Synthesis of Secondary Source and Your Analysis of the Primary Source
It’s important to figure out where the overlap is between your secondary source’s analysis of The Great Gatsby and your analysis of The Great Gatsby. The secondary source will not be saying the exact same thing as you (or, at least, it shouldn’t), but you need to figure out how to converse with this source in a way that furthers your argument in the end.
Step 1: Start with a general TOPIC (ex: The American Dream, Daisy’s progression through the text, use of ‘green’, Nick’s tone, Tom vs Wilson, etc…)
Topic:
Step 2: Think, what is the book suggesting ABOUT that topic? (This is your basic argument – ex: Fitzgerald suggests that The American Dream…, Daisy’s progression through the text is symbolic of…, The use of the color green is meant to suggest…)
Step 3: HOW does the author go about doing this? What quotes can you pull from the book to address this concept?
Ideas from the Book (quote, moment, general idea, etc with page numbers)
DUE: 3/15 (BoC)
Your Analysis
(Consider: What does this show? How does this relate to/develop your idea? Why is this significant? What other moments in the text does this connect to? What larger idea does this connect to?)
DUE: 3/16 (EoC)
Secondary Source’s Analysis (quotes that address this idea)
DUE: 3/18 (EoC)
Consider:
· What is similar about what you are both saying?
· Where do the analyses differ?
· How does the secondary source still help you to prove your argument?
· How does this help you think differently about the book?
DUE: 3/18 (EoC)
“We drew in deep breaths… as we walked back…through the cold vestibules, unutterably aware of our identity with this country for one strange hour, before we melted indistinguishably into it again.”
“He stretched out his arm towards the dark water… and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away… when I looked once more for Gatsby, he had vanished…”
“Gatsby’s main goal in life, and by extension, America’s main goal, which is to always achieve more, rather than be satisfied with what they have.”
“Gatsby is one version of America- the resourceful, athletic, restless young nation striving to make itself better.”
“Because of his mind building her up into unrealistic expectations, he can never be happy with her, and will continue to move forward and seek the next accomplishment: the next thing he believes will make him happy.”
“Anything can happen now that we’ve slid over this bridge,’ I thought; ‘anything at all…’ even Gatsby could happen, without any particular wonder.”
“Why they came East I don’t know…I had no sight into Daisy’s heart, but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game.”
“For, although this is the United States of America, it is also a society marked by class and racial divisions.”
“It sounds like all the rich people send their kids off East to Prep school. What is it about the East in comparison to the West? Are the two regions really that different?”
“The American dream is the continuous desire for better, it is impossible to fully grasp.”
“In the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.”
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Secondary Source Synthesis and Your Primary Source Analysis
It’s crucial to determine where your secondary source’s interpretation of The Great Gatsby and your own understanding of The Great Gatsby intersect. The secondary source will not say exactly what you are saying (or at least, it should not), but you must find out how to converse with it in a way that advances your case.
Step 1: Begin with a broad topic (for example, The American Dream, Daisy’s journey through the text, the use of ‘green,’ Nick’s tone, Tom vs Wilson, and so on).
Topic:
Step 2: Consider what the text says ABOUT that subject. (This is your basic argument – ex: Fitzgerald suggests that The American Dream
