Assignment:
Select a character(s), conflict, or theme you would like to explore in The Catcher in the Rye.Provide a 4-5 page literary analysis.
Utilize the novel (1 source).
Utilize at least 3 sources of literary criticism (no more than 2 can be from the choices provided for you- at least one must be found independently).
Due dates:
October 5th - Thesis established & approved
October 12th - Rough Draft-Peer editing (You will receive a zero if you are unprepared as you will be unable to take part in the peer editing)
October 14th - Edited Papers due for in-class writing activity
October 19th – Final Papers due (electronically & in print) (10 points off per day if late)
Submission information:
All papers must be submitted to Turnitin.com (electronically) in addition to Ms. O’Donnell (printed copy).
Apply the principles of MLA documentation throughout your paper:
-Introduce your work in an engaging manner (with a significant passage, relevant or suggestive dialogue, an apropos statement by a literary critic, or some important information that provides context to the topic you are analyzing.)
-Establish a clear, comprehensive thesis.
-Defend your thesis using relevant specific evidence from the text as well as valid literary criticism (no readers’ guides-e.g., Sparknotes).
-Strike a balance between paraphrasing and well integrated direct quotations.
-Provide a meaningful conclusion
How you'll be graded:
Title Page: *interesting title/ proper information
Introduction: * interesting beginning/ length/ thesis
Body: *diction/mechanics/ length
Conclusion: *recap of entire paper/ powerful final comments
Balance of Direct Quotes, Paraphrasing: *form and integration (in text of paper)
Work Cited page/Source Quality: *variety/ form
Body: *diction/mechanics/ length
Conclusion: *recap of entire paper/ powerful final comments
Balance of Direct Quotes, Paraphrasing: *form and integration (in text of paper)
Work Cited page/Source Quality: *variety/ form
Sources: You must integrate citations from 3 outside critics/sources in addition to your use of The Catcher in the Rye (a minimum of 4 sources in total.) The following sources are approved:
Additional References for consideration:
"Love and Death in The Catcher in the Rye" Critic: Peter Shaw
Source: New Essays on The Catcher in the Rye, Cambridge University Press, 1991, pp. 97-114.
Kings in the Back Row: Meaning through Structure-A Reading of Salinger's `The Catcher in the Rye'
Critic: Carl F. StrauchWinter, 1961, pp. 5–30. Reproduced by permission
Source: Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature
The dimwitted legacy of 'Catcher in the Rye' Critic: George Will, Chicago Sun-Times
Source: New Essays on The Catcher in the Rye, Cambridge University Press, 1991, pp. 97-114.
Kings in the Back Row: Meaning through Structure-A Reading of Salinger's `The Catcher in the Rye'
Critic: Carl F. StrauchWinter, 1961, pp. 5–30. Reproduced by permission
Source: Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature
The dimwitted legacy of 'Catcher in the Rye' Critic: George Will, Chicago Sun-Times
Contemporary Literary Criticism- This multi-volume set contains excerpts from critical essays in books and journals. Use these volumes to 1) select a topic or theme, 2) find the full article or essay in the library, or locate other articles from the "Further Reading" section.
Novels for Students - Entries in this multi-volume set include information on the novel, major themes, characters, and criticism.
Dictionary of Literary Biography - DLB is a multi-volume work which provides detailed American Writers - This set of books provides information about the lives, careers, and works of American writers.
Major Characters in American Fiction - Entries on the most important characters.
Characters in 20th-Century Literature - Brief information on the characters in this book under the entry on Salinger.
Holden Caufield - from the series on Major Literary Characters.
Censored Books: Critical Viewpoints - Contains an essay on The Catcher in the Rye.
The Catcher in the Rye - Critical essays. Edited by Harold Bloom.
Judging your Source:
The Internet can be a wonderful source of original documents. But, remember to look at:
Accuracy - The information should be researched and show proof that it has been.
Source - Who wrote the information? Look at the domain: .edu .gov. org .net are valid research sources.
Authority - What are the author's credentials? (Do not quote from another student's paper.)
Coverage - Does the page have the information you need for your research?
Objectivity - If a work is biased, you may use it - just make sure your teacher knows YOU know. And offer both sides of issues, where applicable.
Strategies for Writing about Literature:
1. Don’t tell your reader what you’re going to tell her--just tell her! In other words, do not say: “In my essay, I am going to tell you about…”
2. Write formal papers in third person. Use he, she, it, they, one--but not I, we, or you.
3. Write literary papers in the present tense. Thus, Holden leaves Pencey, not Holden left Pency.
4. Make pertinent references to the work itself. Be specific. Saying that Holden disappoints his teammates is too vague. Saying that Holden is ostracized by the fencing team because he lost all the foils and equipment on the subway is specific.
5. Quote appropriately by integrating phrases within your own sentences. Include the page number in parentheses as shown. The best way to avoid a QUOTE LUMP is to quote phrases. The following examples illustrate the differences.
* Sentence exactly as it appears in the novel: “What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by, I mean I’ve left schools and places I didn’t even know I was leaving them”(4).
* Sentence with a QUOTE LUMP: Holden says, “I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by” (4).
* Sentence explaining quote’s importance but LUMPY with unneeded words: Even though he has been expelled from Pencey, Holden can’t leave immediately because he says, “I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by” (4).
* Sentence integrating & explaining quote with no unneeded words: Expelled from Pencey, Holden can’t leave immediately because he is “trying to feel some kind of a good-by” (4).
6. If a passage is truly important enough to warrant quoting an entire sentence or more, you will need to explain its importance. You may use the ellipsis (…) if you leave words out of the middle of the sentence. If you quote more than two lines, you must also set the quote off as in the example below. Holden introduces himself and the novel’s major themes to us by saying: If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like…and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth (1). This initial reluctance to tell us about himself ties in directly with the reference to David Copperfield who was also trying to find out if he was to be “the hero of [his] own life” (1).
7. Use transitional words to relate ideas and events to each other and to introduce some of your examples. For instance, to illustrate, consequently, in addition, on the other hand and other such “glue words” help your paper “fit together.”
8. Pay very careful attention to the correct punctuation of the literary work’s title. Know whether to enclose it in quotation marks or to underline.
9. Pay very careful attention to the spelling of any words in quoted passages, the names of characters and places, and common homonyms. To misspell Holdin’ Coalfield or to confuse its and it’s are careless error’s which show a lack of respect for you’re own work.
10. Create an appropriate and interesting title for your papers. You cannot call your paper “The Catcher in the Rye.” Salinger has already used that one, so you must do more. Perhaps: Style in The Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield’s Quest of Central Park and Museums Holden’s Hieroglyphics OR whatever that indicates the direction your paper will follow.
“Good Luck!”
(That should make you laugh…if you were listening in class.)
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