Expository Essay Assignment For

Warfield

Freshman English

Expository Essay Assignment for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian And Catcher in the Rye

Assignment: In an expository essay that uses textual support from the reading (PartTime Indian or Catcher in the Rye), respond to ONE of the following topics: •

How does Arnold demonstrate resiliency* in his journey from the rez to Reardan?

•

Discuss the conflict of community / tribe versus self-actualization in regard to Arnold’s choice to leave the reservation.

•

What is the role of art in shaping Arnold’s self-identity? (Or, what is the role of art in Arnold’s resiliency / ability to succeed?

•

Choose a theme that we explored in our poster groups (Art, Friendship, Hopes/Dreams, Self-Identity) or one of these themes: Self-Worth, Choices, Community/Tribe, Loss, Tolerance, Reconciliation. Write about what the novel seems to be “saying” about one of these themes.

FOR CATCHER IN THE RYE: Possible topics for Catcher in the Rye: • • • • • • •

A major theme in the novel (alienation, growing up, phoniness) The meaning of the red hunting hat The meaning of Holden’s question about the ducks on the pond The role of Allie in Holden’s view on life and on his personality The significance of the book’s title The role of Phoebe in Holden’s life and on his personality Compare/contrast Holden to Arnold

* “Resiliency:” 1. the ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune; buoyancy. 2. the property of a material that enables it to resume its original shape or position after being bent, stretched, or compressed; elasticity. DUE DATES: You will write a first draft of this essay in class on Wednesday, November 5. Bring your dialogue journals, book, and notes that you have made in preparation for writing this essay. A first, typed draft of this essay is due on Friday, November 14 The FINAL, typed draft (12 point font, DOUBLE spaced) is due Friday, November 21