The Great Gatsby Found Poetry ESSAY

The Great Gatsby Found Poetry ESSAY

In groups, you created an original “found poem” using only lines, phrases, dialogue, and words from The Great Gatsby to impart new meaning. You were required to have character(s), thematic, or imagistic thread upon which your lines focus. For this assignment, you will need to analyze your group’s poem and another group’s to shed new light on a prominent theme in the novel.

ESSAY Prompt: In comparison and/or contrast, how do the selected imagery and dialogue of two found poems illuminate a theme within The Great Gatsby?

In a clear, well-developed essay of at least two body paragraphs, present your analytical argument.  By presenting your stance, you are arguing for your point of view on a prominent theme from The Great Gatsby.   To successfully do this, your thesis must state your reasoning for the effectiveness and purpose of the imagery and dialogue presented in the poems and the body of your essay must develop and support that position with plausible, well-chosen passages from both found poems.  Above all, your argument must be critical.  I should agree that your position is originally analytical.

BRAINSTORM & OUTLINE:

Step 1 Choose another found poem that relates and illuminates a theme present in your group’s poem

• Read both poems without taking notes.
• Read through again, this time highlighting crucial IDEAS, NOT SUMMARY.
• Then, evaluate to find the connecting thread of your ideas.
• Identify the new idea developing within this thread.

Step 2 Develop your reasoning

• Summarize your main idea that has surfaced. This is your Working Thesis, which will guide your literary analysis of The Great Gatsby. Remember, it must be ARGUABLE, INTERPRETIVE, and NOT OBVIOUS.

Step 3 Apply and analyze your argument to The Great Gatsby and the two found poems.

• Bullet point the sections of the poems that address your ideas.

REQUIRED COMPONENTS

TITLE

• The title should tell enough about the topic to capture my interest and let me know the focus of the essay.

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

• Should state the subject (a theme in Gatsby) of the essay and be interesting enough to make me want to keep on reading. You want to make clear your thesis here. Imagine the ideas of your intro inside a funnel: the early ideas are broad, more general, and the end of your intro states your thesis which is the most specific sentence/idea of the paragraph.
  1. Begin with a hook: introduce me to the subject of your essay (1-2 sentences)
  2. Identify and explore the theme and its function within the novel. Be sure to introduce author and title of the novel (3-4 sentences)
  3. Link this subject idea to the poems; how is this idea evident in the found poems you are discussing in your essay? Provide title of both poems in “quotes” (1-2 sentences)
  4. Thesis: State what new meaning the poems reveal about the theme in The Great Gatsby (your opinion), and explain how in comparison and/or contrast the selected imagery and dialogue in the poems illuminate the theme (1-2 sentences).

• A comparison thesis might look like:

• Both “Blue Moths” and “Beating the Oars” highlight the desire for self-reinvention in the American dream, and reveal the ultimate emptiness of that dream.

• A contrast thesis might look like:

• While “Blue Moths” highlights the power of love and beauty in The Great Gatsby, “Beating the Oars” undermines the novel’s objectification of women.

• A comparison / contrast thesis might look like:

• While both poems suggest the power of ambition, “Blue Moths” highlights the emptiness of wealth, whereas “Beating the Oars” emphasizes the beauty of desire.

BODY PARAGRAPHS (2-3)

• Topic Sentences need to introduce the idea in one of the poems you will be discussing in each of your paragraphs—a sub point within your thesis. They should be clearly stated, focused, and to the point.

• The shape of your Topic Sentences depends on the shape of your paragraphs—are they “block style” or “point style”?

• Block style is easier—one topic, in this case one poem, per paragraph. It might look like:

• *TS for 1^st paragraph: The imagery of flight and flowers in “Blue Moths” highlights the temptation of love and beauty, but also fleeting nature of these concepts.

• *TS for the 2^nd paragraph: “Beating the Oars” use of light and dark imagery suggests that love is an illusion—only death is permanent.

• Point style is more sophisticated and might look like:

• While the imagery of light in “Blue Moths” highlights the beauty of desire, symbolic darkness in “Beating the Oars” emphasizes the pain of loss.

• TLQs (Transition, lead-in, quotes): Quotes should be sufficient in proving your thesis. They should show (NOT tell) why your thesis is convincing. In total, you need 6-9 quotes taken from the two found poems.

• Analysis should look closely at the imagery and dialogue in the lines you have chosen from the poems. Analysis should, also, look closely at these literary elements that make it an effective passage in the text and analyze how it demonstrates what you are trying to argue. Your analysis should stay on point (focused), and not deter from the quote and topic at hand. Commentary writing requires careful critical thinking and interpretation of your concrete details. Focus on the idea and trying simply to express it clearly, even if that means expressing it simply.  Your analysis needs to be thoughtful and NOT a summary of quotes or plot points.

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH

Signals that the essay has come to an end.  Inverted funnel – imagine your conclusion as the opposite of your introduction – the most specific ideas come first and you should end with a more general, universal idea.

WRITING MECHANICS

Should use proper transitions and establish fluid and cohesive flow of ideas. Precision of points made needs clearly stated and focused sentences explaining the texts and your reasoning. Writing should remain in the present tense and the narration in third person. Word choice should be appropriate. Use vivid and specific language to convey meaning.

Be Specific

• Avoid being vague. If you find yourself saying “many examples” or other general observations, go find the specific detail and use it to illustrate your point.  Words to watch for and avoid: many, numerous, multiple, stuff, things.
• Avoid repetitive language. Avoid defining in circles.
• Avoid meaningless language. “Great similarity” and “huge idea” and “major point” are all empty phrases which attempt to accentuate message or focus.  Instead, let your idea be stronger and the stronger language will follow.

Be Objective, yet Analytical

• Avoid judgments. “That is a very insightful message from Mustapha” is a judgment.
• Do not offer your opinion to fill space or emphasize how smart your essay is. Just offer analysis.
• Avoid generalizing.
• Decide on the most logical order for your paragraph. Always ask yourself:  what does my reader need to know/see first before I can arrive at this point?  Be careful to illustrate the connection of each idea to the next.  Your writing should transition naturally from idea to idea, both within the paragraph and between the paragraphs.