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...