Tragic Hero Essay

This structured writing worksheet is designed for Grades 9-12 and guides students through crafting a focused argumentative essay on whether Jay Gatsby qualifies as a tragic hero. Students begin by taking a clear position, develop a defensible thesis using a sentence frame, and gather textual evidence-events, quotations, and character traits-to support their claim. By applying elements of classical tragedy to a modern novel, learners practice analytical reasoning, evidence-based writing, and literary interpretation.

Learning Goals

• Argumentative Writing (Secondary ELA) – Construct a clear claim and defend it with logical reasoning
• Thesis Development – Use sentence frames to create a precise, arguable thesis statement
• Textual Evidence – Select and cite relevant events, quotes, and character traits from the novel
• Literary Analysis – Apply the concept of tragic hero to Jay Gatsby’s character arc

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with high school standards for argument writing and literary analysis
• Step-by-Step Structure – Breaks the essay process into manageable, student-friendly stages
• Supports Skill Transfer – Builds skills needed for longer analytical essays and assessments
• Flexible Use – Ideal for novel units, essay prep, formative assessment, or review activities
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clear directions and organized writing space

This worksheet helps students move confidently from idea to argument by scaffolding the writing process. By evaluating Gatsby through the lens of classical tragedy, learners deepen their understanding of character, theme, and authorial intent while strengthening thesis-driven writing. Whether used as a stand-alone essay activity or a bridge to a longer paper, this resource supports clear thinking, strong evidence use, and purposeful literary analysis.

This worksheet is part of our Great Gatsby Worksheets collection.