Playlist Activities: Plot structure and Characterization in The Great Gatsby

Directions: This is a playlist of activities you will be completing during this Unit. Each activity is unique, and some steps include an independent and
group option! Make sure to read the directions in the columns closely. You are required to complete at least ONE of the activities in each lesson.

● Be sure to update your Playlist document as you complete each step. You will submit your completed work throughout the unit, and you
submit your completed Playlist document with links (where needed) when you submit your Unit 3 Portfolio (the final step in your Playlist).

Step 1: Complete the activities below.

Activity Directions Date

Completed

1. Plot Structure
Watch Flocabulary elements of plot video

MUST ● PLOT Video - I recommend you watch this video in

COMPLETE Slideshow view, but this is my preference :)

Select ONE short story we read in Unit 1 or Unit 2. Texts are linked
below. Highlight your selection.

Unit 1: Modernism Unit 2: Post-Modernism

Ernest Hemingway: “In Another Country” Kurt Vonnegut: “Harrison Bergeron” - Absurdism
● Audio: “In Another Country” ● Audio: “Harrison Bergeron”

John Steinbeck: “The Chrysanthemums” Ray Bradbury: “The Veldt” - Science Fiction
● Audio: “The Chrysanthemums” ● Audio: “The Veldt”
 Playlist Activities: Plot structure and Characterization in The Great Gatsby

Langston Hughes: “Why, You Reckon?”

● Audio: “Why, You Reckon?”

Identify the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and conclusion

Introduction:

Rising Action:

Climax:

Falling Action:

Conclusion:

2. Motivation Consider one of our main characters:

Padlet
● Nick, Daisy, Tom, Jordan, or Gatsby
MUST ● Write the name of your character in the space below.
COMPLETE
My Character:

What is their motivation? Why are they taking the actions we see in the text?

● Example: Finding Nemo - Marlin. Marlin is traveling with Dory because he wants to find his son, Nemo. External:
Nemo was kidnapped, and Marlin wants his son back. Internal: Marlin feels guilty for not saving Cora, his wife,
and their unborn children at the beginning of the movie. He must protect Nemo, his last surviving son, at all costs
so he can be a good parent and partner.

[Write your character’s name here] motivation is

On this class Padlet, describe your character by discussing their motivation.

 Playlist Activities: Plot structure and Characterization in The Great Gatsby

● Provide 5 - 7 sentences that discuss the events they face and their motivation in the novel but DO NOT INCLUDE
THEIR NAME.
● In LiveLesson, we will be identifying and categorizing the different characters and motivations we see on the class
Padlet.

Step 2: Choose ONE of the options below to complete while reading pages

Activity Directions Link to work Date

Completed

3. Characterization A) Independent option: Graphic Novel and Text Comparison Your

NearPod
Choose ONE of the Enter THIS NearPod. work is
options to complete submitted
1. Watch the characterization video and answer the questions while viewing. directly to me
2. Read and analyze the passages about Tom Buchanan. in NearPod.
3. Watch the Flocabulary video on Characters.
4. Read and analyze the passages about Jay Gatsby. NO LINK
REQUIRED
On the NearPod collaborate boards - identify and list at least 3 characteristics of Tom Buchanan and Jay
Gatsby from the text and graphic evidence.

B) STEAL the Details! Group option: Link your

completed
● Select a group of 4 - 5 students. Once selected, make a Team Copy of THIS document to share group work in
with eachother. You will be working collaboratively to identify direct and indirect this column
characterization of your group’s selected character.
● Choose TWO of our main characters:
 Playlist Activities: Plot structure and Characterization in The Great Gatsby

○ Nick
○ Daisy
○ Tom
○ Jordan
○ Gatsby
● In your small group, choose one student to read the passage out loud (Reader). Select one
member to type the team’s response (Recorder). Choose another student to monitor progress
(Speaker). Work together to complete the characterization components for TWO of our main
characters. You may divide the work however works best for your group! Please note: You all
must agree and check each other’s work! You are working as a team!
● Textual evidence is linked for each character. Read the passage as a group to complete each
column. DELETE rows for characters your group DID NOT select. You are all working to
complete the row for two characters.

Step 3: Portfolio - Choose ONE of the Portfolio options to complete.

Activity Directions

4. Portfolio A) Social Media Profile PowerPoint - Visual Presentation. You may select any of the five main characters from the novel: Nick, Tom, Daisy,
Jordan, or Gatsby to create your Social Media Profile PowerPoint.
Choose ONE
of these ● Make a copy of the Rough Draft outline to begin your Social Media Profile!
options to
complete Length: You will create at least NINE slides detailing your character through an About Me, comments, stories, interests, dislikes, status
updates, and messages with other characters.
Submit your
completed Format: You have three different templates you may use for your final draft.
rough draft to
 Playlist Activities: Plot structure and Characterization in The Great Gatsby

the Rough ● Click HERE for a Google Slide template (generic profile)
Draft ● Click HERE for a Google Slide Instagram template (specific)
Dropbox.
● Click HERE for a different Google Slide Instagram template (basic)
Submit your
completed You may be creative and make your own template! As long as you have all nine slides and the required information, you are welcome to select
final draft to a different social media platform (Instgram is the basis for the templates). In the Rough Draft Outline, there is an example of a student created
the Final Snapchat Account. Be creative and have fun showcasing your understanding of your selected character!
Draft
dropbox. RUBRIC

Once your B) Self-Improvement Plan for Nick - Essay: Formal letter. Write a self-improvement plan for Nick Carraway.
submit your
Final Draft, Though most of Nick Carraway’s focus is on the troubled lives around him, he has his fair share of dilemmas. From life in a new city to
submit your reconnecting with his cousin to his blossoming relationship with Jordan, there are plenty of issues for which Nick could use some advice. For
playlist your portfolio project for this unit, you are going to give Nick the advice he needs.
document
BY Webmail! ● Make a copy of the Rough Draft outline to begin your Self-Improvement Plan.
● You will write a 2 - 3 page letter to your friend, Nick Carraway.

Length: 2-3 pages

Format: Formal letter format
Evidence requirements:

● 3 supportive quotes from the novel

● 3 quotes from the philosophies of living: Ben Franklin, Henry David Thoreau, James Gatz
○ These are available in the SAS® Curriculum Pathways® activity in lesson 5