Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Read:

One way to become a better writer is to read good writing.

This week, read "Sasquatch is Out There (And He Wants Us to Leave Him Alone)" by Kirsten Miller on page 13 of Breakfast on Mars and 37 Other Delectable Essays.

Writing Assignment:

Finding the Theme

This month, your writing project will be to write an essay about a theme in The Great Gatsby. Before you can write about theme, you need to know what it actually means and how to spot it.

Watch this short video: 

Jot down a few notes about what theme is and how it’s different from just the “moral of the story.”

After you finish, open your journal and write down some first impressions about what themes might show up in The Great Gatsby. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure yet. Just record the ideas that come to mind as you read.