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The Catcher in the Rye

Essay Topics

Your essays should be at least one thousand words typed. Each body paragraph should  feature at least 2 quotes from the text.

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1. Holden is an antihero

 

2. The novel is about how traumatic it is to grow up

 

3. The novel is about the importance of being realistic

 

4. The theme of the novel is                                                                                                                     

 

5. Holden’s struggles in this novel arise because he is:

 

-Mentally Ill?

-A regular teenager?

-Another reason?

 

6. Holden succeeds in his ambition to be a ‘catcher in the rye’

 

7. Holden fails in his ambition to be a ‘catcher in the rye’

 

8. Propose your own topic:                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

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How to write a Literary Essay

 

Introductions:

 

Every essay begins with an introduction. A properly written introduction first states the title of the text being analyzed followed by the author’s name.

 

Next, a brief summary of the text is provided in which the basic plot is related in a way that will link the plot to your thesis. The summary should be no more than 2-3 sentences.

 

The next step is formulating a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a direct and concise statement that you will support and argue in favor of in the rest of your essay. Generally a thesis statement takes a firm stand on an issue or topic.

 

Once your thesis statement has been made, you must next state the 3 points your essay will raise to prove/ support the claim of your thesis. Just like your thesis, these points should be bluntly stated and should span no more than one sentence each.

 

*A helpful point to keep in mind: Your introduction should provide your reader with an overview of everything that will be discussed in your essay. A rule to follow; if it wasn’t stated in your intro, you’re not allowed to say it in your body paragraphs. See it as being the Blue Print of your essay.

 

Body Paragraphs:

 

All body paragraphs begin with a Topic Sentence. In the case of the Literary Essay, you open by re-stating the point that you will spend the rest of this paragraph supporting and analyzing. This way your reader will know precisely what will be discussed in the remainder of the paragraph.

 

You may next provide a brief (2-3 sentences) summary if it relates to the point that you are trying to make. It is here that you also elaborate on the main point and begin to offer insight.

 

Next, once you have adequately explained and provided relevant summary, you extract a quotation from one of the texts that will serve as evidence of the claim being made in this paragraph.

 

A quote, however, isn’t enough. You must next explain in detail how the quotation that you have selected supports the claim/ argument of this paragraph. Analysis is an explanation of what the evidence should mean to your reader.

 

* A helpful point to keep in mind: Express your ideas without doubt and as though they are an undeniable universal truth. You are telling your reader what and how to think, so don’t give them any openings to develop their own personal opinions, especially if they might differ from the point that you’re arguing.

 

Conclusions:

 

A conclusion begins by re-stating the thesis of your essay followed by the supporting points. Essentially, a conclusion takes all of your essay’s main ideas and re-states them in a concise manner; it’s basically a mini version of your entire essay, a detailed summary/summation if you will. Summarize each body paragraph in 2-3 sentences EACH.

 

If an idea/ point did not arise in one of your body paragraphs, then you are not allowed to discuss it in the conclusion.

 

Suggestion for the Opening Sentences of a Conclusion:

In closing, it should now be clear to the reader that…

 

 

* A helpful point to keep in mind: Envision the reader of your conclusion as a person who was too lazy to read your essay. Thus, what would you state here that would give them a clear understanding of the ideas expressed in the rest of your essay?

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