This Tuesday (November 24th), students need to figure out what topic that they want to explore, investigate, and analyze for a 5-paragraph essay due on December 23rd (a first draft is due on December 11th a 8:25am). Below are a plethora of topics and links that you can utilize to form your own essay topic. Take a look and happy searching.
Remember: a good essay topic should be arguable, clearly have more than one answer, and be able to be proven through many pieces of evidence in the text.
http://www.neabigread.org/books/greatgatsby/teachers-guide/essay-topics/
http://www.gradesaver.com/the-great-gatsby/study-guide/essay-questions
These are questions from past students (Each question is an essay topic unless it immediately follows the question on the same line):
- What makes Gatsby so great?
- What role do all the elements of setting play in shaping this story?
- What colors are significant in the book and what do they symbolize throughout?
- How do the symbols in the story emphasize the theme of the book?
- Explain a significant theme in the novel and analyze how at least two writing strategies (either literary or rhetorical) enhance and develop the theme of the story.
- How does the green light relate to the themes in the book?
- How does Gatsby influence Nick? How does Nick’s opinion of him change throughout the novel?
- What do Tom’s relationships with women reveal about him?
- Who should Daisy choose: Tom or Jay?
- Why is Nick the narrator of the story when the story is about Gatsby?
- What does the book say about class in America? How does it relate to today’s modern world?
- Is Gatsby a hero or a criminal?
- Who is to blame: Tom, Daisy, or Gatsby?
- How does Daisy represent the 1920’s, especially women? What does she reveal about the women of that time?
- How does a character connect to a theme in the book?
- What makes this book a classic? Why is it so famous?
- How does this book represent the times it was written in?
- What does the book say about the American Dream?
- Who is the most fashionable character in the text?
- Why is Gatsby a man who wants to make everyone happy, but he, himself, is not happy?
- Is Nick Carraway a homosexual?
- Who is the worst villain in this story?
- A connection of this book to a quote about any literary/sociological topic.
**If you want to post your essay question or topic in the comments section, that would be awesome!
mrfrade11thgradeenglish 
Why does gatsby want to by on good terms with everyone?
im comparing and contrasting the characters of great Gatsby and durarara!!!
Is Mr. Gatsby telling the truth or still hiding something behind that mysterious face of his?
Can I make a connection towards Gatsby trying to make others happy even though he himself is not happy with myself?
Can Gatsby be labeled as a hero or a criminal?
Which actor(s) would best fit to play each character we’ve encountered so far and why?
Which actors would best play each person in the novel and why?
It’s either Why is Nick the narrator of the story when the story is about Gatsby? Or How does Gatsby influence Nick? How does Nick’s opinion of him change throughout the novel?
How does Gatsby influence Nick? How does Nick’s opinion of him change throughout the novel?
How is Gatsby different between the two movies and the book?
Why is Nick write the story and not Gatsby ??
The above comment was made by Jose Pena and not David.
Is Gatsby a hero or a criminal? Mr.Gatsby I believe he’s a criminal because he invited Nick to the secret bar hideout where it was illegal for selling alochol.
Why is Gatsby a man who wants to make everyone happy, but he, himself, is not happy?