1. The Great Gatsby CEC Review

2. Claim Your claim will be an arguable opinion (stated as fact) that you will "prove" with your evidence. Do not use phrases like: “In my opinion…” “I think…” “I believe…” Do not “talk” to the reader. “I am going to answer the question…” “I think you should agree with me…”

3. Claim Includes the author and title that you’re discussing Restates the question Answers the question In The Great Gatsby, what is our first impression of Nick, the narrator? In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald gives the impression that Nick is a particularly gifted listener.

4. Evidence Must be introduced with some of your own wording. Avoid using a complete sentence from the novel. Document with the page number in parentheses. “In consequence I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores.”

5. Evidence Must be introduced with some of your own wording. Avoid using a complete sentence from the novel. Document with the page number in parentheses. “In consequence I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores.”

6. Evidence Must be introduced with some of your own wording. Avoid using a complete sentence from the novel. Document with the page number in parentheses. “In consequence I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores.” Nick reveals that his father taught him to be “inclined to reserve all judgments” of others (3).

7. Commentary Explain how your quote provides evidence for your answer. You can begin with phrases such as: “This (action or character trait) emphasizes…”, “This (action or character trait) demonstrates…”, “This (action or character trait) signifies that…” “Because of this (action or character trait)…” “(Reference to evidence) shows that (reference to claim).”

8. Commentary In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald gives the impression that Nick is a particularly gifted listener. Nick reveals that his father taught him to be “inclined to reserve all judgments” of others (3). Since other people aren’t worried about being negatively judged, they are more likely to open up to Nick with their secrets. NOTE: It is important to end with your own analysis of the information and not to introduce more support or evidence.

9. Put it all together: In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald gives the impression that Nick is a particularly gifted listener. Nick reveals that his father taught him to be “inclined to reserve all judgments” of others (3). Since other people aren’t worried about being negatively judged, they are more likely to open up to Nick with their secrets.