Appendix 1 Handout Week 1, Day 2: Controversy Day

Transcription

1 1 Appendix 1 Handout Week 1, Day 2: Controversy Day 1. Examine the below image. 2. Write down five thoughts that come to your mind after viewing this picture.

2 2 Appendix 2 Handout Week 1 Day 2: The Catcher in the Rye Controversy! Why is it Banned and should it Remain Banned? By: Kristina Jones Published: March 7 th, 2007 The freedom of expression is an extension of the freedom of speech. When books are banned, this is an infringement on the right to free expression. One of the books, which has been challenged the most, is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye has been challenged multiple times and is third on the list of most challenged books. Many people have wondered why The Catcher in the Rye is challenged and if it should really be banned. The Catcher in the Rye is a book which includes reflections of Holden Caulfield's, the main character, life. The book follows Holden on a three day rebellious trip, following his exodus of a boarding school he was attending. During his trip, Holden reflects on events which have impacted him. The book offers an insight to the turmoil that most teenagers may deal with at one time or another, but it is still one of the most challenged books in history. One of the major reasons The Catcher in the Rye is banned in from some school libraries is because of the sexual content and offensive language used. The sexual content is not explicit in nature, but parents are opposed to the book being a part of the curriculum for high school students. Holden thinks, talks, and worries about sex frequently in the book and even believes his friends are sexually active. This is typical behaviour of an average teenage boy. The sexual content in the book cannot be any worse than what teenagers are seeing on television shows and in music videos. The offensive language in The Catcher in the Rye is not as dominant as one might think. Of course, no parent wants their child being subjected to obscene language, especially in the classroom, but the language is not something the teenagers have not heard before. The language is mild and moderate. There are 224 instances where obscene language has been used in the book, with a few occurrences being the "F-word." This use of obscene language should not allow a book to be banned, especially since most of the words in the book have become everyday words for many people in our society.

3 3 There is some very mild violence in The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is punched a couple of times. In addition to Holden being attacked, there are two references to suicide in the book. One reference occurs when Holden over hears a man talking about how someone tried to commit suicide by taking aspirin. Another reference occurs when Holden speaks about a boy who jumped out of a window as a way to commit suicide. There are other reasons The Catcher in the Rye is challenged so frequently. One of the reasons is because many of the characters in the book are drinking cocktails and smoking. Parents often find this book to be very impressionable on their teenagers, by promoting drinking and tobacco use. The social behaviour of Holden is very unappealing to parents who challenge the book. Holden is basically having a nervous breakdown and is a frequent liar. Some believe Holden's behaviour in The Catcher in the Rye is too extreme and may influence their teenagers to act in certain ways. The Catcher in the Rye should not be seen as a book full of negative ideas being fed to teenagers, but should be a chance for teenagers to identify themselves with a literary character. This writer read The Catcher in the Rye in high school and found many aspects of Holden's life could be applied to this writer's life at the moment. The Catcher in the Rye offers insight into the world of adolescents and how teenagers tend to cope with the realization of entering the "phoney" world of adulthood. Of course, Holden chooses to deal with his coping in bizarre ways, but teenagers, today, should be given more credit for being able to distinguish acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. The Catcher in the Rye has an underlying theme of "loss of innocence." Holden believes once teenagers make the transition to the phoniness of adulthood, their innocence is lost completely. Holden makes it his mission as "the The Catcher in the rye" to protect children from the corrupt world of adulthood. He often lashes out when he believes someone is not protecting his or her "innocence." The Catcher in the Rye should not be banned because it is one of the greatest books written. The Catcher in the Rye gives teenagers a person in literature with whom they can connect. There are life lessons to be learned from The Catcher in the Rye. To ban a great literary work like this is to keep teenagers sheltered from the truth of the "real world." Catcher_in_the_rye.html?cat=4

4 4 Appendix 3 Handout Week 1, Day 3: What Defines a Teenager? Fill in the captions below with what you think Mrs. Grundy and Archie said in this comic from the 1950 s:

5 5 Appendix 4 Overhead: Week 1, Day 3 What was actually written...

6 6 Appendix 5 Handout: Week 1, Day 3 Fill in what you think Betty and Veronica are saying in this recent comic:

7 7 Appendix 6 Overhead: Week 1, Day 3 What was actually written...

8 8 Appendix 7 Handout: Week 1, Day 4 & 5 Your mission is to find similarities between the social norms that are presented in the film Pleasantville and the social norms that Author J.D. Salinger explores in his novel The Catcher in the Rye. Pay close attention to the following: Family dynamics Love & relationships Education Laws & regulations Personal morals & values Hint: Think of what Holden is fighting against in most of the novel and what the main character David (Toby Maguire) and his mom Betty (Joan Allen) are struggling against.

9 9 Appendix 8 Handout & Rubric The Catcher in the Rye Cumulative Assignment Choose ONE of the following options for your final assignment: Option 1-> Design your own Game of Life Life is a game that one plays according to the rules. (The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 1) You are to create your own board game that maps out your life. You must include game pieces and a two page written reflection on how your game mirrors the major themes, conflicts and/or ideas that Holden is struggling with in J.D. Salinger s The Catcher in the Rye. Option 2 -> Character Podcasts You are to create a series of podcasts (maximum of five) from the perspective of Holden Caulfield. The series of podcasts can be create like open letters to a member of his family, another main character in the novel, or society in general. Each podcast must be ten minutes long. In addition to the series of podcasts, you are required to submit your podcasts along with a two page written reflection on the topics and themes that you discussed. Option 3 -> Character Blogs You are to create five blogs (200 words for each) based on the lives of Holden, Phoebe, Allie or Jane. Remember to think about the major themes, conflicts, and ideas that we have studied in class and include them in your character blogs. Print and submit your five blogs with the web link for each, along with a two page written reflection of how your blogs reflect the theme of teen angst.

10 10 Appendix 8 Continued: The Catcher in the Rye Cumulative Assignment Marking Rubric: Aim for an A!!! Overall Expectations For ENG3U Students: (From the Ministry of Education, The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 & 12 Achievement Chart Pg. 22) Categories 50-59% Level % Level % Level % Level 4 Knowledge and Understanding : of textual concepts: teen angst theme, symbolism, conflicts, character analysis Demonstrates limited knowledge of textual concepts Demonstrates some knowledge of textual concepts Demonstrates considerable knowledge of textual concepts Demonstrates thorough knowledge of textual concepts Thinking and Inquiry : generating ideas, fathering information from the text, organizing information, use of processing skills and critical and creative thinking. Shows limited critical and creative thinking and ideas yet requires more work Shows some critical and creative thinking and ideas but could use more work Shows considerable critical and creative thinking and ideas Shows through critical and creative thinking and ideas Communication: work conveys expression and organization of ideas and information, and appropriate use of materials to convey to your audience Expresses and organizes ideas and information for audiences with limited Expresses and organizes ideas and information for audiences with some Expresses and organizes ideas and information for audiences with considerable Expresses and organizes ideas and information for audiences with a high degree of Application: of knowledge and skills, transfer of knowledge and skills and making connections within and between the text and your world in a creative or technical piece of work. Applies knowledge and skills within and between the text and the world in a very limited Applies knowledge and skills within and between the text and the world to some Applies knowledge and skills within and between the text and the world with considerable Applies knowledge and skills within and between the text and the world with a high degree of

11 11 Appendix 9 Handout/Rubric Week 2, Day 5 & 6 Imagine you are with Holden while he is in New York City. Your mission is to map out Holden s journey around N.Y.C. based on the specific places that he travels to in The Catcher in the Rye. In pairs, include the following criteria in your maps: Include 10 sites or places that Holden encounters in the text Include specific page references for the 10 sites that you map out. Include images from the internet that you can cut & paste onto your map Include text boxes to use as labels at each site that he visits Print off a copy to submit to teacher Note: Be prepared to present your maps in tomorrow s class. Mapping out the Text Marking Rubric Names: Communication: Ordering of locations-properly followed the text /4 Neatness /1 Organized thoughts /2 Uses specific page references /3 Total: /10

12 12 Appendix 10 Teen Resources for Anxiety/Depression Kids Help Phone: Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario: Mood Disorders Association of Ontario: Check From the Neck Up

13 13 Appendix 11 Complementary Materials Books: W.P. Kinsella s Shoeless Joe: The main character, Ray, travels to New Hampshire to find J.D. Salinger. Sylvia Plath s The Bell Jar: The female perspective of teen angst in the 1950 s. Dave Eggers A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: A coming of age novel set in the 1990 s. Poetry and Articles: Catcher In The Rye Author Shaped the Popular Culture He Came to Shun by Ben Hoyle: A Times article that discusses the significance of J.D. Salinger s work in popular culture. Robert Burns poem, Comin Thro The Rye: The namesake for The Catcher in the Rye. When Books Kill by Aidan Doyle: A Salon article on the influence of books like The Catcher in the Rye in influencing the thoughts and actions of criminals. Film: Music: Rebel Without a Cause (1955): One of the first films to look at teen angst. The Graduate (1967): Another film about the angst of adulthood. Chasing Holden (2001): Named after Holden Caulfield, the film follows troubled teen Neil Lawrence as he travels to New Hampshire to find J.D. Salinger. Pleasantville (1998): Two teens get trapped in an idealized sitcom of the 1950s excellent source for exploring societal norms of the 1950s presented through popular culture. Yesterday Beatles Teenagers My Chemical Romance Bohemian Rhapsody Queen Prayer of the Refugee Rise Against the Machine Wake Me Up When September Ends Greenday Web: Dead Caulfields: An excellent online source about J.D. Salinger and his work. Wikiquote: J.D. Salinger: A collection of quotes by J.D. Salinger throughout the years. Catching Salinger: A fan-made documentary following the steps of Holden Caulfield with the hope to locate J.D. Salinger.