Unit: Course Intro/This I Believe/ The Great Gatsby
Duration: 9/5/2012 through 10/2/2012
Unit Objectives
By the end of this unit, students will:
 Understand the way IB assesses and assigns grades
 Understand my course policies
 Think critically about a personal belief and compose a 1 page essay on that belief that is suitable
for college applications
 Think critically about the literary aspects of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
 Respond to The Great Gatsby in commentary form, both oral and written
 Engage in thoughtful discussion around The Great Gatsby
Essential Questions for The Great Gatsby
 How does Fitzgerald use symbolism to communicate theme?
 What commentary is Fitzgerald on the “American Dream”?
 How does narration affect the novel?
 How does the novel both capture the essence of an era, yet remain timeless?
Symbols to be on the lookout for (and then carefully considered)
 The Valley of Ashes
 Gatsby’s House
 T.J. Eckleburg’s Eyes
 Daisy’s voice
 The Green Light
 The use of colors: white, yellow, gold, green, blue
Tentative Schedule- subject to change
Agenda/Assignments
Day 1- Course Intro- Bring in Object
Day 2- Course intro cont./ Intro “This I Believe” Essay
Day 3- “This I Believe” Discussion, Outlining
Day 4- “This I Believe” drafting/ Pre-test “Finish This I Believe” and email it
Day 5- Gatsby Intro, begin reading ch. 1 together—Finish for HMWK
Day 6- Chapter 1 Discussion/ Begin 2—finish for HMWK
Day 7- Chapter 2 Discussion/ Begin 3—finish for HMWK
Day 8- Chapter 3 Discussion/ Begin 4—finish for HMWK
Day 9- Chapter 4 Discussion/ Begin 5—finish for HMWK
Day 10- Chapter 5 Discussion/ Begin 6—finish for HMWK
Day 11- Chapter 6 Discussion/ Begin 7—finish for HMWK
Day 12- Chapter 7 Discussion/ Begin 8—finish for HMWK
Day 13- Chapter 8 Discussion/ Begin 9—finish for HMWK
Day 14- Final Discussion
Day 15- Journals Due
Next Unit- The Poetry of Seamus Heaney
D/AB
rotation
9/5
9/6
9/10
9/11
9/12
9/14
9/17
9/18
9/20
9/21
9/24
9/26
9/27
9/28
10/2
BCD
rotation
9/6
9/7
9/10
9/12
9/13
9/14
9/18
9/19
9/20
9/24
9/25
9/26
9/28
10/1
10/2