1. Reading Comprehension Final on Catcher in the Rye: Entire Novel. Wednesday, 5/29/2019
(100 points).
- Pay close attention to character list
- Quotes in the back and your commentary.
- Know key conflicts that arise between Holden and his interesting cast of characters.
- Know themes, and why they are important
(60 points).
- Make sure your harvested CD's are embedded and page number identified.
- make sure you have a minimum of two really great lines of commentary.
(100 points)
4. Presentation of your Catcher in the Rye Project to your classmates on our Final's day:
(50 points) *make sure you make arrangements to presnet ahead of time if you will not be here for your LA 10 final.
5th period, Thursday, 6/13 @10:55 am
6th period, Thursday, 6/13 @1:00 pm
Catcher in the Rye Project
Due Date: Friday, June 7th (100 Points)
Directions: Choose one of the following options for your final project on The Catcher in the Rye. Projects will be graded on effort, creativity, how well you demonstrate your understanding of the novel, and how well you complete all facets of whichever option you choose.
1. The Mixed Tape: Make a ten song mixed tape or CD for Holden Caulfield, if he were around today. In letter to Holden, explain why you are including each of the ten songs on the mixed tape. Each song should have a paragraph of in-depth description as to why you think he would like it, using evidence you used from the themes, symbols, motifs, and situations that Holden and the novel explored. Requirements: 10 songs (artist/song title) on tape or CD, lyrics for each song with at least a paragraph explanation for each (keeping in mind what a real paragraph looks like), cover for mixed tape.
2. Holden and Gene: Compare The Catcher in the Rye with another novel that describes the loss of innocence and the attainment of maturity - John Knowles' A Separate Peace. Compare and contrast the characters of Gene and Holden. Explain which book presents the most convincing picture of growing up. Requirements: 3 pages, typed, good conventions.
3. Holden and Depression: Research depression in teenagers, including information about its symptoms and treatment. After doing so, look at Holden. Which symptoms does he exhibit? Use evidence from the story to create a "diagnosis" of Holden. Requirements: 3 pages, typed, proper documentation (a list of Works Cited written in MLA style, which you can find in your planner), good conventions.
4. Holden, Ten Years Later: Write a piece of short fiction in which you join Holden's life ten years after the story ends. Try, as best you can, to replicate Holden's unique voice. Write it in the style of The Catcher in the Rye. Try to use what you know of him from the book along with Holden's state of mind throughout the novel to guide your prediction. Requirements: 4 pages minimum, typed.
5. Graphic Novel / Comic Book: This option allows the artistic students to use their skills to recreate the story in a graphic novel (i.e. comic book) format. Choose the most important scenes - in your view - and tell the story of The Catcher in the Rye. The quality of your project will be determined by the following: the extent to which your graphic novel includes the entire story of the novel, the quality / effort put into of the artwork, 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 they reject society and reveal themselves as rebels in the American spirit. I did this because… and showed it by…"). Requirements: 20 panels accompanied by appropriate text to recreate the story.
6. Holden's Scrapbook: Compile a scrapbook of memorabilia that Holden might have collected or come across during the novel. All artifacts must be captioned with where he got it, its significance to him, and the page you found it on. Think of the images that keep recurring in the novel, the places Holden travels to, and anything he collects. This project will be assessed based on the amount of memorabilia collected and its presentation. As a benchmark, expect to get at least ten pieces of memorabilia for your scrapbook.
7. The Secret Goldfish: We hear a brief description of the plot of Holden's brother D.B.'s story The Secret Goldfish early in the novel. Try your hand at short fiction, as you use the details from the description and write a three-page story out of it. Requirements: 4 pages minimum, typed.
8. Ordinary People and Holden Caulfield: Rent the 1980 Robert Redford film Ordinary People (winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture). It is the story of a family struggling to deal with the accidental death of a teenage son. Compare the situations in the film with the situations that occur with the Caulfields in The Catcher in the Rye. How much of Holden's behavior has been affected by the death of Ally? Compare and contrast Conrad's grief with that of Holden. Requirements: 3 pages, typed.
9. Finding Salinger: Interview the author: As you may know, J.D. Salinger is a brilliant recluse who does not often participate in conversations about his life and work. Imagine, however, that somehow you have been granted the first interview with Salinger in decades. He invites you into his home and promises thorough answers to five questions. In your write-up for People magazine, you will want to explain what his house looked like, how he looked when he greeted you, if he had any pets, etc - then, you will write your five questions and their answers. Lastly, you will write a conclusion. This will include your impressions of the author or any interesting facts that you learned from the interview that were not mentioned in your five questions. You could even compare and/or contrast J.D. Salinger to Holden Caulfield in your conclusion. Requirements: Title for article, introduction, five questions and thorough answers, conclusion.
10. The tool of madmen?: Mini-research project: John Hinkley, who attempted an assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981, and Mark David Chapman, who murdered John Lennon in 1980, both brought The Catcher to the Rye into the national spotlight. Hinkley told the court that his defense could be found in the novel's pages, while Chapman had asked Lennon to sign his copy of the book earlier in the same day he killed him. Find what you can about both of these instances - how was The Catcher in the Rye involved in each? Requirements: 3 pages, typed, proper documentation (a list of Works Cited written in MLA style, which you can find in your planner), good conventions.
11. Censorship and Catcher in the Rye: Mini-research project: Chart the censorship of The Catcher in the Rye since its publishing. What reasons have there been for the challenges the book has faced throughout the years? Requirements: 3 pages typed, proper documentation (a list of Works Cited written in MLA style, which you can find in your planner), good conventions.
12. Cliff’s Notes. Examine the format and contents of the Cliff’s Notes for other novels that we have read. Then create your own notes for The Catcher in the Rye. Warning – do not read the notes for this story. Yours must be completely original. Do follow the summary and commentary form of the notes, although you may combine or skip some chapters. Also include the character outlines and discussions of symbols frequently found in these notes. Requirements: 5 pages typed. Follow format set up by Cliffs. Check your conventions.