappy individuals.
• The theme of corruption and the fact that this is a country that appears to have very little respect for the law. The America of the novel appears to be a corrupt and lawless country. Discussion considered the significance of Prohibition and how meaning can be gained from considering its failure to curb alcohol consumption. Author's aim?

After a slow start, class discussion offered some quality critical commentary. Well done.

HOMEWORK:
I was going to ask students to attempt this essay over the half-term but I feel that we need two more lessons to make sure that all the class is fully aware of the assessment objectives that relate to this essay. I would like students to read the novel and digest the plethora of resources that are available via BE CURIOUS. Use the white bar in the upper-left-hand section of the blog to digest the Gatsby resources. Students need to have a clear understanding of the historical and cultural context of the novel. Students need to consider the relevance of this novel in its own time, and in our time. Is this novel still relevant in the twenty-first century? Students should digest the resources below. Click on the links and inhale the information. REMEMBER...YOU HAVE TO INHALE IN ORDER TO EXHALE. If you do not digest information you will remain uninformed. I expect students to indulge in some GATSBY related research:
Gatsby Podcast from The University of Leeds:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/gatsby-podcasts.html
A Gatsby podcast created by a teacher you may know:
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/literature-podcast-an-as-level
THE THREE RESOURCES BELOW WERE ALL CREATED BY JOHN GREEN. THEY ARE FANTASTIC. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD DIGEST THESE RESOURCES. HE HAS A HOST OF RESOURCES ONLINE COVERING A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL TOPICS. THEY MAY BE USEFUL FOR YOUR OTHER SUBJECTS. JOHN GREEN AND HIS PRODUCTION TEAM ARE WORTHY OF OUR TIME. INHALE:
John Green discusses the opening chapter of The Great Gatsby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehjTS6AhMJ8
Living the Dream in The Valley of Ashes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VhYMdnAsyM
More Gatsby from John Green:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw9Au9OoN88
Even MORE John Green..IS GATSBY GREAT?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn0WZ8-0Z1Y
A series of articles. Read them and develop an informed opinion. INHALE:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/collection-of-be-curious-gatsby.html
Baz Luhrmann discusses The Great Gatsby:
http://www.channel4.com/news/baz-luhrmann-the-great-gatsby-film-director
HISTORICAL CONTEXT. Essential viewing:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-great-gatsby-historical-context.html
The Occupy Wall Street moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFOWci6yrSs
Russia Today 'Occupy' news article:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctYlL1uC1K0

THIS BLOG IS PACKED WITH RESOURCES. I EXPECT YOU TO DIGEST THESE RESOURCES AND DEVELOP YOUR CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE NOVEL.
SYNTHESISE THE INFORMATION AND CONSTRUCT AN EVALUATION OF THE TEXT AND AUTHOR'S AIM. WHEN NEXT OUR LIVES COLLIDE...WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE ESSAY.

YOU LOT HAVE BEEN MAGNIFICENT. IT IS A PLEASURE TO LISTEN TO YOUR VIEWS AND OPINIONS. HAVE A GOOD WEEK...AND KEEP FEEDING YOUR MIND. BE CURIOUS.