Summer Reading..AMERICAN LITERATURE

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1 Below are the three literary works you are to read for your summer reading assignment. You will find three different genres: one novel, one play and one short story. Directions for your paper in response to these readings follow with very specific instructions. It is important you spend time on your paper and follow directions very carefully. I know they are long, but they are written to help you succeed. The Literary Selections: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams A&P by John Updike (this short story can be found in libraries or is accessible online) The Catcher in the Rye: Since his debut in 1951 as the catcher in the rye, Holden Caulfield, the novel s alienated mourning and cynical protagonist, narrates a few days in his sixteen-year-old life, following his expulsion from prep school. Holden is furious with somewhat normal teenage anger; however, the loss of his younger brother, Allie, to leukemia emotionally paralyzes him. This novel, which has survived many rounds of being banned, remains as one of the most significant and popular books with American youth. In addition, films and other books have been inspired by Salinger s novel. The Glass Menagerie: This drama, by Tennessee Williams, gives us a family who form a triangle of quiet desperation. Amanda Wingfield lives in a St. Louis tenement, clinging to the memories of her early years as a Southern belle. Her daughter, Laura, who wears a leg brace, is crippled socially as well. She seeks comfort in her collection of glass animals. Amanda s son, Tom, the narrator of the play, is desperate to escape his stifling home where he must serve as breadwinner in place of a father who left the family a long time ago.very much reflecting Tennessee William s real life, Tom aches to move out into the world where he can act upon his desire to write and to develop, free from his nagging mother, needy sister and horrific job. A&P: This very famous short story, by John Updike, captures a highly dramatic moment in the life of Sammy, the protagonist, who works in a grocery store, the A&P. The monotony of his job is broken when Sammy acts upon a heroic gesture which proves to be life changing. **Sammy s job is part time; he does not work to help to support his family. Thus their disappointment in him does not at all connect to their need for his financial assistance. *** This short story can be printed from the internet*** **

2 ASSIGNMENT: 3 PARTS PART I: BIOGRAPHY 15pt PROVIDE an INTERESTING biography for ONE author. This should NOT be flooded with DATES. Do NOT start so and so was born.. DO SOME TRUE RESEARCH. Find interesting information. Use sophisticated sources Wikipedia or any kind of encyclopedia is not permitted required: One primary source (letters, interviews) Information from author or outside source that: connects directly to the work you are reading 3 paragraphs of reasonable length (not too short) *no more/no less 3 paragraphs only *The New York Times is an excellent source for authors biographies PROMPT FOR PART II ANALYSIS 40 pts In all of these summer reading works, each protagonist undergoes an emotional fall which disorients him as well as positions him to feel conflicted with both family and society. While the protagonists experience epiphanies (moments of growth and understanding), the endings do not offer clear resolutions and remain ambiguous,* a characteristic of American modern fiction. *ambiguous = uncertain, unclear, hazy, shades of meaning **PROTAGONISTS are: Holden, Tom, and Sammy **Holden s fall is triggered by Allie s death. You must work from this premise.***** Take TWO of the three protagonists** separately and APPLY the above prompt concerning: a.emotional fall /DISORIENTATION b) CONFLICT WITH FAMILY AND SOCIETY c) EPIPHANY (what is the epiphany when and where does it occur)

3 Your grade will be much higher/your analysis much strong by using text support. MUST USE with epiphany section. MINIMUM TOTAL LENGTH FOR BIO AND PROMPT together is 5 pages.* This does not include charts PART III.. CHARTS: PROTAGONISTS AND SETTINGS 20 pts CHART 1: protagonists Compare the similarities and differences among all three protagonists. These must show critical thinking, not just mere plot information. For example, two protagonists have two sisters. That is just plot. The sisters of two protagonists (Tom and Holden) become the spiritual sustenance for each of them. This moves beyond plot. * minimum 8 comparisons for each CHART II: SETTINGS Compare the EFFECT of the settings of all three. How is the setting in the A&P different from the setting of the Wingfield apartment. Are the protagonists trapped in both settings? How is the larger setting of New York City different in its effect? 20 pts total for both charts *Please set up both charts by using an actual chart graphic. FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS/ OVERALL EFFORT 10 pts Read these directions BEFORE you begin your paper. CHECK THEM OFF as you proofread. Do not wait until the last minute.

4 GUIDELINES AND LOTS OF IMPORTANT STUFF! **CLIFF NOTES, SPARK NOTES,NOVEL GUIDES..are NOT ACCEPTABLE SOURCES o Do not merely tell the plot of any work o Do use context (who, what, when where). Write this as if I have NOT read the work. If you bring in a character, explain her/him. For example, Holden feels comforted when he talks with Phoebe, his sister. Use PRESENT TENSE for verbs unless discussing a past event. Thus, Holden FEELS not FELT. o Do not use I think, I feel..etc.. Do not use I at all. I am not interested in your feelings but rather your analysis. o Do not use YOU either. I and you weaken the objectivity necessary for a literary analysis. o OTHER WORDS YOU CANNOT USE: any word with thing in it. Avoid: go, get got and NO EXCLAMATION POINTS!!! o DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS o Make sure you triple check citation punctuation. Remember the quotation marks come before the ( ) and the end punctuation comes after: I love to write summer reading papers (Bihuniak 56). TITLES: Book and play titles: in italics. Short story : quotation marks QUOTATIONS: VERY IMPORTANT: o Support your points with evidence from the texts. This is VERY IMPORTANT. If Holden is lost, SHOW and PROVE from the book. o If your direct quotation is more than 4 lines, separate it and do not use marks. (See Writers Inc.) o Do NOT use more than 2 of these longer quotations.****

5 o **If you are showing dialogue from the play, you CAN separate less than 4 lines. Do NOT use extensive dialogue in paragraph format. Separate it. Again..see Writers Inc or an online source. PARAGRAPHS: o No paragraph should be SHORT. This is proof that you have NOT developed and will guarantee a low grade. o No paragraph should be longer than ¾ of a page. o No paragraph should end on a new point. SENTENCES AND VERBS: STRIVE FOR SENTENCE VARIETY AND SOPHISTICATED STRUCTURE. Look at the beginnings of your sentences. REVISE if every sentence begins: Holden or if every uses AND as a major conjunction. sentence USE STRONG AND SPECIFIC VERBS. Reduce use of is do etc.. Verbs serve as the most important words in your sentences. Avoid has or have as major verbs OTHER: Do not use the reader DO NOT USE A FONT LARGER THAN 12 TWO SPACES BETWEEN LINES..EVERYWHERE. NORMAL MARGINS..do not try to make a short paper longer by making your margins spacious. SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED POINTS: Part 1: bio 15 pts Part II: prompt/analysis 40 pts Part III: charts 20 pts OTHER: usage/grammar=15 pts OVERALL: directions/effort/organization=10 pts Total: 100 pts

6 PENALTIES: Automatic F if there is no works cited page *Be sure to include the works themselves and the authors on your Works Cited page -5 pts for every half page short -5 pts every day it is late. See me immediately if your paper is not handed in on time. -10 pts without title page with correct information (see below) FINALLY: o Title page with your name and (this is very important..) YOUR BLOCK AND QUARTER 1 OR 3 ****** o Heading does not go on first page of paper/it should only be on Title page o Page one starts with biography not title page o Page number and your name on each page o Please staple instead of paper clip

7 Welcome to American Lit..I hope you enjoy these wonderful American literary masterpieces. I look forward to discussing them with you. **Keep your books and bring second day of class.. This is true for either quarter one or quarter three