Synthesis of Secondary Source and Your Analysis of the Primary Source
It’s important to figure out where the overlap is between your secondary source’s analysis of The Great Gatsby and your analysis of The Great Gatsby. The secondary source will not be saying the exact same thing as you (or, at least, it shouldn’t), but you need to figure out how to converse with this source in a way that furthers your argument in the end.
Step 1: Start with a general TOPIC (ex: The American Dream, Daisy’s progression through the text, use of ‘green’, Nick’s tone, Tom vs Wilson, etc…)
Step 2: Think, what is the book suggesting ABOUT that topic? (This is your basic argument – ex: Fitzgerald suggests that The American Dream…, Daisy’s progression through the text is symbolic of…, The use of the color green is meant to suggest…)
Step 3: HOW does the author go about doing this? What quotes can you pull from the book to address this concept?
