Name ______Period ______
Texting in the Rye (75 points)
Holden is a communicative person. As the first-person narrator, he’s telling his story directly to his readers. Throughout the book, he seeks (to varying degrees of success) to get in touch with other characters. For this project, you will write about how the novel may have been different if Holden were able to include cell phone text messaging as part of his communication. In this project, you will do the following:
1) Pick 5 points in the novel where Holden would have used a text message as a form of communication. For each point, you will write a brief (one paragraph) summary about what is going on at that point in the story (include the setting, characters involved, and brief description of the plot). (5 points)
2) You will then write out the text exchange between Holden and the other character at the point you picked. The exchange should have a minimum of three texts per character (six texts total). When writing out the text messages, you must present the texts as they would appear on a cell phone. See below (5 points)
3) Last, you will explain how the text message exchange would have altered the course of the novel in 1-2 paragraphs. Be sure to include specific details! (5 points)
Think about Holden’s voice when you are creating the text messages. Since he is the narrator, we know a lot about the way he sounds. What are some of the main things you noticed about the way he speaks and communicates? What are some traits that would carry over into his “texting voice”? Be sure to include the phrases, words, and tone Holden uses throughout the novel. Do not include things Holden does not say in the novel.
You will be graded according to your inclusion of specific details (in part 1), your description of Holden’s accurate voice (in part 2), and your creativity of in describing the new path of the novel (in part 3) in addition to having all of the required components. The entire project will be worth 75 points.
In addition to the project, you will present one of your text messages on the day of the final. Your presentation, attendance on the day, and respectful participation on the last day of class will be worth an additional 25 points. Please see me with any questions.
This project is due ______.