great gatsby extended essay

88 Perfect Essay Topics on The Great Gatsby

Welcome to The Great Gatsby Essay Topics page prepared by our editorial team! Here you’ll find a large collection of essay ideas on the novel! Literary analysis, themes, characters, & more. Get inspired to write your own paper!

• 🔬 Literary Analysis
• 🎭 Characters
• 📊 Compare & Contrast
• 🗺️ Navigation

🎓 References

🔬 literary analysis of the great gatsby: essay topics.

• What are the literary devices used to create the image of Jay Gatsby?
• Analyze how Fitzgerald uses imagery in The Great Gatsby.
• The Great Gatsby: analysis and feminist critique
• What do colors symbolize in The Great Gatsby?
• How does Fitzgerald use geographical setting to show the contrast between social classes in the novel?
• How does Fitzgerald convey a notion of the American Dream through metaphors and symbols?
• What does the green light in Daisy’s window represent in The Great Gatsby?
• What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize in The Great Gatsby?
• What role does Nick Carraway’s narration play in the story? If we got it through an omniscient third-person narrator, what would we gain or lose?
• Could the story have been set in other places, like Chicago or Los Angeles, or were New York City and Long Island absolutely necessary?
• Look at the novel’s opening lines. If we accept Nick’s advice when we read the story, will our views of it change? Or, in other words, does refraining from criticism promote compassion?
• Is there a hidden meaning of the title of The Great Gatsby? What is it?
• How is the color white used within the novel? When does it make a false representation of innocence? When does it truly represent innocence?
• Color symbolism in The Great Gatsby
• What is the role of a New York setting in the novel’s storyline?
• What is the real meaning of ‘great’ in the title of The Great Gatsby?
• What significance do colors have in the party’s descriptions in chapter 3?
• Why is Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby a satire?
• Elaborate on the green light as the symbol of the American dream.
• What is the meaning of the phrase “Can’t repeat the past?.. Why of course you can!” What does Gatsby really want from Daisy?
• What role do the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg play in The Great Gatsby?
• How is The Great Gatsby a satirical representation of the society?
• Are the rich in the novel really so careless as everyone believes them to be?
• Create an alternative ending for The Great Gatsby. Justify your choice.
• What is the relationship between those born rich and those who became rich in the novel?
• Fairy tale traits in The Great Gatsby

🎭 Essay Topics on The Great Gatsby’s Characters

• Discuss female characters and their significance in The Great Gatsby.
• Compare Gatsby and Wilson. In what ways are they similar?
• Gatsby & Nick in The Great Gatsby
• Who is the most responsible for Gatsby’s death? Why is it so?
• Why do Tom and Daisy stay together at the end of the novel?
• Does Gatsby’s money bring him real happiness?
• Can Jay’s feelings for Daisy in The Great Gatsby be considered love?
• How do secondary characters affect the story?
• Daisy Buchanan: quotes analysis
• Who is the real hero in The Great Gatsby?
• Can we call Jay Gatsby a romantic hero or a villain?
• What does Jay Gatsby really live for in the novel: the present or the past?
• Compare Myrtle and Daisy.
• Jay Gatsby & Tom Buchanan: compare & contrast
• What does Tom’s quarrel with Myrtle in chapter 2 tell us about his personality?
• Elaborate on how both Tom and Gatsby want to change not only the future, but the past in chapter 7.
• What was Gatsby’s power of dreaming like? Was Daisy a worth object?
• Is anyone to blame for Gatsby’s death?
• Nick as the narrator in The Great Gatsby
• Are there any moral characters in the novel?
• Can Jordan and Daisy be considered perfect role models for the upper class in America? Why or why not?
• Is Gatsby really great? In what way? How does his greatness evolve as the plot unfolds?
• How does Nick’s character change over the course of The Great Gatsby?
• Does Gatsby deserve the definition of a self-made man? Why or why not?
• What role does Daisy play in the conflict between Gatsby & Tom?

🌻 Essay Topics on The Great Gatsby’s Themes

• What are the central themes in The Great Gatsby?
• What roles do fidelity and infidelity play in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby?
• What importance does sex have in the story?
• What role does alcohol play in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald?
• Did Fitzgerald really criticize the idea of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby?
• Does love play have any importance in The Great Gatsby?
• What role does the relationship between geography and social values play in the novel?
• Francis Scott Fitzgerald & his American Dream
• What is the meaning of time in The Great Gatsby?
• How do the aristocratic East Eggers, Tom and the Sloanes, regard Gatsby in chapter 6? How is their contempt connected to the theme of social class in the novel?
• Analyze The Great Gatsby through the prism of feminist theory.
• How are the themes of kindness and compassion presented in The Great Gatsby?
• Describe how the theme of ambition is presented in the novel.
• Elaborate on how Fitzgerald contrasts education and experience in The Great Gatsby.

⌛ Essay Topics on the Context of The Great Gatsby

• Describe how F.S. Fitzgerald’s life experiences influenced The Great Gatsby.
• What are the examples of modernism in The Great Gatsby?
• How does Fitzgerald represent the society of his time in the novel? Would you like to live in the Jazz era? Why or why not?
• How is America shown in The Great Gatsby? What values do the East and the West represent?
• How does Fitzgerald provide a critical social history of Prohibition-era America in his novel?
• How is the economic boom of postwar America shown in The Great Gatsby?
• Why did The Great Gatsby was neither a critical nor commercial success just after its publication? Why did its popularity grow exponentially several decades after?
• How are racial anxieties of the time shown in the novel?

📊 The Great Gatsby: Compare & Contrast Essay Topics

• Make a critical comparison of the novel with the 2013 movie.
• Make a comparison of the novel with the 1949 movie.
• Compare The Great Gatsby movies of 1949 and 2013.
• Compare and contrast two classic American novels: The Great Gatsbyand The Grapes of Wrath.
• Female characters in The Streetcar Named Desire & The Great Gatsby .
• How are Donald Trump and The Great Gatsby’s Tom Buchanan alike?
• Compare Miller’s Death of a Salesman and The Great Gatsby.
• What other fictional or non-fictional character from a book or movie can Nick Carraway be compared to?
• Jay Gatsby & Eponine from Les Miserables .
• Make a critical comparison of The Sun Also Rises and The Great Gatsby.
• Compare The Great Gatsby with A Farewell to Arms.
• Make a comparison of Daisy from The Great Gatsby with Henrietta Bingham from Irresistible.
• Love in The Great Gatsby & The Catcher in The Rye .
• What pop stars of nowadays Daisy can be compared to?
• Macbeth vs. Jay Gatsby: make a character comparison.
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Study Guide Menu

• Short Summary
• Summary (Chapter 1)
• Summary (Chapter 2)
• Summary (Chapter 3)
• Summary (Chapter 4)
• Summary (Chapter 5)
• Summary (Chapter 6)
• Summary (Chapter 7)
• Summary (Chapter 8)
• Summary (Chapter 9)
• Symbolism & Style
• Quotes Explained
• Essay Topics
• Essay Samples
• Questions & Answers
• F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Biography
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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IB Extended Essay: Is The Great Gatsby merely a novel of its time or is it still relevant today?

The Great Gatsby is considered prophetic as four years after its publication there was the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression. It is considered a staple of its time but, today, it is still read throughout the world, perhaps because its message resonates with so many. The following paper therefore examines the research question: ‘Is The Great Gatsby merely a novel of its time or is it still relevant today?’ This essay is divided into four sections: The American Dream, Identity, Love; and Women, Prohibition and Language. In order to answer this question, the following approach was taken: first, an exploration of the novel’s main themes, secondly, a close critical reading and analysis and, finally, the setting and the language of the text are discussed. In every section, there are references that examine the relevance, if any, it holds today in society. This essay relies on primary resources and secondary resources such as literary critiques and analysis, which are referenced frequently as supporting material. As Fitzgerald wrote specifically to disapprove of the excesses of the Jazz Age, the setting, diction and social issues are exclusively of the 1920s and thus, it is of its time period. However, after delving deeper into the themes of The Great Gatsby, it became clear that many of the themes are still pertinent today, and are a part of human nature, such as love and the quest for self-identity. The other major theme of the novel, The American Dream, may be associated with its time, however, when the core issues are scrutinized, it is evident the American Dream still lives. It is therefore concluded that the motifs, themes and rhetoric posed by The Great Gatsby still hold value today despite the events in the novel taking place in a different time. Grade: A

Related Papers

Ahmed Maklad

The thesis explores how the literary status of Fitzgerald’s novel published in 1925 evolved from being dismissed to becoming a canonical work of American Literature after the death of its author. The role of criticism and adaptations and how they intertwined to popularize the novel among the academic elite and the general public is examined. Four critical studies in different decades of recent history are analyzed to show the different approaches to the novel as well as its relation to the American Dream. The thesis suggests that the four critical studies discussed reflect viewpoints impacted by the cultural and socio-economic factors that marked the decade of their appearance: Kermit Moyer (1973), Ross Posnock (1984), Ray Canterbery (1999), and Benjamin Shreier (2007). Their approaches demonstrate the many ways The Great Gatsby can be viewed and thus its richness as a text. The three film adaptations of the novel in turn depict directors’ take on the novel as well as exhibiting the limitations, predilections, and technical possibilities of the time of their production: Nugent’s (1949), Clayton’s (1974), and Luhrmann’s (2013). The controversial aspects of these adaptations as indicated by reviews and articles, which evaluate them as to how they present Gatsby and the American Dream, have increased the debate and the interest in the novel. Though the novel is located in the U.S. in the Roaring Twenties associated with the Jazz Age, it continues to speak to present audience by evoking issues related to class, mobility, ethics, and romance.

Marcos Antonio Norris

The Journal of Men's Studies

Maggie Gordon Froehlich

This essay examines relationships between men and the role patriarchal capitalism plays in the construction of sexuality in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby(1925), a novel written during a critical period in the history of sexuality, as well as of gay and lesbian history. The ambivalence about male bonds—in particular the simultaneously loving and abusive dynamics of mentoring—depicted in this canonical work of American literature reveals the author's unease about his relationship with Catholic priest and teacher Sigourney Fay and provides insight into the author's well-known lifelong anxiety about his gender and sexuality.

Norval Baitello

Mary-Fidelis C Abiahu, FCA

Background of the Study Money laundering in essence means making dirty money looks clean. The modern term of money laundering was first used in a legal context in 1982 in America in the case of US vs $4,255,625.39 relating to the confiscation of laundered Columbian drug proceeds (Walker, 2007). Money laundering connotes simply distinguishing financial assets, so that they can be used without detection of the illegal activity that produced them. The magnitude of money laundering activities on the image of national economy is enormous and frightening. Money laundering has been described as the proceeds of trying to manage the product of crime. Transliterated, the phrase ―money laundering‖ simply means ―the washing of money‖ but a thing is laundered only when the thing is dirty with the goal of cleaning it. Thus, this transliteration – ―the washing of money‖ is infused with an ulterior purpose which is to cover its' dirty origin and it is the infusion that enables the conceptualization of the crime of money laundering. Indeed, the ultimate aim of money launderers is to create the impression that the funds in their possession were generated legitimate businesses so as to make possible for the law enforcement authorities to trace the funds back to the crime and by doing so, they are able to escape being convicted for their early crime.

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Fernando Capovilla

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — The Great Gatsby

Essays on The Great Gatsby

The great gatsby essay topic examples.

Whether you want to analyze the American Dream, compare and contrast characters, vividly describe settings and characters, persuade readers with your viewpoints, or share personal experiences related to the story, these essay ideas provide a diverse perspective on the themes and complexities within the book.

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays require you to analyze and present arguments related to the novel. Here are some topic examples:

• 1. Argue whether the American Dream is achievable or illusory, as depicted in The Great Gatsby .
• 2. Analyze the moral ambiguity of Jay Gatsby and the consequences of his relentless pursuit of the American Dream.

Example Introduction Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a tale of ambition, decadence, and the elusive American Dream. This essay delves into the complex theme of the American Dream, exploring whether it remains attainable or has transformed into a tantalizing illusion, luring individuals like Jay Gatsby into its enigmatic embrace.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: In conclusion, the analysis of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby invites us to reevaluate our perceptions of success and fulfillment. As we contemplate the fate of Jay Gatsby and the characters entangled in his world, we are challenged to define our own version of the American Dream and the sacrifices it may entail.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays enable you to examine similarities and differences within the novel or between it and other literary works. Consider these topics:

• 1. Compare and contrast the characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, exploring their contrasting worldviews and motivations.
• 2. Analyze the similarities and differences between the portrayal of the Jazz Age in The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises .

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: The characters and settings in The Great Gatsby and other literary works offer a rich tapestry for comparison and contrast. This essay embarks on a journey to compare and contrast the enigmatic Jay Gatsby and the brash Tom Buchanan, delving into their contrasting values, aspirations, and roles within the novel.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan illuminate the divergent paths individuals can take in pursuit of their desires. As we consider the consequences of their choices, we are prompted to reflect on the complexities of ambition and morality.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays allow you to vividly depict settings, characters, or events within the novel. Here are some topic ideas:

• 1. Describe the opulent parties at Gatsby's mansion, emphasizing the decadence and extravagance of the Jazz Age.
• 2. Paint a detailed portrait of Daisy Buchanan, focusing on her beauty, charm, and the allure she holds for Gatsby.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: The Great Gatsby immerses readers in the lavish world of the Roaring Twenties. This essay embarks on a descriptive exploration of the extravagant parties at Gatsby's mansion, capturing the opulence and hedonism of the era, as well as the illusions they create.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: In conclusion, the descriptive portrayal of Gatsby's parties serves as a vivid snapshot of the Jazz Age's excesses and the fleeting nature of indulgence. Through this exploration, we are reminded of the allure and transience of the materialistic pursuits that captivated the characters of the novel.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays involve arguing a point of view related to the novel. Consider these persuasive topics:

• 1. Persuade your readers that Nick Carraway is the moral compass of the story, serving as the voice of reason and morality.
• 2. Argue for or against the idea that Gatsby's love for Daisy is genuine and selfless, despite his questionable methods.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: The Great Gatsby presents a tapestry of characters with complex moral dilemmas. This persuasive essay asserts that Nick Carraway emerges as the moral compass of the story, guiding readers through the labyrinth of decadence and disillusionment in the Jazz Age.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: In conclusion, the persuasive argument regarding Nick Carraway's role as the moral compass underscores the importance of ethical navigation in a world characterized by excess and moral ambiguity. As we reflect on his influence, we are compelled to consider the enduring value of integrity and virtue.

Narrative Essays

Narrative essays offer you the opportunity to tell a story or share personal experiences related to the themes of the novel. Explore these narrative essay topics:

• 1. Narrate a personal experience where you encountered the allure of materialism and extravagance, similar to the characters in The Great Gatsby .
• 2. Imagine yourself as a character in the Jazz Age and recount your interactions with Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: The themes of The Great Gatsby resonate with the allure of a bygone era. This narrative essay delves into a personal encounter with the seductive pull of materialism and extravagance, drawing parallels to the characters' experiences in the novel.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: In conclusion, the narrative of my personal encounter with the allure of materialism reminds us of the timeless nature of the themes in The Great Gatsby . As we navigate our own desires and ambitions, we are encouraged to contemplate the balance between aspiration and morality.

Differences and Similarities Between Tom and Gatsby

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"The Great Gatsby": Theme and Symbols

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The Portrayal of Female Characters in F.s. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

The great gatsby: pursuing the american dream, the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald: book review, representation of the american dream in the great gatsby, the unpleasant character of tom buchanan in the great gatsby, a look at the character of daisy buchanan as depicted in the great gatsby, representation of the lost generation in the great gatsby, the symbolic use of eyes in the great gatsby, the theme of materialism in the great gatsby, a novel by f. scott fitzgerald, "love conquers all": analyzing romance and relationships within the great gatsby, symbolism of the yellow color in the great gatsby, the significance of color use in the great gatsby and the grapes of wrath, criticizing the american dream as shown in the great gatsby, the great gatsby: how the american greatness has decayed, beauty and foolishness: the role of pammy buchanan in the great gatsby, how women empower themselves in the great gatsby, the american dream obsession in the great gatsby, gatsby's transformation into the tragic hero in the great gatsby, the theme of temporariness in the great gatsby, depiction of america during prohibition in the great gatsby.

April 10, 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Novel; Fiction, Tragedy

Jay Gatsby , Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, Jordan Baker, Meyer Wolfsheim, George B. Wilson, Trimalchio, Mr. Gatz

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote "The Great Gatsby" with multiple motivations in mind. Firstly, he sought to critique the materialistic excesses and moral decay of the Roaring Twenties, a period of post-World War I prosperity. Fitzgerald aimed to expose the disillusionment and hollowness behind the glittering facade of the American Dream. Additionally, he drew inspiration from his own experiences and observations of the wealthy elite and their decadent lifestyles. Through the character of Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald explored themes of unrequited love, longing, and the pursuit of an unattainable ideal. Ultimately, Fitzgerald's intent was to capture the essence of an era and offer a profound commentary on the human condition.

The story revolves around Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a married woman with whom he had a romantic past. Narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest, the novel delves into the opulent and extravagant lives of the wealthy elite in Long Island. As Gatsby throws lavish parties in the hope of rekindling his relationship with Daisy, the narrative explores themes of love, wealth, illusion, and the disillusionment that comes with the pursuit of the American Dream.

The American Dream , decadence, idealism, resistance to changes, social excess, caution.

The influence of "The Great Gatsby" extends far beyond its initial publication in 1925. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel has become a literary classic, revered for its exploration of themes such as wealth, love, and the elusive American Dream. It remains relevant due to its timeless portrayal of human desires, societal decadence, and the consequences of relentless pursuit. The book's vivid characters and atmospheric prose have inspired countless writers and artists, shaping the landscape of American literature. With its commentary on the dark underbelly of the Jazz Age, "The Great Gatsby" continues to captivate readers, serving as a cautionary tale and a poignant reflection of the human condition.

1. During F. Scott Fitzgerald's lifetime, approximately 25,000 copies of the book were sold. However, since then, it has gained immense popularity, selling over 25 million copies and establishing itself as one of the most renowned American novels. 2. The Great Gatsby did not have its original title as the author considered various options, ranging from "Under the Red, White and Blue" to "The High-Bouncing Lover." These alternative titles were potentially revealing too much about the content prematurely. 3. In 1926, just a year after its publication, the book was adapted into a film, demonstrating its quick transition from page to screen. 4. Fitzgerald's cause of death is believed to have been tuberculosis rather than a heart attack. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 44. 5. The price of this famous novel at the time of its publication in 1925 was $2, representing its value in that era. 6. The Great Gatsby did not immediately receive critical acclaim upon release. However, it has since garnered recognition and praise, becoming a significant literary work.

"The Great Gatsby" has made a significant impact on various forms of media, captivating audiences across generations. The novel has been adapted into several films, with notable versions including the 1974 adaptation starring Robert Redford and the 2013 adaptation featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. These cinematic interpretations have brought the story to life visually, further immersing audiences in the opulent world of Jay Gatsby. Additionally, the novel has been referenced and alluded to in countless songs, television shows, and even video games, solidifying its cultural significance. Its themes of love, wealth, and the pursuit of the American Dream continue to resonate and inspire creative works in popular culture.

“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.’” “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.” “So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight.” “I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

Studying "The Great Gatsby" holds great importance due to its enduring relevance and literary significance. The novel offers profound insights into themes such as wealth, love, social class, and the corruption of the American Dream. Its exploration of the Jazz Age exposes the allure and emptiness of a materialistic society, making it a compelling study of human desires and societal decay. F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterful prose and symbolic imagery provide rich material for analyzing character development, narrative techniques, and social commentary. Moreover, delving into the novel's historical context allows for a deeper understanding of the cultural and societal shifts of the 1920s.

The inclusion of "The Great Gatsby" as an essay topic for college students stems from its exploration of themes like the American Dream, the juxtaposition of poverty and wealth, and the destructive allure of corruption. The character of Gatsby embodies the American spirit and can be paralleled to contemporary individuals fixated on materialism and fame as measures of romantic success. Furthermore, this literary masterpiece holds a significant place in American literature, as F. Scott Fitzgerald skillfully weaves socio-cultural elements into each sentence, providing a timeless portrayal of American life that resonates across generations. The choice to analyze and write about "The Great Gatsby" allows students to delve into these thought-provoking themes and examine their relevance to society.

1. Stallman, R. W. (1955). Conrad and The Great Gatsby. Twentieth Century Literature, 1(1), 5–12. (https://doi.org/10.2307/441023) 2. John Jerrim, Lindsey Macmillan, (2015). Income Inequality, Intergenerational Mobility, and the Great Gatsby Curve: Is Education the Key?, Social Forces, Volume 94, Issue 2. (https://academic.oup.com/sf/article/94/2/505/2583794) 3. Robert C. Hauhart (2013) Religious Language and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby’s Valley of Ashes, ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 26:3 (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0895769X.2013.798233) 4. Burnam, T. (1952). The Eyes of Dr. Eckleburg: A Re-Examination of “The Great Gatsby.” College English, 14(1), 7–12. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/371821) 5. Tom Phillips (2018) Passing for White in THE GREAT GATSBY: A Spectroscopic Analysis of Jordan Baker, The Explicator, 76:3. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00144940.2018.1489769?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab) 6. Matterson, S. (1990). The Great Gatsby and Social Class. In: The Great Gatsby. The Critics Debate. Palgrave, London. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-20768-8_9) 7. Licence, A. (2008). Jay Gatsby: martyr of a materialistic society: Amy Licence considers religious elements in The Great Gatsby. The English Review, 18(3), 24+. (https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA173676222&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=09558950&p=LitRC&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E5a84816e) 8. Khodamoradpour, Marjan and Anushiravani, Alireza, (2017) Playing the Old Tunes: A Fiskean Analysis of Baz Luhrmann's 2013 Cinematic Adaptation of the Great Gatsby. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, Volume 71. (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3020752) 9. Anderson, H. (1968). THE RICH BUNCH IN" THE GREAT GATSBY". Southern Quarterly, 6(2), 163. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/6a9e704a476d873aada2d2529821b95a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2029886)

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The Great Gatsby Essay TDA Writing Prompts, Grading Rubrics, & Prewriting Tasks

Description.

In this resource, students will conduct a literary analysis of  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald  and write a  TDA Essay  using textual evidence to support their responses.

There are TWO writing options students can choose from for this Response to Literature/TDA essay.

Included in this product you will get one copy of the following each as PDFs  (ready to print)  as well as one copy of the following each as WORD Documents (as to be  editable   for teachers ).

• Essay Prompts for two different topics on the novel  The Great Gatsby
• Two Prewriting Graphic Organizers for students to brainstorm ideas, thesis, examples, and textual evidence
• TDA Essay Rubric broken down into categories: content, focus, organization, style, conventions, and format

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, understanding the great gatsby ending and last line.

Book Guides

As crucial as a detailed setting or the right mix of characters is to the success of a story, nothing quite packs a memorable gut punch like the perfect ending. Think about it: the way a story ends tends to shape our understanding of what we have just read . If it ended in love and marriage, then it must have been a love story. If it ended in death, then it was a tragedy.

So what do we make of the The Great Gatsby ending? Why is there so much death? Why doesn't anyone get their just comeuppance? In this article, I'll talk about the significance of endings in general, and explore the meaning behind The Great Gatsby 's last line, last paragraphs, and the conclusion of the plot.

Quick Note on Our Citations

Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book.

To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text.

Why Is the Ending of a Book Important?

An ending tends to reveal the meaning (or lack of meaning) in everything that came before it. It's a chance for the author to wrap up the preceding events with either an explanation that puts them into a broader context—or a chance for the author to specifically not do that.

In general, endings come in many flavors.

• Straightforward Explanations. These endings tell us how to feel about the book. For example, think of Aesop's fables, each of which ends in an explicit moral lesson, or think of Victorian novels (like those of Charles Dickens) that end with the narrator giving rewards to the good characters and punishments to the bad ones. These endings close up the world of the novel, wrapping it in a neat bow.
• Outward Connections. Endings can also be ways for the reader to open up the world of the novel into the real world. This type of ending can ask the reader a question as the final sentence (like Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises ). Even more dramatically, this can mean ending the novel mid-action, or even sometimes mid-sentence (like Kafka's The Castle ).
• Philosophical Abstractions. Finally, endings can zoom out of the world of the novel altogether and become places for a deeper analysis of the nature of life or of being human. This type of ending is often reflective and could easily be divorced from everything that has come before to form its own pithy wisdom.

The ending of The Great Gatsby falls into this last category.

Understanding the Ending of The Great Gatsby

So why does the novel end the way it does? The novel's abrupt and downbeat ending mostly poses more questions than it gives answers.

Why do Gatsby, Myrtle, and George Wilson die? Why does Daisy go back to Tom? Why does no one come to Gatsby's funeral? It all feels kind of empty and pointless, especially after all the effort that Gatsby put into crafting his life, right?

Well, that empty feeling is basically the whole point . F. Scott Fitzgerald was not particularly optimistic about the capitalist boom of the 1920s. To him, America was just like Europe in its disdain for new money, and the elites were scornful of the self-made men who were supposed to be the people living the ideals of the country. He saw that instead of actually being committed to equality, the country was still split into classes—just less acknowledged ones.

So, in the world of the novel, Gatsby, for all his wealth and greatness, can buy himself a place in West Egg, but can never join the old money world of East Egg. His forward progress is for naught because he is in an environment that only pays lip service to the American Dream ideal of achieving success through hard work .

The novel is a harsh indictment of the idea of the American Dream. Think about it: the actually "successful" people—successful in that at least they survive—(the Buchanans, Nick, and Jordan) are all old money; while those who fail (Gatsby, Myrtle, and George) are the strivers.

Interpreting the Last Paragraphs of The Great Gatsby

The novel ends with a sad Nick contemplating the historic geography of Long Island:

Most of the big shore places were closed now and there were hardly any lights except the shadowy, moving glow of a ferryboat across the Sound. And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes—a fresh, green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby's house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder.

And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night.

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning——

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. (9.151-154)

It's clear that the novel is trying to universalize Gatsby's experience in some way. But there are multiple layers of meaning creating this broadening of perspective.

We Are All Jay Gatsby

By ending the way it does, the novel makes Gatsby explicitly represent all humans in the present and the past.

Compare this ending with the last paragraph of Chapter 1 :

But I didn't call to him for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness. (1.152)

The language of the novel's ending paragraphs and the last paragraph of the first chapter links Gatsby's outstretched arms with the hopes of the Dutch sailors (the people of the past). Just as Gatsby is obsessed with the green light on Daisy's dock , so the sailors coming to this continent for the first time longed for the "green breast of the new world." For both, these green things are "the last and greatest of all human dreams": for Gatsby, it's his memory of perfect love, while for the sailors, it's the siren song of conquest.

These two passages also connect Gatsby with the way we live today. Just as Gatsby "stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way," so we also promise ourselves "tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther." For all of us, life is all about constantly having to will ourselves into eternal optimism in the face of elusive dreams or challenging goals.

Jay Gatsby's Life is All of America

The novel's last paragraphs also touch on most of the novel's overarching themes , symbols , and motifs:

the transformation of America from the idyllic, pristine frontier to the polluted metropolis

the quest to win over a lost love , or the imperfection of real love versus an ideal love

the way the past always influences, hangs over, and directs the present

reinvention and perseverance, the rags to riches story versus the story of impersonation and deception

the appeal and ultimate disappointment of the American Dream , and specifically the sense that it is fading away—just as New York has been completely transformed from "green breast of land" to corrupt city, all of America is escaping the pure dreams of its people

The Last Line of The Great Gatsby

The last sentence of this novel is consistently ranked in the lists of best last lines that magazines like to put together.

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

So what makes this sentence so great?

Close-Reading the Last Sentence of The Great Gatsby

On a formal level, the line is very close to poetry , using the same techniques that poems do to sound good:

It is written almost in iambics . ( Iambic is a meter that alternates stressed and unstressed syllables to create a ta-DA-ta-DA-ta-DA-ta-DA pattern—it's most famous for being the meter Shakespeare used).

There's a wave-like alliteration with the letter b , as we read the monosyllabic words "beat," "boats," "borne," and "back." (Alliteration is when words that start with the same sound are put next to each other.)

Then this repeated b resolves into the matching unvoiced p of the word "past." (The sounds b and p are really the same sound, except when you say b you use your voice and when you say p you use the same mouth position but without using your vocal chords.)

Other literary devices are at play as well:

• There a double meaning in the word "borne" which can mean either "shouldered like a heavy burden" or "given birth to."

Interpreting the Meaning of the Last Sentence of The Great Gatsby

There are three ways to interpret how Fitzgerald wants us to take this idea that we are constantly stuck in a loop of pushing forward toward our future and being pulled back by our anchoring past.

#1: Depressing and Fatalistic

If we go with the "heavy burden" meaning of the word "borne," then this last line means that our past is an anchor and a weight on us no matter how hard we try to go forward in life. In this case, life only an illusion of forward progress. This is because as we move into the future, everything we do instantly turns into our past, and this past cannot be undone or done over, as Gatsby attempted.

This version of the ending says that people want to recapture an idealized past, or a perfect moment or memory, but when this desire for the past turns into an obsession, it leads to ruin , just as it lead to Gatsby's. In other words, all of our dreams of the future are based on the fantasies of a past, and already outdated, self.

#2: Uplifting and Hopeful

If, on the other hand, we stick with the "given birth to" aspect of "borne" and also on the active momentum of the phrase "so we beat on," then the idea of beating on is an optimistic and unyielding response to a current that tries to force us backward. In this interpretation, we resiliently battle against fate with our will and our strength —and even though we are constantly pulled back into our past, we move forward as much as we can.

#3: Objectively Describing the Human Condition

In the final version of the last line's meaning, we take out the reader's desire for a "moral" or some kind of explanatory takeaway (whether a happy or sad one). Without this qualitative judgment, this means that the metaphor of boats in the current is just a description of what life is like. In this way, the last line is simply saying that through our continuing efforts to move forward through new obstacles, we will be constantly reminded and confronted with our past because we can't help but repeat our own history, both individually and collectively.

Which of these readings most appeals to you? Why?

The Bottom Line

• An ending tends to reveal the meaning (or lack of meaning) in everything that came before it:
• an explanation on how to feel about what has just been read.
• a way to open up the world of the novel into the real world.
• philosophical analysis of the nature of life or of being human—this is The Great Gatsby ending.
• That empty feeling underscores Fitzgerald's pessimism about America as a place that only pays lip service to the idea of the American Dream of working hard and achieving success
• The novel's last paragraphs connect Gatsby to all of us now and for the humans of the past and touch on many of the novel's themes
• we are like boats that propel themselves forward, while the current pushes back
• The last line of The Great Gatsby is a metaphor of trying to row against the flow of current. We can take this metaphor to be:
• depressing and fatalistic, that the past is an anchor and that life only an illusion of forward progress
• uplifting, that we battle against fate with our will and our strength
• objectively describing the human condition, that we can't help but repeat our own history

What's Next?

Consider the significance of the green light at the end of Daisy's dock .

Compare the meaning of the ending to our analysis of the beginning to see whether the novel's payoff reflects its starting assumptions.

Analyze the character of Jay Gatsby to see how this flawed protagonist comes to represent humanity's striving for the unreachable.

Investigate the themes of the American Dream and society and class to see how they are addressed in the rest of the novel.

Explore the rest of Chapter 9 to see how the novel leads up to its conclusion.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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The Great Gatsby

By f. scott fitzgerald, the great gatsby essay questions.

Analyze Fitzgerald's conception of the American Dream. Does he view it as totally dead, or is it possible to revive it?

Is Nick a reliable narrator? How does his point of view color the reality of the novel, and what facts or occurences would he have a vested interest in obscuring?

Trace the use of the color white in the novel. When does it falsify a sense of innocence? When does it symbolize true innocence?

Do a close reading of the description of the "valley of ashes." How does Fitzgerald use religious imagery in this section of the novel?

What does the green light symbolize to Gatsby? To Nick?

How does Fitzgerald juxtapose the different regions of America? Does he write more positively about the East or the Midwest?

What is the distinction between East and West Egg? How does one bridge the gap between the two?

In what ways are Wilson and Gatsby similar? Disimilar? Who is Nick more sympathetic to?

How does Fitzgerald treat New York City? What is permissable in the urban space that is taboo on the Eggs?

Is Tom most responsible for Gatsby's death? Daisy? Myrtle? Gatsby himself? Give reasons why or why not each character is implicated in the murder.

The Great Gatsby Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Great Gatsby is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

describe daisy and gatsby's new relationship

There are two points at which Daisy and Gatsby's relationship could be considered "new". First, it seems that their "new" relationship occurs as Tom has become enlightened about their affair. It seems as if they are happy...

Describe Daisy and Gatsby new relationship?

http://www.gradesaver.com/the-great-gatsby/q-and-a/describe-daisy-and-gatsbys-new-relationship-70077/

What are some quotes in chapter 1 of the great gatsby that show the theme of violence?

I don't recall any violence in in chapter 1.

Study Guide for The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is typically considered F. Scott Fitzgerald's greatest novel. The Great Gatsby study guide contains a biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Great Gatsby
• The Great Gatsby Summary
• The Great Gatsby Video
• Character List

Essays for The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

• Foreshadowing Destiny
• The Eulogy of a Dream
• Materialism Portrayed By Cars in The Great Gatsby
• Role of Narration in The Great Gatsby
• A Great American Dream

Lesson Plan for The Great Gatsby

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Great Gatsby
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Great Gatsby Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Great Gatsby

• Introduction
• Historical and biographical context
• Plot summary
• Major characters
• Writing and production

Shifting Identities and Moral Ambiguity: a Character Analysis of ‘The Great Gatsby’

This essay about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” explores the complexities of identity and morality against the backdrop of the 1920s Jazz Age. It analyzes key characters like Jay Gatsby, who embodies the American Dream’s promise and pitfalls, and Daisy Buchanan, whose superficial nature reflects her era’s values. The narrative also considers Tom Buchanan’s crude honesty and Nick Carraway’s evolving moral perspective, framing the novel as a critique of luxury, deception, and societal expectations, with enduring relevance to today’s moral complexities.

How it works

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel, “The Great Gatsby,” delves deeply into the intricacies of shifting identities and the obscure boundaries of ethical clarity, presenting a nuanced examination of American society in the 1920s. Dubbed the Jazz Age by Fitzgerald, this era was characterized by post-war prosperity and an expanding consumer culture, aspects that are intricately portrayed through the novel’s complex characters.

The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, personifies both the promise and the illusion of the American Dream. Born James Gatz, he transforms himself from a poor young man into a wealthy enigma, driven by his love for Daisy Buchanan.

This metamorphosis, fueled by his quest for self-made prosperity, illustrates his commitment to success as well as his disconnection from the actual world.

Gatsby’s ethical ambiguity is suggested through his obscure wealth, possibly derived from illegal activities like bootlegging, alongside his associations with questionable figures such as Meyer Wolfsheim, who is rumored to have fixed the World Series. His charisma and generosity serve as a veneer over his manipulative tendencies, which are aimed at winning Daisy’s affection to fulfill his idealized visions, blending allure with moral compromise.

Daisy Buchanan also captures the unstable nature of personal identity and ethical vagueness. Idolized by Gatsby as a symbol of purity and achievement, Daisy’s actual persona reflects her era and social class—charming yet shallow, fickle, and self-centered. Her decision to remain with her husband Tom, despite her feelings for Gatsby, underscores her emphasis on social security over passionate involvement, revealing her survival strategies in a materialistic society.

Tom Buchanan epitomizes the staunch values of the upper class. Crude and openly bigoted, Tom unabashedly pursues his own interests and biases. His frank acknowledgment of his moral shortcomings creates a paradox; he is both repellent and fascinatingly candid, unlike other characters who hide behind pretenses.

Nick Carraway, the narrator, acts as the ethical gauge of the story, transitioning from a detached spectator to an engaged participant. His view of Gatsby moves from admiration to disenchantment as he uncovers the superficiality beneath the allure, revealing the moral decay. Nick’s transformation—initially claiming moral superiority, then admitting his own role in the moral decline—reflects the broader critique of the elusive American Dream within the narrative.

By portraying characters who navigate a landscape filled with luxury and deception, “The Great Gatsby” offers a critique of the societal values of the 1920s, exploring the conflict between true self and social expectation, and between moral integrity and ethical uncertainty. The novel remains a poignant reflection on the pursuit of the American Dream and its effects on personal identity, with implications that still resonate with the ethical complexities of modern society.

Cite this page

Shifting Identities and Moral Ambiguity: A Character Analysis of 'The Great Gatsby'. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/shifting-identities-and-moral-ambiguity-a-character-analysis-of-the-great-gatsby/

"Shifting Identities and Moral Ambiguity: A Character Analysis of 'The Great Gatsby'." PapersOwl.com , 12 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/shifting-identities-and-moral-ambiguity-a-character-analysis-of-the-great-gatsby/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Shifting Identities and Moral Ambiguity: A Character Analysis of 'The Great Gatsby' . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/shifting-identities-and-moral-ambiguity-a-character-analysis-of-the-great-gatsby/ [Accessed: 18 May. 2024]

"Shifting Identities and Moral Ambiguity: A Character Analysis of 'The Great Gatsby'." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 18, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/shifting-identities-and-moral-ambiguity-a-character-analysis-of-the-great-gatsby/

"Shifting Identities and Moral Ambiguity: A Character Analysis of 'The Great Gatsby'," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/shifting-identities-and-moral-ambiguity-a-character-analysis-of-the-great-gatsby/. [Accessed: 18-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Shifting Identities and Moral Ambiguity: A Character Analysis of 'The Great Gatsby' . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/shifting-identities-and-moral-ambiguity-a-character-analysis-of-the-great-gatsby/ [Accessed: 18-May-2024]

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English A: Language and Literature Support Site

The great gatsby (hle).

The following HL Essay aims to answer the line of inquiry: 

Read the essay carefully. Apply the HLE assessment criteria and discuss the marks you would award the script before reading the examiner's marks and comments. How different were your marks and comments from the examiner's marks and comments? What improvements would you make to this essay to achieve better results?

This essay is good because it has a clear angle or focus on a 'topic'. Look carefully at the assessment criteria, and you will see that you need to explore a 'topic' through your HL Essay. In this case, it is the role of higher education in the novel The Great Gatsby. This level of specificity is good when considering your topic.  

Related pages

• HL Essay: Assessment criteria
• HL Essay: Skills: HLE Builder
• Literary works: The Great Gatsby

Historical Context

The great gatsby, by f. scott fitzgerald.

‘The Great Gatsby’ is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s best-known novel. It encapsulates the Jazz Age of the United States in the 1920s.

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

‘ The Great Gatsby ‘ was published in 1925 and it was this third novel. He began writing it in June of 1922 and submitted the revised proofs in February 1925. F. Scott Fitzgerald declined an offer of $10,000 for serial rights to the novel in order to publish it as a whole sooner. He eventually made very little from the book. It was not nearly as successful as his first two novels. 

Historical Context 

Fitzgerald popularized the term “Jazz Age.” It’s used today to define the period during which Fitzgerald lived and wrote about it. It is also sometimes referred to as the “roaring twenties.” This was a period of shifting morals post-WWI, flappers, prohibition, and wild parties. There were new freedoms for women, and they demonstrated their freedom by cutting their hair short and changing what they wore. The novel, which is set four years after WWI, is considered to be a portrait of this period with characters like Daisy Buchanan representing, to a degree, the flappers of the day and Gatsby’s parties reflecting the celebrations seen regularly throughout the city. 

World War I features in other ways in the novel as well. Nick and Gatsby are veterans of the war although the latter’s history is less clear. The Jazz Age ended in 1929 when the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. 

The American Dream and the Valley of Ashes

Of course, it’s important to note, this novel focuses primarily on the upper classes. This means that while the book might depict this group in a historically important way, there is a great deal of society that doesn’t feature prominently in the novel. The 20s were not “roaring” for everyone, despite the economic boom from 1920 to 1929. Income levels were, generally, on the rise, businesses were growing, and trading on the stock market was profitable. (The latter connects to Nick Carraway’s new business prospects.) 

Fitzgerald alludes to the stark class differences in his novel through the depiction of the Valley of Ashes and his contrasting portrayal of the American dream for someone like Gatsby and for someone like George Wilson. The latter lives in the “ashes,” or what the wealthy leave behind as they pursue wealth single-mindedly. George works an honest job in a run-down auto repair shop, doing his best to support his wife. However, he’s naive when it comes to what his wife, Myrtle, has been up to his Daisy’s husband, Tom, and when he finds out, he’s furious. 

Interestingly, despite how hard George and Gatsby both worked and the different lives they ended up with, they both lose the thing they love the most. George’s wife, Myrtle, dies in an accident, and Gatsby’s love, Daisy, abandons him. Neither achieved what the American dream promised. 

Fitzgerald spends the bulk of the novel focusing on the lives of the rich and famous. People like Jordan, the Buchanans, and Jay Gatsby himself. Fitzgerald’s narrator, as mostly an outsider to this world, provides readers with interesting insights into the true nature of their lives. At the heart of their wealth is a lack of empathy, charity, or general kindness or one another or anyone else. In this way, Fitzgerald explores the loss of America’s moral compass as men and women sought to embrace the new post-WWI wealth. While on the surface, it seemed fantastical and amazing, beneath there is corruption and cruelty. 

Prohibition

Prohibition is another important feature in the novel, one that some scholars put at its heart. During this period, which lasted from 1920 to 1933, alcohol sales were made illegal in the United States. Those who supported the ban cited a decline in morals, religion, and family values as a result of drinking alcohol. Prohibition allowed Jay Gatsby to accumulate his wealth. He and his partners bootlegged alcohol on the black market, selling it illegally and making a great deal of money. Gatsby was able to rise into the ranks of the uber-wealthy in a way that did not sit well with the “old money” families like the Buchanans. It is this difference that puts West and East Egg slightly at odds. The “old money” side is seen as more sophisticated and desirable than the “new money” side. 

While it’s never clearly stated exactly what Gatsby is up to, there are allusions that bootlegging is not the only business he’s in. For example, he’s close with an underworld boss, Meyer Wolfsheim who he introduces Nick. He describes him as “the man who fixed the World Series back in 1919.” Nick is shocked by this piece of information, and it changes his entire perceptive. There is more darkness to Gatsby’s life than even Nick finds out. This is all alluded to with rumors like he “was nephew to von Hindenburg and second cousin to the devil.”

Flappers 

Also seen throughout The Great Gatsby is the flapper culture. This period of women’s liberation saw young women with short hair and increased freedoms. Jordan Baker is the best example of this kind of woman. Despite society’s changing nature, the world still hasn’t accepted Jordan as an independent person. She dates multiple men, says and does what she wants, and is well-known as an athlete. These features set her at a stark distance from women in previous generations. For many during this period, she represented what was going wrong with the United States. Fitzgerald’s central characters in The Great Gatsby are never this direct in their judgments of her, but Nick and others do make passing comments about her character. 

Personal Context 

Often, readers try to draw comparisons between Fitzgerald’s life and the lives of the characters in The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda, is sometimes compared to Daisy Buchanan. This comparison is strengthened by the fact that the two didn’t marry until Fitzgerald had published his first book, and it proved to be a financial success. This is similar to how Daisy and Gatsby didn’t marry because the latter lacked the means to give Daisy the life she wanted. This is why she married Tom Buchanan and the loss that inspired Gatsby to strive for the life he achieved. It also led to his downfall and death. 

What was the message of The Great Gatsby ?

The message is that the American Dream is a myth and that wealth corrupts. 

What influenced The Great Gatsby ?

The Great Gatsby was influenced by Fitzgerald’s contemporary life and the culture of the 1920s. 

Why was The Great Gatsby written?

Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby with the intention of penning his masterpiece. Its also been suggested that he wanted to share something about his person life. He said that he wanted to “write something extraordinary and beautiful.” 

How does The Great Gatsby represent the 1920s?

It represents the shift in morals, economic boom, increased freedoms for women, and even the automobile boom. 

How did Jay Gatsby get rich?

Gatsby gained his wealth through illegal means like bootlegging. He has ties to the underworld, suggesting that he might also be involved in other illegal pursuits. 

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About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

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9 The Extended Definition Essay

The extended definition essay presents a detailed account of a single term or concept that is central to the content of the course for which the essay is written. What is cryptocurrency? What is a black hole? What is an algorithm? What is symbolism? What is deoxyribonucleic acid? What is National Socialism? Every subject has its own special vocabulary, and teachers will often assign an essay requiring students to present a detailed definition of a key term.

Read carefully this extended definition of feminism.

Example: On Feminism

The word “feminism” describes a popular movement for social justice, based on the premise that women have been and continue to be systemically oppressed by men who do not want to share the greater social, political, and economic power they have historically possessed. But the definition of feminism extends beyond raising the status of one gender; feminism recognizes that equal standards for all people regardless of gender will benefit society as a whole (Montgomery). In this respect, feminism can be interpreted as synonymous with egalitarianism.

Feminist scholars divide the movement into three phases or “Waves.”  First-wave feminism emerged in the early twentieth century in the form of a fight for the rights to vote, to own property, and to qualify for work in fields historically reserved for men. Second-wave feminism emerged in the 1960s as baby boomers entered university and demanded admission to programs that traditionally favoured men, such as engineering, medicine, and forestry, as well as “equal pay for work of equal value” (Montgomery).  Third-wave or post-feminism is the movement’s twenty-first century incarnation, devoted essentially to ending all forms of gender discrimination. Some even argue that a fourth wave has recently emerged, one that is concerned with the portrayal of women in social media.

While there is no clear consensus as to when first-wave feminism began, most accept that it emerged as industrialization progressed in the nineteenth century. Martha Lear coined the term in 1968, though the first wave focused on what we now consider basic issues of inequality (“What Was”). One of the earliest feminists was Mary Wollstonecraft, who mostly wrote in the late eighteenth century advocating that societies, and individuals specifically, should have rights that the state provides. Most other philosophers and writers of the time ignored women and Wollstonecraft was among the first to call for gender equality. After the American Civil War, Elizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony rallied support for what they saw as one of the first great obstacles to greater freedom: the right to vote. Others, such as Barbara Leigh Smith, saw employment and education for women as critical areas to focus on.

Throughout the nineteenth century, Biblical interpretation of women’s role in the house and family prevented their ability to advance feminist ideals. To counteract the power of the church’s sex-based hierarchy, Stanton produced an influential work called The Woman’s Bible , in which she argued for equality using biblical references. This helped to provide religious justification, at least for some, for emerging feminism in the period. Furthermore, the National Woman Suffrage Association became a prominent organization, and in 1869, John Allen Campbell, the governor of Wyoming, became the first governor to grant women the right to vote (“What Was”). And when women replaced men in factories during the First World War, many realized that women did have equal skills to men. In Canada, women won the right to vote in most provinces during the war. In 1921, Agnes Macphail became the first woman in Canada elected to Parliament.

In the US, women had to wait a bit longer. Feminist organizations lobbied indefatigably and eventually convinced Congress that women should have the right to vote. Finally, in 1920, women won the right to vote across the United States. While the process itself was contentious, featuring hunger strikes and even mob violence, the gradual acceptance of women as voters can be considered the culminating success of first-wave feminism.

“The Progressive Era” took place in the 1930s; women’s social and political activism grew, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt advocated for the appointment of women to positions within the administration. Her cause was further advanced during the Second World War when, again, women had to take over the work enlisted men were forced to abandon. After the war, however, North America saw a new emphasis on domesticity. When the soldiers returned, women were almost uniformly fired and forced back into their duties of domestic chores and child-raising (Bisignani). Second-wave feminism was a reaction to this post-war obsession with the ideal of the contented housewife and suburban domesticity, a lifestyle that often isolated women and severely limited their choices and opportunities.

Feminism’s second wave truly began in the early 1960s and focused not just on legal barriers to civil equality but also examined social inequalities. Second-wave feminists sought to change discriminatory policies on sexuality and sexual identity; marriage and child-rearing; workplace environment; reproductive rights; and violence against women. They formed local, regional, and federal government groups on behalf of women, resulting in human rights and women’s equality becoming a growing part of the North American political agenda. Finally, they created new, more positive images of women in both pop culture and the media to fight the negative stereotypes commonly in circulation, primarily that of the “happy housewife.”

The second wave of feminism included many landmark moments. In the 1960s, many government health agencies approved the oral contraceptive pill, and in 1963, the Equal Pay Act was passed in the US. In 1968, Coretta Scott King assumed leadership of the African-American civil rights movement and expanded the platform to include women’s rights. This led to Shirley Chisholm becoming the first African-American woman elected to Congress. In 1972, the passage of Title IX ensured equal funding for women’s opportunities in education, and the first women’s studies program in the US opened at San Diego State University. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the second wave came in 1973, when the Roe v. Wade case resulted in women’s access to safe and legal abortion (Bisignani).

Third-wave feminism began in the 1990s and still exists today (Demarco). There are many different outlets and angles of feminism now, but the most important values of the third wave include gender equality, identity, language, sex positivity, breaking the glass ceiling, body positivity, ending violence against women, fixing the media’s image of women, and environmentalism.

Third-wave feminists assert that there is no universal identity for women; women come from every religion, nationality, culture, and sexual preference. Different forms of media such as fashion magazines, newspapers, and television favour white, young, slender women, a fact which negatively impacts all women and results in body anxiety. To combat this anxiety, modern feminists have fought for body positivity, quashing the opinions of those who believe that overweight people are lazy and unhealthy. Feminists want society’s view of women to expand, to recognize, for example, that it is possible to be beautiful enough to be a model, but also smart enough to be an astronaut or a CEO.  But considering that, in 2017, only 18 out of 500 Fortune CEOs and 22 out of 197 global heads of state were women, it is clear that third-wave feminism has not yet removed the glass ceiling (Demarco).

The emerging fourth wavers speak in terms of “intersectionality,” whereby women’s oppression can only fully be understood in the context of marginalization of other groups, who are victims of racism, ageism, classism, and homophobia (Demarco). Among the third wave’s bequests is the importance of inclusion; in the fourth wave, the internet takes inclusion further by levelling hierarchies. The appeal of the fourth wave is that there is a place in it for everyone. The academic and theoretical apparatus are now well-honed and ready to support new broad-based activism in the home, in the workplace, on the streets, and online.

No one is sure how feminism will progress from here. The movement has always included many political, social and intellectual ideologies, each with its own tensions, points and counterpoints. But the fact that each wave has been chaotic, multi-valanced, and disconcerted is cause for optimism; it is a sign that the movement continues to thrive.

Works Cited

Bisignani, Dana. “ Feminism’s Second Wave .” The Gender Press , 27 Jan. 2015, https://genderpressing.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/feminisms-second-wave-2/. Accessed 25 March 2019.

Demarco, April. “ What Is Third Wave Feminist Movement? ” Viva Media , 17 March 2018, https://viva.media/what-is-third-wave-feminist-movement.  Accessed 26 March 2019.

Montgomery, Landon. “ The True Definition Of Feminism .” The Odyssey , 8 March 2016, https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-true-definition-of-feminism. Accessed 27 March 2019.

“ What Was the First Wave Feminist Movement? ” Daily History , 19 Jan. 2019, https://dailyhistory.org/What_was_the_First_Wave_Feminist_Movement%3F. Accessed 28 March 2019.

On Feminism

Study Questions

Respond to these questions in writing, in small group discussion, or both.

• “On Feminism” is an extended definition essay, but it has qualities of what other rhetorical modes explained in this chapter?
• What are the main differences between first- and second-wave feminism?
• What are the main differences between third- and fourth-wave feminism?
• Respond to the conclusions the author offers in her final paragraph. Do you agree with what she writes?
• In academic writing assignments, paragraphs should be unified, coherent, and well-developed. Analyze two body paragraphs from this essay, commenting on the qualities of effective paragraphs they illustrate.

Writing Assignment

Write an extended definition of approximately 750 words on one of the following terms: Marxism, irony (in literature), recession (in economics), pentathlon (as Olympic sport), dressage, algorithm, neutral zone trap, cryptocurrency. You may also select your own topic or one provided by your teacher.

Composition and Literature Copyright © 2019 by James Sexton and Derek Soles is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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• Individual Oral Commentary (SL) The Great Gatsby (3) (Tim, IOC, Part 4, The Great Gatsby, Individual Oral Commentary) ...wenty minutes of exam preparation, she annotated the passage and created an outline.  It is a passage from chapter seven of The Great Gatsby where Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby enter an intense argument about whom Daisy loves. Please remember that the stu...
• 2017 P2 HL (The Great Gatsby and Woman at Point Zero) ...hing similar, yet returns to the question and provides compelling insight.Sample Essay Paper 2 Exemplar May 2017 Question 3 The Great Gatsby and Woman at Point ZeroMay 2017, Paper 2 (HL)Question 3: To what extent do at least two of the works you hav...
• The Individual Oral, Global Issues, The Great Gatsby, and Generation Wealth (with Bodies of Work) ...to the following questions, the n discuss in pairs or groups, and in the whole class:Freeland identifies something called ‘ The Great Gatsby Curve’. What is it?What does Freeland suggest are the causes and solutions to income inequality?After Watc...
• Individual Oral Commentary (SL) The Great Gatsby (2) ...ing samples to students becomes so important.    This particular example comes from near the end of chapter 6 of the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Daisy has just left one of Gatsby 's parties and Nick explains to the reader th...
• Individual Oral Commentary (SL) The Great Gatsby (IOC) ...ple response with one ano the r and compare this to the examiner/teacher’s comments (below). Sample Extract/Passage From The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald Extract He saw me looking with admiration at his car. "It's pretty, isn't i...
• Individual Oral: Exemplar 3 (The Great Gatsby and Generation Wealth) ...ealthQuestions for considerationDoes the student make a good choice of works/extracts? Why/why not?Consider the extract from The Great Gatsby . Would the student benefit from using a shorter extract? Why/why not?Sample Individual Oral outline Individ...
• From IB Learner Profile to Written Task ...tting the latest draft of your new novel with enthralled delight. The change of title from Under the Red, White, and Blue to The Great Gatsby is a touch of brilliance. It adds to the complexity and myriad meanings the novel has. I adore Gatsby ! He is...
• Using AI in the Research Process (Extended Essay) (Tim, AI, artificial intelligence, extended essay, research, research process) ...and the relationship between wealth and social class, all of which are central the mes in " The Great Gatsby ."" The Great Gatsby and the American Dream" by Scott Donaldson: This essay examines the concept of the American Dream in th...
• First-person point-of-view (First-person point-of-view, third-person point-of-view) ... the main character from a close distance. This is called observer narration, which can be seen in the following passage from The Great Gatsby . That’s my Middle West . . . the street lamps and sleigh bells in the frosty dark. . . . I see now that th...
• - First-person point-of-view (First-person point-of-view, third-person point-of-view) ... the main character from a close distance. This is called observer narration, which can be seen in the following passage from The Great Gatsby . That’s my Middle West . . . the street lamps and sleigh bells in the frosty dark. . . . I see now that t...

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• Revision With Twitterature ...am Shakespeare) ‘BFF Gatsby and I going to town today – should be fun! Wants to meet his friends…’ ( The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald) ‘Her granddaughter Estella is pretty hot. She’s ten. I’m ten too....
• Paper 2 Revision With Twitterature ...(Macbeth by William Shakespeare)‘BFF Gatsby and I going to town today – should be fun! Wants to meet his friends…’ ( The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)‘Her granddaughter Estella is pretty hot. She’s ten. I’m ten too. All she does...
• Individual Oral: Exemplar 2 (Salome and Pulp Fiction) (Tim, individual oral, 2021 exams, IO, exemplar, salome, pulp fiction) ...ferent sections of the same text or work?No.  It needs to be continuous text.  You can’t pull 20 lines from chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby and 20 lines from the end of the novel.  Nor can you pull 20 lines from chapter 2 and the n skip 20 lines an...
• Practicing the Individual Oral: Working with Lauren Greenfield's Photographs ...mentIf you wish to listen to one student's IO where she discusses both Greenfield's photography and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby , go to this page....

36 Partial matches:

• The Great Game of Power ...It is, however, also a very impactful activity, and one that students frequently respond well to. The role-play, ‘ the Great Game of Power’, was originally devised by Augusto Boal, as part of his ‘ The ater of the Oppressed’. Th...
• EE Category 1 (Great Expectations) .... That is, it is the study of a literary work – in this instance Charles Dickens’ widely known and highly regarded novel Great Expectations – originally written in the language (English) in which the essay is presented. The novel selected is, o...
• The Great Debate - Student Written or AI Generated? (Tim, AI, artificial intelligence, higher level essay, debate, AI versus student writing, debating writing) ...fferent three students “you will argue essay #2 was written by a student.”  The y will the n face off in the debate.  The Great Debate – ProcessRead both Higher Level Essays keeping in mind that one was written by a student and one was written b...
• How to Apologize – The Great Chicken Crisis of 2018 (Tim, Humor, KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Part 1, Language and Humor) ... the re was a chicken crisis in 2018.  If you didn’t hear about it, in February 2018, Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in the UK ran out of, well, chicken. And the world crumbled.In your Language and Literature class, you have the opportunity to...
• Teacher Model Example 1 (Macbeth and WW1 Propaganda Poster) (Tim, IO, individual oral, exemplar, Macbeth, WW1 Propaganda Poster, Daddy What Did You Do in the Great War?) ...ents I wanted to make.  In o the r words, I winged it more than I should have in criterion B and I paid the price.  It was a great lesson: even teachers can't improvise on the spot!     Literary work and non-fiction text used1.  Macbeth extr...
• Individual Oral: Exemplar 4 (Macbeth and WW1 Propaganda Poster) (Tim, IO, individual oral, exemplar, Macbeth, WW1 Propaganda Poster, Daddy What Did You Do in the Great War?) ...ents I wanted to make.  In o the r words, I winged it more than I should have in criterion B and I paid the price.  It was a great lesson to teach my students! Finally, a caveat on the text/work the mselves.  We teach both Macbeth and World War 1 pr...
• Characterisation: A Values Profile Everyone who reads will have favourite characters, memorable figures such as Jay Gatsby , O the llo, Miss Havisham, Harry ‘Rabbit’ Angstrom, and Elizabeth Bennett, who populate works of literary fiction or drama. Characters are the persons...
• The Language of War ...e and take strength, but one cannot believe that his eyes will ever be like o the r people’s eyes. The doctor spoke with great detachment about the things that he had watched in this hospital. He had watched the m and the re was nothing he could do...
• Gender Inequality in Technology - A Further Oral Activity Role-Play Script (Tim, FOA, Further Oral Activity, Part 2, Language and Mass Communication) One of the great joys of the Language and Literature course is the flexibility we have in what we teach. The re is so much variety and possibility in our subject area. The news media churns out stories at an incredible clip, musicians push boundaries...
• The Sun Says (A Body of Work) ...s are”.Because if we lose that, we lose everything. Editorial 4: 21 January 2017President Trump may not only Make America Great Again but could spell great things for the UK tooBritain could soon be better off if it gets its act toge the r and pushe...
• Book Reviews ...;Steve”, his given name, to be known by his portentous unimoniker because — deep reverential breath here — great classical composers only have one name. Mussorgsky, Mozart, Morrissey. His most pooterishly embarrassing piece of intel...
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• Paper 1 Practice Texts to Go: Book Reviews ...e ditched “Steve”, his given name, to be known by his portentous unimoniker because — deep reverential breath here — great classical composers only have one name. Mussorgsky, Mozart, Morrissey.His most pooterishly embarrassing piece of intell...
• Faction ...LawsuitsIn May 2011, Jean Price and Michele Reinhart, Democratic Party representatives in Montana, along with Dan Donovan, a Great Falls attorney, filed a class action lawsuit against Mortenson and are asking a federal judge in Missoula to place all...
• Travel and Nature Writing ...uce Chatwin’s In Patagonia, and Patrick Leigh Fermor’s A Time of Gifts. Two years earlier, in 1975, Paul The roux’s The Great Railway Bazaar sold a remarkable 1.5 million copies. After the mid-70s, however, it was, the doomsters said, all downhi...
• Figurative language (imagery, metaphor, simile, personification, metonymy, synecdoche) ...ummer, autumn, whirlwindspresent, future, change 'I Have a Dream'Martin Lu the r King1963 1. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great ...
• 2016 Paper 1 (HL) Income Inequality (Part 2) (Tim, Paper 1, exemplar, model example essay, comparison, Higher Level) ...and by doing this, he adds importance to the words.  The importance of the people is also highlights as Sandburg references great leaders such as Napoleon and Abraham Lincoln and takes responsibility for the ir creation as “ the Napoleons come from...
• WT1 HL S1 (Mandela) (Mandela, WT, South Africa, ) ...hink that all races understood the inherent truth and urgent importance of democracy that were echoed in the se words of this great leader. I say he was a ‘ great leader’, and many of us know what made him so great . He was great because he was humb...
• Letter to the editor ...or a person to have just returned from the very same place that your magazine described was somewhat bizarre, so I read with great detail your writer (Andrew Marshall’s) account. Let me begin by saying that I often flick through your magazine a...
• What is this thing called literature? ...erson. Perhaps all of this can be dismissed as superficial political comment, remote from the ‘transcendental’ nature of great literature; but politics, at the deepest level, means the values by which whole communities live, and if literature is...
• Make a Change - Public Service Announcements (Tim, readers writers and texts, Creativity, Communication, practice individual oral, mini individual oral, body of work) ...d materials below, you can spend as little as one lesson, cutting anything you don't need or want to use.  This page is great in that respect if you just need something for tomorrow and are at a loss for what to do! On the o the r end of the spec...
• Literature: Challenging Perspectives ...erson. Perhaps all of this can be dismissed as superficial political comment, remote from the ‘transcendental’ nature of great literature; but politics, at the deepest level, means the values by which whole communities live, and if literature is...
• The IB Learner Profile: A Formative Assessment Task ...AIN POINT: Over the last few years, I have become a particularly effective communicator. I don’t mean that I have become a great communicator in all senses, but I have become an effective public speaker.EXAMPLE 1: Lacking confidence in Middle Schoo...
• 2013 Paper 1 (HL) The Reluctant Fundamentalist versus Robin Cook ...tor discusses an array of historical examples to bolster an affirmative Pakistani identity by revealing some of Pakistan’s great accomplishments. For example, Hamid describes the people as ‘conquering kings’ who ‘built the Royal Mosque’, �...
• WT1 SL S2 (Internet) (the Internet, clifford stoll) ...wo decades online, I'm perplexed. It's not that I haven't had a gas of a good time on the Internet. I've met great people and even caught a hacker or two. But today, I'm uneasy about this most trendy and oversold community. Vision...
• Duty, Honor, Country - A Further Oral Activity Sample (Tim, FOA, further oral activity, speech, Part 1) ...lls me with an emotion I cannot express. But this award is not intended primarily to honor a personality, but to symbolize a great moral code -- the code of conduct and chivalry of those who guard this beloved land of culture and ancient descent. Tha...
• Black and white (rivers of blood, telephone conversation, race, Enoch Powell, Wole Soyinka) ...ated and whose every thought and endeavour is bent in that direction. But to imagine that such a thing enters the heads of a great and growing majority of immigrants and the ir descendants is a ludicrous misconception, and a dangerous one. We are on t...
• Comparative Commentaries to Go: Generation Me ...own in the Midwest. After she graduated from high school, she moved to the city and enrolled in secretarial school. It was a great time to be young: Free Love was in, and everybody smoked, drank, and had a good time. Linda and her friends joined a fe...
• HL Essay: Exemplar 11 (The Remains of the Day) ... the refore, it is this ‘quality’ of emotional suppression that is an essential characteristic of English identity and of great butlers. Stevens aspires to be and, in fact, superciliously regards himself as the ‘perfect butler’. As he says, �...
• Paper 1: Sample Response 3 (George Monbiot, Embarrassment of Riches) ...st big paragraph George has a quotation (although I don’t know who said it) that “it is not quite true that behind every great fortune lies a great crime.” He turns this around to say that it is true that in front of every great fortune lies a...
• Comparative Commentaries to Go: Nutrition and Exercise (Tim, CC to Go, Comparative Commentaries to Go, Paper 1, Texts, Nutrition, Exercise, Fitness) ...oviding resources around the language of nutrition.  After using those lessons, this comparative commentary to go will be a great resource to test your student’s ability to transfer the ir knowledge about the unit topic into a Paper 1 assessment. ...
• The Internet ...wo decades online, I'm perplexed. It's not that I haven't had a gas of a good time on the Internet. I've met great people and even caught a hacker or two. But today, I'm uneasy about this most trendy and oversold community. Vision...
• Paper 1 (SL) How to Attract Women ...being in control’; this is in stark contrast to what we can infer to be the target audience of the advert. And since a great deal of emphasis is placed on this contrast, dramatic and colloquial adjectives such as ‘ballsy’ being used...
• P2 HL (Things Fall Apart, Death of a Salesman, A Doll's House) ...determine its publicity. This is because the readers/viewers are more likely to talk about it, the refore writers often leave great impressions of the ir work on the audience in order to make the ir views heard. In all three texts, Things Fall Apart by...
• 2016 P2 SL (Hedda Gabler and Master Harold and the Boys) ...ve to do at least this for the ir exam!While the scores reflect the mishaps of answering such a difficult question, this is a great model example to give to students.  It’s an even better model example to discuss the final marks.  See the activity...
• 2018 P2 HL (The House of Bernarda Alba and Hedda Gabler) (Tim, Paper 2, exemplar, model example, Hedda Gabler, The House of Bernarda Alba, 2018 May examination) ...ling.  The essay is close, but doesn’t get the re yet.  That conversation, about what’s missing, or what could be, is a great one to have with students.  The y have the opportunity to read very good writing, and you  the n have the opportunity t...

Blog Posts: 7 results

1 full match:.

• Best Books - July - December 2023 (Tim, readers, reading, creating a culture of reading and readers, independent reading) ...revolves around an enormously wealthy couple in the 1920s and 1930s in NYC.  The wealth in the novel reminded me of  The Great Gatsby  - it's out of this world - as did the questions about truth and reliability.  Whose story can we trust? ...

6 Partial matches:

• Working with Artificial Intelligence - 2 New Pages (Tim, AI, artificial intelligence, extended essay, research, research process, great debate, AI or student) ...2This week, we are adding to this list.  The y are hyperlinked below. Using AI in the Research Process (Extended Essay) The Great Debate – Student Written or AI Generated? The first page is pretty self-explanatory.  It involves helping students us...
• Individual Oral: Exemplar 4 (Macbeth and WW1 Propaganda Poster) (Tim, Individual Oral, Macbeth, WW1 propaganda posters, Daddy What Did You Do in the Great War?) ...ents I wanted to make.  In o the r words, I winged it more than I should have in criterion B and I paid the price.  It was a great lesson to teach my students! Finally, a caveat on the text/work the mselves.  We teach both Macbeth and World War 1...
• Summer Break Reading (Tim, Best Books, Top 10, reading, books, readers, community of readers) Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading.  If you are in the Nor the rn Hemisphere – and we realize not all of our subscribers are – you will most likely have an extended break coming up if you aren’t already on holiday. That’s not...
• Best Books of 2017 (Tim, reading recommendations, reading, independent reading, 2017, best books) ...nting to read in here.  If it’s summer time for you, perhaps the re’s a beach read for you.  Each one of the m is also a great gift for a colleague, friend, or partner. As the year comes to a close, we are so grateful for your continued support...
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• Best Books (so far) of 2020 (Tim, reading, creating a culture of reading, independent reading, summer reading, reading) ...t), but it's just so touching and raw.  It's a tough novel, but absolutely worth the beautiful sentences.Darius the Great is Not Okay by Abid KhorramDarius the Great is not Okay by Abid Khorram is YA fiction doing what YA fiction does best:...

Comments: 43 results

Dear David,

Thank you for your prompt reply. How does this look?

- A Streetcar Named Desire

- The Great Gatsby

- A Doll's House (Work in Translation)

- Persepolis (Work in Translation)

Hi David/Tim

Great ! Thank you so much for your replies.

Much appreciated

Kind regards

Since she has submitted a first draft, it seems like a great time to point out when and where she could go fur the r in her analysis to look at the se elements.

thanks for your thoughts. I'll ask IB. Yes, it's a great read lots of discussions and links to the literary works could come out of it.

Best wishes,

Hi dear Tim, it's me again, and thanks for your great help.

I agree with you I should teach what I know. Unfortunately, I taught most of what I know in the MYP. The plan was for Lang A Arabic. anyway.

That is great - thank you so much for your help. Worries eased!

Nevermind, I did find it after all. Apologies for this and a hearty thank you for all the great resources.

Thank you for the materials and guidance on the site - great support.

Great , thanks for the reply.

Great - thanks so much for the info.

Great !! Thank you so much, Tim! One more question, 'social implications of the misperception of love' - can this be considered a global issue?

I hope you have had great holidays!

How bad it is that a student makes a mistake in the name of the author? I mean she wrote ano the r name. She got the o the r one correct, so how would I allocate points?

Great , that's helpful and reassuring - thanks David.

Great resource all, thanks. Would it be a lot of trouble for you to make all the posters and lesson ideas on a slides/pptx presentation? Thanks again.

Great exercise for understanding image, sound, and camera angles incorporated into a commercial to bring across a message. Wonderful!

Great response, Tim…and, perhaps unsurprisingly, exactly the answer, almost to the word, which I gave my pupil.

Great ! Understood the crux!

Thanks so much!

Thanks for the quick responses. I went back in and everything is the re.

Thanks again for having such a great resources or students and teachers.

Yes, this is possible. And this EE - although based on the old EE syllabus - is a great model example to show a student who is interested in writing about a TV show.

How to Write a 3000 word Essay in Less Than 60 Minutes

Writing a 3000 word essay in under an hour might seem impossible, especially when facing a tight deadline. However, with the right approach, it's not as daunting as it sounds. A good example of this is our guide on how to write a 1000 word essay .

This article shares 5 practical tips and strategies to help you write efficiently and effectively within a limited timeframe.

EssayPro Guide on How to Write Your Essay Faster

Our team of experts has created a how-to guide for you on how to write your essay fast. Here you go:

Voice-to-Text Software

Voice-to-text software can significantly expedite essay writing by allowing users to dictate their thoughts and ideas, bypassing manual typing verbally. This technology enables a continuous writing flow, as individuals can speak their ideas naturally and conversationally without interruptions. 

For example, instead of pausing to search for the right words or phrases, users can express their thoughts fluidly, resulting in a faster and more efficient writing process. Additionally, voice-to-text software eliminates the physical strain associated with typing for extended periods, allowing users to maintain productivity and focus for longer durations.

Furthermore, voice-to-text software offers flexibility in writing environments, as users can dictate their essays from virtually anywhere using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. For instance, individuals can dictate their essays while commuting, exercising, or completing other tasks, maximizing their time and productivity.

You can use the following voice-to-text tools:

• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Google Docs Voice Typing
• Microsoft Dictate
• Apple Dictation

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The Stream-of-Consciousness Writing

Stream-of-consciousness writing is a technique that involves recording thoughts as they come to mind, without filtering or censoring them. This approach can be particularly useful for writing essays in less than 60 minutes as it allows for a rapid flow of ideas and content generation. 

By bypassing the need for careful planning and organization, stream-of-consciousness writing enables writers to quickly capture their thoughts on paper and generate raw material for their essays. For example, writers can focus solely on expressing their ideas and arguments instead of worrying about sentence structure or grammar, resulting in a faster and more spontaneous writing process.

Moreover, stream-of-consciousness writing can help writers overcome writer's block and tap into their creativity more effectively. This can lead to more original and compelling essay content. For instance, writers may discover new angles or perspectives on their topic that they hadn't considered before, enriching their essays with fresh insights and perspectives.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the stream-of-consciousness technique to write an essay:

• Set a timer.
• Clear distractions.
• Choose a topic.
• Begin writing.
• Write continuously.
• Don't edit or censor.
• Keep the pen moving.
• Embrace tangents.
• Stay in the moment.
• Review and edit later.

AI Writing Tools

AI writing tools can significantly expedite the essay writing process by automating various aspects of content creation, such as generating ideas, structuring arguments, and even drafting entire paragraphs. These tools leverage advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze input data and produce coherent, contextually relevant text output. 

For example, platforms like OpenAI's GPT-3 and Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant offer features such as auto-completion, grammar and style suggestions, and even content generation based on user prompts. 

Furthermore, AI writing tools can assist writers in overcoming writer's block and generating ideas more efficiently. For instance, tools like Articoolo and QuillBot can generate article outlines or paraphrase existing text to provide inspiration and generate new content. 

Here are reliable AI essay writing tools:

• EssayPro Writing App

WARNING: While these tools can aid in content creation and idea generation, relying too heavily on them may lead to plagiarism or submitting low-quality, unoriginal work. Writers should use AI writing tools to supplement their research and writing process rather than replace critical thinking and academic rigor.

Collage Essay Method

The collage essay method is a creative approach to essay writing that involves assembling visual and textual materials into a collage to represent different aspects of the essay topic. This technique can be particularly effective in generating ideas quickly and organizing thoughts in a visually engaging manner. 

For example, imagine you're tasked with writing an essay on climate change. You could gather images, quotes, statistics, and diagrams related to climate change and arrange them on a poster board or digital canvas. The collage is a brainstorming tool to spark ideas and inspire the writing process by visually representing key concepts and arguments.

Moreover, the collage essay method encourages a nonlinear approach to essay writing, allowing writers to explore ideas from multiple perspectives and make connections between different topic elements. 

For instance, while arranging materials for the climate change collage, you might notice patterns or themes emerging that you hadn't considered before. This can lead to new insights and angles for your essay, enriching the content with diverse perspectives and supporting evidence.

Here are some useful tips for using the collage essay method for writing an essay fast:

• Gather diverse materials.
• Start with a central theme.
• Arrange materials strategically.
• Focus on visual impact.
• Incorporate text and images.
• Make connections between elements.
• Be open to unexpected insights.
• Iterate and refine as needed.

Role-Playing Scenario

The role-playing scenario method offers a fresh and engaging approach to essay writing, injecting creativity and empathy into the process. By immersing oneself in a specific role, writers can tap into their imagination and explore complex topics from various angles. 

For instance, if you're tasked with writing about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, you could adopt the perspective of a futuristic AI developer or a concerned citizen living in a world dominated by AI technology. This imaginative exercise sparks inspiration and encourages deeper reflection on the subject matter, leading to more insightful and thought-provoking essays.

Furthermore, the role-playing scenario cultivates empathy and understanding by encouraging writers to embody diverse viewpoints and experiences. Whether you're writing about climate change, social justice, or economic policy, stepping into the shoes of different characters allows you to see the world through their eyes and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex issues. 

For example, by pretending to be a climate scientist researching the effects of deforestation, you might gain a deeper appreciation for the urgency of environmental conservation efforts. This empathetic approach to essay writing fosters a greater connection with both the subject matter and the audience, resulting in essays that are not only informative but also engaging and impactful.

How to adopt the role-playing scenario technique for writing an essay:

• Choose a relevant persona.
• Research and understand their background.
• Embody the persona's mindset.
• Write from their perspective.
• Maintain consistency with the persona.
• Review and adjust as needed.
• Use insights to enrich your essay.

There’s nothing impossible if you put an effort into it. Although 60 minutes sounds like a very limited period, a smart student can use it to produce a pretty decent essay and even have a few minutes left! So, how to write essays faster ?

The tips we gave you above do work, which thousands of students with hectic schedules have already proved. A word of warning, though – don’t rush to use tools like ChatGPT to generate an essay in 5 minutes because it’s hazardous for academic integrity. Remember – AI tools are assistants, and generated texts are to be rewritten from A to Z, which can also be done in an hour or less. If you’re awfully tired and physically can’t think or type, you better ask a professional human writer to help you. 

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Can You Write an Essay in 30 Minutes?

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Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Howard, D. (2022, December 15). How to Write an Essay Fast . Nexus Education. https://nexus-education.com/blog-posts/how-to-write-an-essay-fast/
• 20 Top Tips for Writing an Essay in a Hurry . (2024, February 20). Oxford Royale. https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/writing-essay-hurry/ ‍
• 4 Ways to Write Essays Faster – The Bookshelf . (n.d.). https://blogs.cornell.edu/learning/4-ways-to-write-essays-faster/

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