English 2: December

Period 1 read Catcher in the Rye and wrote two analytical paragraphs based on two of the four prompts below:

• When Holden says, “I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all” (Salinger 173), what does he mean? What does he really want? Support and explain.
• Why does Holden see kids so differently from adults? According to the things Holden says and does, at what age to kids start to turn into “phonies” or adults? Support and explain.
• Why does Holden struggle so much with the world, the rules of society, understanding other people? Support and explain.
• Is Holden going to “get better” and be able to function in society? Support and explain.

Period 7 read Winterkill and wrote two analytical paragraphs based on two of the four prompts below:

• By the end of the book, is Danny a responsible adult? How do you know? What events changed him? How?
• What moments/people go furthest in helping Jack and Danny reconcile? Support and explain.
• What does the whole subplot about SUNCO represent? Are these things people should still be concerned about? Support and explain.
• What is the purpose of Danny sharing Red Shirt's stories of the Nez Perce with Jack? 

Another Analytical Paragraph Approach: response to an article, short story, chapter/book, play, poem, television show/episode, film, lecture, etc. (should be 7-14 sentences)

• Reading & Thinking
• Understand The Information—fiction, research (academic/internet/primary), opinion
• Determine the value of the information and sources
• Writing
• Answer the question or Make a statement
• Support the main point with specific information (statistics, quotes, examples, paraphrases)
• Explain the support
• Why does it matter? 
• What does it show? 
• What is its value?
• Make a connection (literature/popular culture/classes/opposing points of view)
• Explain the connection or counter-argument 
• Why does it matter? 
• What does it show? 
• What is its value?
• Wrap it up