Character Analysis for The Great Gatsby
Objective: Write an analysis of your assigned character (Gatsby, Nick, Tom, Daisy, Myrtle, George, or Jordan) in which you
argue something about their character and support your argument with textual evidence.
Further instructions:




Your job with this paper is to move beyond simple plot summary; instead, you will form an opinion about something
from the text and gather evidence to support your idea.
The paper will not be written from your 1st person perspective (“I think, my opinion,” etc.), but because you are writing
it, the assumption is that it is your opinion.
Overall paper LENGTH is not important—your content is. This will start as a 5 paragraph essay. You may expand some.
Average paper lengths will probably be about 2-3 pages; however, this is not a minimum/maximum.
Your goal is to write WELL—not to aim for a page number requirement.
Process:







Gather notes on your character
Brainstorm elements of your character (using “Gatsby Character Analysis Prompts”)
Narrow down to focus your argument. Ultimately, why does/doesn’t this character matter?
Develop thesis statement/argument
Structure body paragraphs to address an individual aspect of the character per paragraph
Provide textual evidence (quotes) to support your ideas
Analyze evidence in relation to your thesis/argument.
Persuasive 5-Paragraph Essay Format
Paragraph 1: Introduction
1. Get the reader’s attention by using a "hook." (quotation, statistic, analogy, description…anything but a question!!)
2. Provide a brief plot summary. In the plot summary you need to mention all of the ideas, characters, etc. that are in your
thesis statement so the thesis will make sense.
3. Thesis or focus statement (you may preview main points here).
Paragraph 2: First argument or reason to support your position
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topic sentence explaining your first main point.
Elaborate using the text
Clarify a position: Think about what needs to be explained.
Direct support: Choose information from the text that directly proves the topic sentence.
Follow-up analysis of textual evidence and connect back to topic sentence/thesis
Paragraph 3: Second argument or reason to support your position
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topic sentence explaining your first main point.
Elaborate using the text
Clarify a position: Think about what needs to be explained.
Direct support: Choose information from the text that directly proves the topic sentence.
Follow-up analysis of textual evidence and connect back to topic sentence/thesis
Paragraph 4: Third argument or reason to support your position
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topic sentence explaining your first main point.
Elaborate using the text
Clarify a position: Think about what needs to be explained.
Direct support: Choose information from the text that directly proves the topic sentence.
Follow-up analysis of textual evidence and connect back to topic sentence/thesis
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
1. Restate thesis statement.
2. Review main arguments.
3. Final thoughts and “clincher” statement (avoid new ideas here).
Rubric: 5 Paragraph Essay
Proficient
Introduction:
Hook, Background Information,
Transition
Thesis Statement
Paragraph One:
Topic Sentence
Elaboration Relates Directly to Topic
Sentence
Argument provides credible evidence
and shows clear evaluation of claims
(9.7.9.9 & 9.5.8.8)
Paragraph Two:
Topic Sentence
Elaboration Relates Directly to Topic
Sentence
Argument provides credible evidence
and shows clear evaluation of claims
(9.7.9.9 & 9.5.8.8)
Paragraph Three:
Topic Sentence
Elaboration Relates Directly to Topic
Sentence
Argument provides credible evidence
and shows clear evaluation of claims
(9.7.9.9 & 9.5.8.8)
Conclusion:
Restate Thesis
Review Main Arguments
Clincher/ending
MLA:
Minimum of one internal citation per
paragraph
Proper Format (Font, spacing, etc.)
Spelling/Capitalization/Punctuation
(9.11.2.2)
Grammar and Usage (9.11.1.1)
Heading/Citations/Title (9.11.3.3)
Emergent
Weak
Absent