Multiple Intelligences Action Research

Appendix M


American schools have traditionally favored those students who excel in the linguistic and analytical arenas because these skills are highly valued in our culture. Unfortunately, this traditional approach leaves certain students behind to stumble blindly through an educational system that ignores their unique abilities. This action research study seeks to show that instructional activities that incorporate the multiple intelligences can improve students' attitudes toward learning and students' academic achievement in English class.


The Great Gatsby Chapter Presentations

Each group will be assigned a chapter to “act out” for the class:
  • Pick out a scene in your chapter that you feel is the most important to the chapter and to the developing story. For example, in Chapter 1 you might choose the scene at the dinner table when the reader discovers that Tom is having an affair. This scene lets us in on important information about the characters and their personalities.
  • As you consider which part of the story you will act out, you should look back over your notes and the activities you have done in the study guide.
  • Decide amongst yourselves who will play each part.
  • Your group will then “act out” your chapter.
  • After your group acts out your scene, you will present a short rationale explaining why you chose your scene and what your scene had to do with the novel. You may present your rationale orally or in writing (on a poster board, etc.), or if you have another idea, let me know.


Consider the following:
  • Foreshadowing–is the chapter giving us a hint as to what will come?
  • Symbolism–does anything in the chapter represent something else?
  • Characterization–does the chapter tell us something important about any of the characters?
You will be graded on the following:
  • Preparation
  • Understanding of the chapter and of the novel
  • Rationale



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