Using Mentor Texts to Apply Literary Lenses and Critical Thinking

This breakout session will use The Great Gatsby as a mentor text in guiding participants through the critical lenses of Marxist, Feminist, and Racial perspectives. By engaging with the text through these frameworks, participants will develop a deep understanding of how literature reflects and critiques social structures. This presentation will not only enhance participants' literary analysis skills but also empower them to view their world with a critical and socially aware perspective. By bridging classic literature (or any text) with contemporary social issues, participants will gain a deeper appreciation of literature as a tool for understanding and change. Participants will walk away with hands on ideas on how to facilitate this lesson in their own classrooms. This session requires participants to bring a device to the session.