Literature Circle

LITERATURE CIRCLES FOR STUDYING
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S THE GREAT GATSBY

Overview

Literature circles are one way of responding to a text in an active manner. For this type of response, you will be place in a group with about four other students. Each student will be responsible for fulfilling a different role within the group on a rotating basis. As work progresses, each group member will have an opportunity to participate in most of the roles. Make sure you read the descriptions carefully and fulfill your roles accurately. The roles are: synopsis maker, characterizer, discussion director, literary luminary, style analyst, symbols tracker, illustrator, vocabulary finder, and researcher.

Groups

The groups will be announced at the beginning of the unit.

Lesson Days

There will be teacher-guided lessons presented to the entire class during this unit to help give you ideas to focus on during your reading, to provide you with another interpretation of the novel, and to allow for a break in the work output of your group. At other times I will circulate around the room, sitting in on, listening to, and evaluating group discussions.

Role Sheets Homework Mark: /20

Each time the group meets, you will discuss the chapters assigned. Having performed the functions outlined on the role sheets, you will speak from your role’s perspective for 7-10 minutes, and pose as well as answer questions. As a group, please cover the roles that nobody prepared. At the end of the period, hand in your role sheets, each about two pages typed. It is a good idea to take notes and to make additions or corrections to your role sheet during the discussion. Since the meeting is dependent on the completion of the sheet, late submissions will not be accepted. Sheets will be assessed for completion, clarity, and thoughtfulness.

Discussion Periods Participation Mark: /10

Each literature circle discussion period lasts about an hour. Each group will be audio-taped once, with each member being evaluated with the literature circle discussion rubric.

Essay Major Essay mark: /AP scale 0-9

After the third literature circle, you will receive a list of essay prompts. You will have class time to prepare some or all of the prompts. Then, on a given day, you will write a timed in-class essay on a selected prompt. You will be permitted to use the notes you may have prepared. The essay will be evaluated with the standard AP rubric.

Timeline

Introduction to Literature Circles Thu, Oct 23
Literature Circle #1 (Chap 1-3) Mon, Oct 27
Literature Circle #2 (Chap 4-5) Thu, Oct 30 or Fri, Oct 31
Literature Circle #3 (Chap 6-7) Mon, Nov 3
Literature Circle #4 (Chap 8-9) Thu, Nov 6
Timed In-Class Essay Fri, Nov 14
ROLES

1. Synopsis Maker

Your job is to give the group a synopsis of the section of the book you have read. This means that you write a short 1-2 paragraph summary of the plot. Then, identify and briefly discuss the settings, conflicts, instances of foreshadowing, and turning points found in the section.

During the literature circle meetings, you should ask members of your group to summarize parts of the plot, identify the setting, etc., then correct or elaborate upon their responses. Do not simply read off of your role sheet. Your goal is to help your group understand the novel to the extent that you do.

2. Characterizer

Your job is to identify, characterize, and track the development of the characters in the section you have read. Be sure to support your characterization with evidence from the text. Also, remember to consider the significance of the minor characters, and what their roles are in the novel.

During the literature circle meetings, get your group members to identify which new characters have been introduced or how certain characters have developed throughout the text. Discuss not only who the characters are, but also what they represent and what their functions are in the text.

3. Discussion Director

Your job is to develop 4-5 questions that your group might want to discuss about the part of the novel you have read. Aim to formulate “deep” as opposed to “surface” questions. Also try to ask questions that the other roles will not likely be addressing. After each question, include your answer in a paragraph.

During the literature circle meetings, you should pose your questions to members of your group and solicit responses. Allow a discussion to take place around each question and facilitate that discussion rather than just read off of your role sheet.

4. Literary Luminary

Your job is to locate 4-5 sections of the text that you think your group would like to hear read aloud and to reconsider. For each excerpt, identify the pages on which it appears, the first few words, and the last few words. Also, for each passage, write a paragraph explaining its significance to the novel. The idea is to help people remember some important, powerful, humorous, or puzzling sections of the text.

During the literature circle meetings, you should get group members to read the passage aloud so everyone can review it. You should also ask group members why they think you have chosen the passage and why it is significant. Allow a discussion to take place around each passage and facilitate that discussion rather than just read off of your role sheet.

5. Style Analyst

Your job is to analyze and comment on the style of writing in the section you have read. Identify the tone(s) of the section and explore how the tone(s) are conveyed through the author’s use of diction, syntax, imagery, figurative language, point of view, etc., Also discuss how the stylistic choices relate to the theme(s).

During the literature circle meeting, you should ask members of your group to identify the tone, comment on the style, suggest themes, etc., then correct or elaborate upon their responses. Do not simply read off of your role sheet. Your goal is to help your group see how stylistic choices help to convey tone and are ultimately to theme.

6. Symbols Tracker

Your job is to identify, explain, and track the development of key symbols in the section you have read. Begin by identifying a symbol. For each time the symbol appears, record the page number and context. Discuss how the symbol is used, including how it is similar to or different from its previous usage as noted by you or another group member. Explain the meaning of the symbol, its development, and how it may suggest a theme or meaning of the work. Some possible symbols are: valley of ashes, green light, eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, automobiles.

During the literature circle meeting, you should ask members of your group to identify the symbols they encountered during the reading. Ask them to comment on what the symbols stand for, how it has perhaps evolved throughout the book so far, and what themes or meanings are suggested by the symbol.

7. Illustrator

Your job is to prepare a visual related to the reading. It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, flow chart, collage, computer-generated drawing, or something else. You can create a visual of something that is directly discussed in the section, or make your visual symbolic. In addition, prepare a written explanation of 1-2 paragraphs of what your picture represents and why it is significant.

During the literature circle meeting, you should show your picture to your group members without any comment. Ask each of the members to speculate upon what your pictures represents. After everyone has had their say, explain your picture and its significance.

8. Vocabulary Finder

Your job is to find 8-10 difficult words or potential vocabulary words in the section you have read. Then, clearly define the word, give a synonym or antonym if appropriate, and copy out the sentence from the novel that contains the word. Be sure to give the page number. Finally, write your own sentence for each word, showing your understanding of its meaning.

During the literature circle meeting, you should pre-test your group members on their knowledge and understanding of the words. You may pick on people to spell, define, give a synonym or antonym for, or make a sentence with a particular word. You should direct your group to the pages in which the words appear, and help them learn these new words.

9. Researcher

Your job is to identify and research allusions and historical information found in the section you have read. Most of the people, places, trends, and events mentioned in the novel are real or based on factual information. You must find out the factual basis for these references. For example, East Egg and West Egg do not actually exist, but Long Island does; the Black Sox scandal of 1919 is mentioned; and Meyer Wolfsheim, a fictional character introduced in Chapter 4, is based on a real-life organized-crime boss, Arnold Rothstein. Summarize your research in paragraphs, presenting information that enriches the understanding of the novel. You may also find it helpful to include visuals.

During the literature circle meeting, you should ask your group members which allusions they want clarified and what they know about the topic. Then, share what you have found out through your research.

PLEASE TYPE YOUR ROLE SHEETS! THANK YOU!