The Great Gatsby Essay

Literary Analysis Essay Rubric

Due Date: Friday, November 10th

Grade: 100 points

Your goal is to write a paper that makes a specific argument focusing on one of the following literary elements in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby:

THEME / CHARACTERIZATION / POINT OF VIEW / TONE / IRONY / GENDER / SYMBOLISM

This is the grade sheet that will be used to grade the essay. Use this as a guide after writing the essay to ensure you’ve accomplished all the needed components.

Content : -Emphasis on the student’s interpretation, not the book’s plot or another’s ideas -High quality ideas and nuanced commentary—arguments are not obvious -Formal and professional tone maintained -Does not use slang or casual language -Does not use “I think” statements -Does not use personal pronouns (you, me, I, we) -Uses strong contextual evidence to prove main point but does NOT summarize story -Strong word choice and vocabulary	/30 pt
Organization: -Intro contains strong attention-getter/hook -States author and title of the novel -States thesis statement containing the argument regarding one literary element -States main points that will prove thesis -Contains a paragraph’s main point in a topic sentence -Contains transitions between new ideas (Additionally, furthermore, also, for example, subsequently, likewise, etc…) -Body paragraphs use main points to successfully prove thesis statement while tying back to the thesis. -Conclusion restates thesis statement -Conclusion reminds reader of main points -Provides logical conclusion statement	/25 pt
Documentation: -Use at least 5 quotes from primary and secondary sources to prove thesis: at least two from secondary sources and at least three quotes from the novel -Cite quotes correctly (page number in parenthesis or referenced in the sentence) -Works Cited page included on a separate page	/25 pt
Length Requirements: -9 to 12 paragraphs (3 points per paragraph) -Written in Times New Roman, double-spaced, 12 point font	/10 pt
Mechanics: -No proofreading errors in spelling or spacing -Does not use fragments and run-ons -Correctly punctuates -Consistent verb tense (Present tense unless a specific transition is used to past/future)	/10 pt
Total	/100 pt

PAPER OUTLINE

(Also available on itslearning)

I. Introduction

A. Attention getter or “hook” (fact, quote, question, provocative statement):

B. Necessary Information: (give context, state title, author, summarize story as it relates to topic)

C. Thesis statement: (what you will prove; needs to be arguable and provable )

***Remember, the best thesis statements answer a “Why?” question (like, why did the author make this choice?)

II. Main Idea 1 (2-3 paragraphs)

A. Topic sentence or main idea:

B. Quotation from the book (with page #)

C. Analysis (3-5 sentences explaining importance of quote—relate back to thesis)

III. Main Idea 2 (2-3 paragraphs)

A. Topic sentence or main idea:

B. Quotation from the book or outside source (with page #)

C. Analysis (3-5 sentences explaining importance of quote—relate back to thesis)

IV. Main Idea 3 (2-3 paragraphs)

A. Topic sentence or main idea:

B. Quotation from the book or outside source (with page #)

C. Analysis (3-5 sentences explaining importance of quote—relate back to thesis)

V. Counterpoints (Anticipate criticism or provide a response to different interpretations)

A. Summary of another critic’s argument:

B. Quotation from outside source (with page #)

C. Rebuttal (3-5 sentences explaining why you agree or disagree with the critic)

VI. Conclusion

A. Restate thesis in a new way

B. Summarize main points in detail

C. Closing thoughtful remark (the “clincher”—leave the reader with something heavy to ponder or digest)