The Great Gatsby
Mini-Discussion Assessment (Socratic
Seminar)
Mrs. Munkwitz’s English 11 Classes
2012-2013
Congratulations! You’ve finished reading Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, but you’re not
quite done dealing with it yet. Your final task for the Ambition Unit is to take a look at
Gatsby with a critical lens.
Mind your P’s and Q’s (Posits and Questions)
To do this, you will first be given a thought prompt. Once you have your prompt, you will take some
time to develop your ideas by jotting them down on paper. You need to come up with at least 3
posits (thoughts/ideas) and at least 2 questions to pose during a mini-discussion you will have with
people who received the same thought prompt.
Mini-Discussions
After you’ve had some time to develop your thoughts about your prompt, you will join others with
the same prompt in a mini-discussion (fishbowl style). When it is your group’s turn for the minidiscussion, Mrs. M will begin the conversation by reading the prompt. At this point, you and the
other group members will be responsible for sustaining meaningful discussion regarding the prompt.
Fishbowl Evaluation
While you participate in mini-discussion, you will be evaluated by your peers. Evaluators will receive
points for filling out the evaluation. Mrs. M will use the evaluations to inform her grading, but do
not assume the grade your evaluator gives you will be your final grade.
Points Breakdown
Posits & Questions Worksheet (Preparation)
10 points
Evaluation Form
5 points
Discussion
15 points
TOTAL POINTS
30 points
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The Great Gatsby Socratic Seminar
Mrs. Munkwitz – English 11
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Question #1
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Thought Prompts
1. Fitzgerald played with a number of titles for this novel, but settled
on The Great Gatsby. After reading the book, what do you think
Fitzgerald meant by using the word “Great” to describe Gatsby? Is
Gatsby great? Is the title accurate? Think not only of how Gatsby
wants to be perceived but who he actually is as an individual.
2. After reading, is Daisy all she’s cracked up to be? Discuss her
character and whether or not she deserves Gatsby’s undying love.
3. Many people contribute to the events that led up to Gatsby’s death.
Who do you feel is most responsible for Gatsby’s demise? Give
evidence from the text to support your response.
4. Is The Great Gatsby an outdated novel, or is it relevant today? If
you feel that it is relevant, what aspects of today’s society does the
book describe or explain? If you do not feel that it is relevant,
support your response.
Hour 1 Mini-Discussion Groups
Prompt #1
Alyssa, Breanna, Brian, Bridget, Claire
Prompt #2
Branden, Leesha, Jeremy, Justin, Donaye’La, Ryan
Prompt #3
Jake, Blake, Max, Katie, Bobby, Devin
Prompt #4
Laura, Billy, John, Lindsey, Amy, Rob
Hour 3 Mini-Discussion Groups
Prompt #1
Carsen, Claire, Daniel, Jamie, Haley, Kristina
Prompt #2
Jake, Kelsey, Tiffany, Lea, Cole, Courtney
Prompt #3
Allison, Jessica, Aaron, Maddy, Ashley
Prompt #4
Jenny, Andy, Lizzy, Nisha, Ryan
Hour 7 Mini-Discussion Groups
Prompt #1
Abby, Rebecca, Therese, Stephen, Scott, Nicole, Alec D
Prompt #2
Charlie, Eric, Elle, Alec O, Sara, Kyle, Kaci
Prompt #3
Mitchell, Lacey, Andrew, Meg, Amber, Kathleen, Matt
Prompt #4
Danielle, Alec H, Taylor, Katie, Sarah, Alex R, Ashleigh
Hour 9 Mini-Discussion Groups
Prompt #1
Catt, Hannah, Noah, P.J., Dan, Micah
Prompt #2
Taylor, Joe, Seth, Andrew, Bayla, Ross
Prompt #3
Kyle D, Nick P, Kathryn, Nick S, Erin, Avery
Prompt #4
Chas, Kyle P, Logan, Brittney, Mike
Hour 10 Discussion Groups
Prompt #1
Joe, Ted, Katie, Hanna, Kylee, Scott, Renee
Prompt #2
Brenda, Deme, Derek, Jack, Ryan, Molly, Logan
Prompt #3
Liam, Hannah , Kayla, Sara, Heather, Miranda, Chelsea
Prompt #4
Natalie, Ty, Tyler, Sarah, Nate, Eliza, Tanner