Synthesis PaperSynthesis Paper – – Using Using Catcher, A Catcher, A

Separate Peace, Separate Peace, and and NightNight to help make to help make sense of the modern sense of the modern

world.world.

What are we doing?What are we doing?

For this assignment, you will use For this assignment, you will use Salinger’s Salinger’s Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye, Knowles’ , Knowles’ A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace, and Wiesel’s , and Wiesel’s NightNight to to make a specific, insightful, and universal make a specific, insightful, and universal statement relating to our attempt to statement relating to our attempt to make sense of the modern world.make sense of the modern world. This prompt is, admittedly, broad in scope; This prompt is, admittedly, broad in scope;

therefore, you will have to sift through these therefore, you will have to sift through these works and discover a topic worth exploring. works and discover a topic worth exploring.

How are we going to do How are we going to do this?this?

Think about common ideas/topics in these Think about common ideas/topics in these texts.texts. Loss of innocence, loss of faith, knowledge as a Loss of innocence, loss of faith, knowledge as a

destructive force, childhood/adulthood, destructive force, childhood/adulthood, microcosms, the absurd hero, failure of language, microcosms, the absurd hero, failure of language, role reversals, identity, use of symbols, etc.role reversals, identity, use of symbols, etc.

What message are the authors trying to What message are the authors trying to convey about these topics?convey about these topics?

Pick one topic that you are particularly Pick one topic that you are particularly interested in and try to make an interesting, interested in and try to make an interesting, illuminating statement about this topic.illuminating statement about this topic.

What should this paper What should this paper look like?look like?

LengthLength Four pages – I won’t grade anything Four pages – I won’t grade anything

after the fourth page. You are welcome after the fourth page. You are welcome to write more, but your words will go to write more, but your words will go unread. unread.

MLA Format (ALWAYS!)MLA Format (ALWAYS!) Proper citationsProper citations Times New Roman 12-point FontTimes New Roman 12-point Font Double-spaced Double-spaced

Where to start?Where to start?

Thesis StatementThesis Statement A bland, unfocused thesis = a bad paperA bland, unfocused thesis = a bad paper

Topic SentencesTopic Sentences Before you begin writing, you need to Before you begin writing, you need to

know where your paper is going.know where your paper is going. Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

Get ready to make some quote Get ready to make some quote sandwiches (delicious).sandwiches (delicious).

Intro / Conclusion ParagraphsIntro / Conclusion Paragraphs

When is the paper due?When is the paper due?

As usual, I like to see how things As usual, I like to see how things progress in class, so I am not sure progress in class, so I am not sure the exact date that papers will be the exact date that papers will be due.due.

Tentative Date – Monday, October Tentative Date – Monday, October 11th.11th.