WHY DOES SALINGER set much of The Catcher in the Rye in New York City in general, and Central Park in specific? After reading a few more poems about New York City, we will head to the library to complete a short research unit about Central Park, its development, history, purpose, and how that might pertain to it becoming a pivotal setting in Salinger's novel.

Monday

Returning to the New York City poems that we began discussing last Friday. How is the speaker's emotional state reflected in the setting of the poem? In other words, how is what the speaker feels connected to place, or where the poem happens (sometimes, poets call this, "the occasion for the poem," or what instigates the poem itself).
HW: Read the introduction to The Other Wes Moore.

Tuesday

In the Library to work on "Holden in Central Park" assignment.
HW: Read today's handout, "Thinking in Print," from Williams, Booth and Colomb's The Craft of Research. What is the purpose of writing while researching?

Wednesday

Again in the library. Today I will provide a sample annotated bibliography entry. Note how the annotation is a paragraph that describes: the author's credibility and intellectual background, the audience and purpose of the publication, as well as a partial summary of the source itself.
Continue reading The Other Wes Moore.

Thursday

Returning to the library today. It may be a good day to return to, "Manhattan, Floating World" by Phillip Lopate. Mrs. Brennan located that essay for us, a writer reflecting on New York City and why it matters to him. He lists some literary sources that connect to New York City and Central Park. Spend some time today looking for your literary source, a poem, short story, creative essay or even a chapter in a novel that is about New York City or Central Park and in some way connects to Holden's experience in The Catcher in the Rye.
HW: Continue reading The Other Wes Moore.

Friday

Last Library day to work on project.
HW: No homework over break. Enjoy your break.