Periods 1,2, & 5 Breakdown of Final Weeks of Fall Semester

1)Classification Essay

  1. Three options of focus elements to consider:
  2. Themes present in the novel
  3. Characteristics of Holden’s persona
  4. Does novel still speak to teenagers today? Why?
  5. Essay will be sequenced based on one of the 3 established types:
  6. Degree (increasing in abundance of quantity, poor to excellent)
  7. Chronology (set period of time)
  8. Location (direct effect/influence of places and people)
  9. Length of paper will in all likelihood take about 2 ½ to 3 pages
  10. Must be typed (double spaced) 12 pt. Times New Roman
  11. Probably in your best interest not to exceed 6 paragraphs
  12. Also a good idea to follow Classification Graphic Org.
  13. Essay MUST have an ORIGINAL title!!!
  14. Due Wednesday December 9
  15. Late work will be dropped a whole letter grade per day overdue.
  16. Friday is late work cut-off date. No exceptions!

2)Establish groups

  1. Assign chapters of novel to each group

3)Catcher in the Rye ABC book

  1. Done in groups (based on chapters assigned)
  2. Objective is to create an alphabet book incorporating characters, symbols, events, themes from The Catcher in the Rye in order to gain deeper insight and clarification
  3. The group will decide on which letters to explore/present
  4. Each student is responsible for THREE letters
  5. Each letter MUST reference direct quotations and/or other textual evidence
  6. Additional elements to incorporate into the book include:
  7. Decorated front cover (decorated back cover is optional)
  8. Table of contents
  9. A page about J.D. Salinger
  10. Independent of book, an activity sheet detailing what task each group member was responsible for will be turned in
  11. On an assigned day, each group will then present their storybook to the class
  12. Highlighting a minimum of one page/letter per group member

4)Extra Credit Opportunities

  1. The Catcher in the RyeMix Tape Compilation
  2. Again, based on chapters assigned
  3. Could be EP (Min. 5 Songs) or LP Length (Max. 10-12 songs)
  4. Obviously more potential E.C. the more songs there are
  5. But remember, you’re limited to content from the chapters assigned to your group
  6. Each song must somehow relate back to the assigned chapters
  7. Liner notes (e.g. CD booklet) must reference lyrics from the song that connect to the source text. In a brief paragraph, you will establish the connection via thoughtful critical analysis/commentary
  8. Much like the ABC book, how does the song relate to a character, symbol, theme, or event?
  9. This task could be done in groups if it makes the activity easier to accomplish
  10. If that’s the case, another activity sheet detailing member contributions is required
  11. Mix Tape must be a tangible artifact
  12. E.g. CD Jewel Case (or Digipak) or LP Jacket
  13. Creative (symbolic) cover art is a must!
  14. Don’t forget a list of the tracks (artist/song title)
  15. Optional: Burning the compilation onto a CD
  16. Graphic Novel
  17. Recreate the story in a graphic novel (i.e. comic book) format
  18. Choose the most important scenes
  19. The quality of your project will be determined by the following:
  20. The extent to which your graphic novel includes the entire story of the novel
  21. The quality/effort put into the artwork
  22. And the inclusion of an introduction in which you explain what you tried to capture in your recreation of the novel (e.g., “I wanted to emphasize the extent to which society is rejected/an individual rebels against societal norms. I did this because… and showed it by…”).
  23. Activity can be done independently or with your group.
  24. Final Extra Credit Option: a new (original) cover for the novel
  25. Have you noticed that most copies of the novel lack a cover illustration?
  26. This was done to appease Salinger’s demands that readers go into the book without being influenced by unauthorized depictions of the plot or symbols present in his stories. A total blank slate.
  27. Visually, how would you best encapsulate/depict the essence of The Catcher in the Rye?