The novel is about the loneliness and isolation of the individual. Discuss how far you agree with this view. (Oxford literature companion, p.113)

Introduction/thesis

The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald written in first person perspective of Nick Carraway, comes with individuals who have deeper or intellectual stories behind them than you think at first. The classic novel was written during the Jazz Age which we often see back in Gatsby’s colossal parties. The hidden meaning behind Gatsby’s parties is later revealed to have a soul purpose behind them. Throughout the story we find out that multiple lead characters have a certain loneliness or dejection going on. Since the characterisation of loneliness is quite a big role in these characters, you could debate that the novel is based on it.

Main body (2-3 examples, using transition words and intellectual language (student sample 1))

To prove that the novel is about loneliness, I will analyse the most mysterious character in the novel. I am clearly talking about Gatsby. Gatsby is hopelessly devoted to Daisy which causes him to push people away who do care about him such as Nick Carraway. The first person perspective of Nick Carraway perceives Gatsby as a mysterious and successful man, like he does not have any form of loneliness that haunts him. Even though the author doesn’t say Gatsby is lonely, as a reader you can still tell he is which is very impressive literature technique from Fitzgerald. An example of this is when Daisy asks Gatsby how he lives alone in such a big place, Gatsby’s answer was “I keep it always full of interesting people, night and day. People who do interesting things. Celebrated people” (page 96). Gatsby is trying to fill a certain loneliness by always having people around, which even then he still isolates himself to get to Daisy due to the fact that he is head over heels for her.

Why does Fitzgerald spend so much time describing these details? What is the effect of this, and how can we relate what he is doing here to the novel’s title?

The reason behind Fitzgerald’s descriptive writing in the first passage of chapter 3, is that it helps the reader built the setting of this Gatsby’s house, and Gatsby’s personality/character. He describes it with sophisticated, engaging extended metaphors, figurative imagery, and poetic language to create the setting Gatsby’s house has. The title of this novel The Great Gatsby relates to this passage, since “The Great” explains his extroverted household, and his popularity and status amongst these parties.

Chapters 4, 5 and 6 give us more insight on all the characters in this book and also strengthens the relationship between them. It’s getting quite interesting since Gatsby seems agitated and almost desperate to make Nick happy. He wants to invite Daisy over for tea but Nick realizes Gatsby is nervous of getting Nick to agree to this plan. This is chapter 5. It shows the relationship between Gatsby and Nick well which I found interesting. The story itself is easier to keep up with now since a story is evolving. The first chapter was more confusing, they are getting more interesting by the chapter.

The formal writing style of F. Scott Fitzgerald is at first hard to comprehend, it seems quite confusing. After a bit of reading you can see a story starts to evolve and you start to get what he is talking about. The way he characterized the people in his novel was quite strongly given. Such as Ms. McKee was described as shrivel and Mr. McKee as feminine and pale. He also described how he lives at West egg, what it looks like and how it is worse of the two villages. I found his descriptive writing quite helpful to understand the story, but when he starts to use metaphors or generally writes in a more intellectual descriptive style it is harder to understand what he was implying.

explore how school can shape an individual’s identity, both positively and negatively. Justify your response with details that support your understanding or perception of the global context identities and relationships .

School can shape an individual’s identity, both positively and negatively. Let me elaborate. An individual who’s a student at a high school, spends over 7 hours on school a day. This individual is also only awake 14 to 16 hours a day. over half of a students day is spent at school. This comes with many changes to that individual’s identity.

Since school is when most students socialize the most, it’s where you have your friends. Since friends mean a lot. An individual really cares what his friends think of him, and so will change to fit the liking of his friends. These can be both positive and negative changes, such as starting to drink and partially ruining your life is a negative. But changing in a way that, for example, improves your studying since your friends all get good grades, is a positive change to an individual.

Another big change on a persons identity, is the information we learn, and these have always been seen as positive. The subjects we take have carried students to like some subjects more then others, and through that figure out what they want their future to look like, and what their interests are. These subjects change an individual’s identity by having a subject be a part of their life. That subject is now their specialty, and change the way they think and see certain things.

To recap, school has both positive and negative affects on an individual’s identity. Having a quality for certain subjects and having it be a part of your life, is a positive. Socializing and trying to fit in can lead to both positive and negative effects on an individual. Negative effects aren’t actually all negative. Since this individual can learn from mistakes and changes he/she tried to make.

Create an article to explain how celebrities can influence us and shape our identities and relationships. Support your article by including references to examples. Justify your response with details that support your understanding or perception of the global context identities and relationships .

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Celebrities can have a huge influence on their fans and how their identity and relationships get shaped. Since celebrities have a strong voice to many people, anything they say affects the people hearing it. Everyone knows them, everyone follows them at least a couple celebrities, and we always check what they’re up to. Now if a celebrity give an opinion about something, this will have major affects on the people reading it and on the topic the celebrity is writing about. For instance, a celebrity such as Adam Sandler gives a negative opinion about a restaurant he went to. This restaurant is going to have a lot less clients due to Adam Sandler’s statement. Most celebrities don’t use their powerful status as a way to bring others down, but it does happen. This is why advertisers reach out to celebrities, or just famous people in general, because people listen to them.

How this relates to the affect of relationships. Imagine a celebrity states a quote that surrounds the topic of friends, and the toxicity. This quote could have an affect on many of that celebrity’s fans since they realize the person they are inspired by thinks a certain way, so they might think the same way. So if the quote is about the toxicity of fake friends, it might make the fans realize who in their friend group has this.

Now of course if a fan gets to meet his favorite celebrity, that’s a life changer. A celerity has a lot of pressure since anything he/she says, the fan will never forget. I remember a short video of Justin Bieber and one of his dying fans. This fan had dwarfism. Justin Bieber was saying hello to all his other fans, but totally ignoring this guy. Now, this man with dwarfism will never forget that moment, since in the video you can hear he’s crushed by this act. This had a big impact on the identity of this fan.

To sum this all up, celebrities have a huge impact on the identities and relationships of their fans, or on just people in general. Its up to them if their impact is positive or negative. I have seen that most celebrities use their voice to spread positivity, but there have been many encounters of negative impacts on peoples identities because of celebrities.

Timing recommendation: 35 minutes

Global context: Identities and relationships 

This task is assessed according to criterion B (organizing), C (Producing text) and D (Using language).

This task is worth 35 marks (B – 10 marks, C – 15 marks, D – 10 marks)

Exam Question

Why is thinking out of the box so heavily supported but at the same time pressured to follow others for better results and status?

My question is appropriate for the global context because it includes relationships with others and how they can be affected.

If I were the examiner, I would look for an article explaining the issue stated in the question. I would look at if the writer showed why this is, and explains if there needs to be a change, or if it even can be changed. I also want to hear if thinking out of the box is a positive or negative idea. This is why this question could also be used for argument writing.

Should school uniforms be introduced?

Although there would not be status because of the way you dress, such as brands, I still think cons overweigh pros.

Such as, your piece of clothing is a way of expressing yourself, it can help others see who you are, who you want to be, and how you want to be seen. Fashion style is personal per person, and introducing uniforms takes this personal way of expressing yourself away.

This is why I do not think school uniforms should be introduced.

Statement: Our Covid-19 experience with online learning has shown us that the benefits of classroom teaching and learning outweigh any drawbacks that may come with that.

I think going to school is better for my learning. Since how I do in school now could affect my future, I feel that going to school and learning in the best way I can. From the 2 choices I have, I know going to school is better for me.

Although staying at home is more relaxing, which helps against stress, it will make you lazy, and unmotivated. Also, stress is seen as a negative experience, but it helps motivate you and actually gets you to do your work and try to do well in school. At home there is no teacher controlling what you can or can’t do, which as a student may seem preferable. But being supervised just makes sure you stay on task, this is quite important. As much as being able to relax all day and not have to do any school work sounds like any student’s dream, it will surely have an affect on your later life.

Now, as some people would argue that at school friends can distract you, I agree. But, at home, for most students my age, it’s hard to put your phone aside. I noticed that I’m more distracted when I have my phone than when I am with distracting friends. If a student is motivated enough to do his work and succeed, he’ll simply tell his friends to stop distracting him.

I personally also find that at school it feels more personal. You’re in a place where you’ve always had to do work, it feels natural. At home, more specific in my room, it feels like a place where I can relax or play games. The space you have to work in can affect your motivation of work also, which is why for me I work better in a work place, school to be specific.

Of course it’s all about priorities. Do your priorities fall under not doing any work and try to relax all the time, or do you prioritize trying to be responsible and motivated, and getting your work done when its being asked from you?

REN2 and Steve Willick’s adventure to the view.

“Where are we even going?” Says REN2, he sounds irritated yet curious. REN2 was forced to go with Steve somewhere, he did not say where.

“You’ll see, just have a little patience.” Steve confidently responded. He steadily and quickly keeps walking, cutting through the thick branches and vines in his way. The thick forest just kept going and going.

“Are we almost there? We don’t want to go to far from the ship.” REN2 says worrying about getting lost in this strange planet.

“We’re here.” Steve responds immediately.

“What are we supposed to look at?” REN2 says frustrated and confused. Steve notices REN2 looking the wrong way and says

“REN you’re looking the wrong way, look here.”. Steve turns REN2 around to the right view. REN2 opens his robotic eye out of wonderment. It is a beautiful view of the planet and the forest they were in, it looks very magical, especially because the sun is setting at the same time.

“If I had a jaw to drop open I would.” REN2 says in a comedic yet surprised tone.

“This planet has more to explore than we thought.” Steve responds in an energetic and adventurous tone.

“How about this, we go back to the ship, lock it, and go on an adventure, I want to know what there is on this wonderous planet.” REN2 Says with excitement.

“Sounds good REN, sounds good.” Steve says in a dreamy tone staring at the beautiful view of this planet.