Your second significant write of the quarter will be due at NOON on Sunday, February 21 and is about high school sports. I’ve included a link to the prompt here, and a link to the three kinds of thesis statements we will review on Tuesday.

The written Great Gatsby exam will require you to answer two questions, each in a well-developed essay with a thesis and 2-3 strong, detailed paragraphs. An excellent answer will demonstrate knowledge of the text, classroom discussion and the notes we’ve discussed.

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The first significant write of the spring semester is posted here. All future essay prompts will be located in this folder.

The assignment is due Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Please make sure to share your response with dpogreba@gmail.com and give me editing privileges.

The assignment is to write about reparations for African-Americans. Additional information is located below:

We’ll begin our investigation on Monday, February 1, 2016. The page with the information and resources we’ll use is located here.

1.Some critics have argued that the novel makes the case for the power of modern humanism while others say its power derives from the application of Christian love. Which is a stronger argument and why?

2. Ultimately, does Steinbeck intend for the reader to believe more in the power of social cooperation (socialism?) or the power of individual, human nature?

3. How does Steinbeck use biblical allusions to enhance the meaning of the work? What, taken together, do these allusions show about the Okies?

4. How does the film contrast with the book? Why might the film have changed and what thematic differences does it suggest?

5. Apply the literary criticism you studied to the book and construct an argument in which you evaluate this critical lens. For instance, what does the Grapes of Wrath say about the relationship of the Id and Superego?