College-Bound Reader: The Great Gatsby
What's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursAssessment
Essays are carefully read and I provide feedback for each learner. Grades are available upon request.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Advanced Level
Are you a college-bound middle or high school student looking to read the best of literature that universities will have expected you to read before arriving on campus? If you're someone who loves to read, you probably can't wait to get started. But what if you are a reluctant reader who knows you'll have to read this stuff and try to at least make a stab at understanding it? Either way, we're going to bring this essential novel to life and enjoy the ride! 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒃𝒚 is hailed as one of the most important novels of the American literary canon. Published in 1925, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒃𝒚 depicts life in the Jazz Age, between two world wars when anything seemed possible. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒃𝒚 gained popularity during WWII as soldiers embraced its tale of the American Dream found and lost. Socratic discussion, engaging conversations, and hands-on projects that cover themes, an analytical essay, and character connections will round out our five weeks as we discover Fitzgerald's 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒃𝒚. Our course will look like this: Week One: Background lecture and pre-reading discussion Week Two: Read and discuss the introduction and chapters 1-3 Week Three: Read and discuss chapters 4-6 Week Four: Read and discuss chapters 7-9 Please keep reading below if you have any concerns regarding the book's content. -To round out a high school semester, add either: Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester I (academic essay writing) 𝘰𝘳 Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester II (creative writing) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 How to Read Literature Like a Professor (literary analysis) Expand your literary horizons further with my other College-Bound Reader courses, 𝘖𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯, 𝘞𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. Experience a treasure trove of literary brilliance with my When Women Write courses, highlighting extraordinary female authors. Immerse yourself in a world of captivating storytelling and powerful narratives. The curated selection includes: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘳𝘦, 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯, 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘭𝘺𝘯, 𝘛𝘰 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 & 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘢, 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦, and 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴. See you in class!
Learning Goals
Students will become familiar with F. Scott Fitzgerald's 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒃𝒚, learn to identify its theme and motifs, and be able to draw educated conclusions from our rhetorical discussions. Modernism and social satire are discussed and students will become familiar with literary devices and strategies.
CCSS
RL.8.1
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS
RL.8.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
RL.9-10.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS
RL.9-10.10
By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
RL.11-12.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
CCSS
RL.11-12.10
By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
W.8.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.8.5
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
CCSS
W.8.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.8.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.9-10.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.9-10.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
CCSS
W.9-10.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.9-10.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.11-12.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.11-12.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Introductory Lecture and Discussion
During the first live meeting, I will be introducing you to the author and the novel, focusing on cultural, historical, and social issues covered in the story. You don't need to have any of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘣𝘺 read yet, but feel free to start it if you like.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Discussing Chapters 1-3
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 1-3 by Socratic method. We will also discuss the week’s project and assignments.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Discussing Chapters 4-6
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 4-6 by Socratic method. We will also share our projects and discuss the essay due at the end of the course.
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Discussing Chapters 7-9
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 7-9 and projects from the previous week. We will wrap up our study of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘣𝘺
50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Fitzgerald's novel discusses anti-Semitism and racism. There are two tragic deaths depicted but they are not gory, and there is an adulterous relationship. A good resource for deciding if this novel is right for your learner is the Common Sense Media website.
Supply List
You will need a copy of 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒃𝒚. An audiobook version is a great idea if you are a reluctant reader, but you'll also want to underline and make notes in a copy of the book where you can.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of the Pacific
What happens when a learner is given the time and space to soak in a story and allow it to change their life? “Aha!” moments are my goal, and it’s why I adore leading worthwhile discussions about classic books. What good is it if we require a teen to read a book but our dry and uninteresting rendering makes them never want to pick up another book of note ever again?
Book classes for kids who want an adventure, middle and high school literature studies, introductory writing, and engaging story times for the youngest of readers and story lovers are my passion here on Outschool. We can give our kids so much more than our own experiences when we open a book and the world to them!
I have a BA in Music/Opera Studies and am currently studying for an MSt Literature and Arts at Oxford University. I homeschooled our 8 children for 25 years in which we studied, read, and learned through nearly 500 great books together. That experience and literary knowledge have spilled out into the literature studies I lead with adult learners and kids alike.
WHICH CLASSES SHOULD YOUR CHILD TAKE?
-High School or Secondary Students-
To plan a high school semester, add either:
Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester I (academic essay writing) 𝘰𝘳
Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester II (creative writing) 𝘰𝘳
Write a Children's Book: From Great Ideas to Publishing 𝘢𝘯𝘥
High School English: Read Literature Like a Professor (literary analysis) 𝘢𝘯𝘥
Writing the Literary Analysis Essay (literary analysis)
My College-Bound Reader courses include Of Mice and Men, The Scarlet Letter, and Wuthering Heights, and The Great Gatsby.
I offer other When Women Write courses featuring excellent female authors. When Women Write courses include 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘳𝘦, 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯, 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘭𝘺𝘯, 𝘛𝘰 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 & 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘢, 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 & 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦, and 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴.
-Middle School Students-
To plan a middle school semester, add either:
Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester I (academic essay writing) 𝘰𝘳
Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester II (creative writing) 𝘰𝘳
Write a Children's Book: From Great Ideas to Publishing 𝘢𝘯𝘥
Middle School English: Read Literature Like a Professor (literary analysis) 𝘢𝘯𝘥
Writing the Literary Analysis Essay (literary analysis)
There is crossover for middle and high school students with the literature I teach. If your student is ready to read any of my When Women Write or College-Bound Reader titles, please don't hesitate to sign them up. Some middle schoolers also love my middle-reader titles, especially: Amal Unbound, The Shakespeare Stealer, and Hello, Universe
-Elementary Students-
All Books for Adventures Readers titles are appropriate for this age group:
Amal Unbound
Beezus and Ramona
Blue Willow
By the Great Horn Spoon
Georges Marvellous Medicine
Heidi
Hello, Universe
I, Juan de Pareja
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Matilda
Swallows and Amazons
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Hundred Dresses
The Shakespeare Stealer
The Twenty-One Balloons
The Wheen on the School
Turtle in Paradise
Reviews
Live Group Course
$20
weekly or $79 for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
50 min
Completed by 10 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
2-6 learners per class