Expository Writing

The Catcher in the Rye & Finding Forrester: Analyzing Allusions

The Task:

The film, Finding Forrester, alludes to the quintessential bildungsroman, The Catcher in the Rye. The plot, the characters, and the themes explored in the film are in many ways reflective of and inspired by the novel, despite superficial differences (i.e. character names, setting, etc.). In an analytical, expository essay, compare and contrast Holden Caulfield with Jamal Wallace and William Forrester.

Here is a list of things to explore in your essay:

•  Hats
• Siblings/death
• Depression/guilt
•  The role—or lack thereof—of parents
• Phoniness
• Elite, private schools
• Teachers
• Birds

Requirements:

• Typed; size 12 Times New Roman; double-spaced
• 2-3 pages in length (1 ½ does not count!)
• A minimum of 4 paragraphs
• It must contain insightful, clear analysis
• It must contain specific references to both the film and the book

The Catcher in the Rye & Finding Forrester: Analyzing Allusions [50 points]

Body	7	8	9	10
Intro	Whoa… What am I reading?	No quote or anecdote	May use a quote or anecdote	Uses an insightful anecdote or a quote to introduce the paper; clear and concise
Analysis	Lack of analysis; indicates a lack of understanding regarding the novel	Attempted analysis; few details	Some analysis; some details	Thoughtful analysis; use of specific details and support; indicates a thorough understanding
Conclusion	Not included	Attempted reiteration	Reiterates the main points of the paper	Insightful and clear reiteration
Nuts and Bolts	2	3	4	5
Formatting	Did you read the paper? Handwritten, etc.	Issues with the formatting	Mostly properly formatted	Properly formatted
Grammar	Mistakes and errors abound	Mistakes	Obviously proofread	Immaculate
Length	Less than 2 pages	2 pages	2 ½ pages	3 pages
Timeliness	More than 2 days late	2 days late	1 day late	On time

Completed essays are to be posted in the comment section of this blog entry. Make sure to comment on the essays of your peers.

Due Date...

Paging Dr. Venkman...

It is your turn to work individually as psychologists.

Here are your patients:

1.

Patient 1 is 17 years old. He is flunking out of school. He is reticent about the death of his younger brother, but the young man is exhibiting multiple signs of depression.

2.

Patient 2 is 16 years old. A gifted athlete and writer, this young man is coming to terms with his own talent. The sudden emergence of his writing abilities is likely related to the departure of his father.

3.

Patient 3 is approximately 33 years old. He has just recently published a wildly successful novel.

4.

Patient 4 is 70 years old. Approximately 40 years ago, he wrote a successful novel thought to be inspired by his own struggles with alcohol and depression. After publishing the novel, he disappeared from the public spotlight.

Attempt to diagnose each patient. Post your diagnosis supplemented with facts garnered from the collectively created class wiki in the comment section for this entry. Also, make sure to comment on your peers' diagnoses as well.

Due Date...

Depression

Depression.

Loss.

Grief.

Since its inception, literature has explored the effects of malaise. The Catcher in the Rye is no different.

Groups 1, 2, and 3 will research depression, and post their findings to the class wiki.

• Group 1 will scientifically define depression.
• Group 2 will list the causes of depression.
• Group 3 will explore the symptoms of depression.

Groups 4 and 5 will focus specifically on grief as explained by the Kubler-Ross model.

The image below succinctly represents the Kubler-Ross model:

• Group 4 will explain the model.
• Group 5 will focus on explaining each stage in detail.

All information should be neatly organized and cited using MLA formatting.

http://salingerdepression.wikispaces.com/

Due Date...

J.D. Salinger

J. D. Salinger is one of the most successful and influential American writers of the 20th century. However, Salinger--not unlike his most famous creation, Holden Caulfield--eschewed fame and disappeared from the spotlight and the literary world in the early 1960's.

In your pre-assigned groups, you will work collaboratively to compile information on the life a man viewed as "reclusive" and "aloof." Information will be published via wikispaces. All sources must be cited using MLA. The groups and the assignments are listed below.

• Group 1: Childhood and Family
• Group 2: Education
• Group 3: Military
• Group 4: Writing Career
• Group 5: Later Years

Due Date...