1. Synthesis Paper – Using Catcher, A Separate Peace, and Night to help make sense of the modern world.

2. What are we doing? For this assignment, you will use Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Knowles’ A Separate Peace, and Wiesel’s Night to make a specific, insightful, and universal statement relating to our attempt to make sense of the modern world. For this assignment, you will use Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Knowles’ A Separate Peace, and Wiesel’s Night to make a specific, insightful, and universal statement relating to our attempt to make sense of the modern world. This prompt is, admittedly, broad in scope; therefore, you will have to sift through these works and discover a topic worth exploring. This prompt is, admittedly, broad in scope; therefore, you will have to sift through these works and discover a topic worth exploring.

3. How are we going to do this? Think about common ideas/topics in these texts. Think about common ideas/topics in these texts. Loss of innocence, loss of faith, knowledge as a destructive force, childhood/adulthood, microcosms, the absurd hero, failure of language, role reversals, identity, use of symbols, etc. Loss of innocence, loss of faith, knowledge as a destructive force, childhood/adulthood, microcosms, the absurd hero, failure of language, role reversals, identity, use of symbols, etc. What message are the authors trying to convey about these topics? What message are the authors trying to convey about these topics? Pick one topic that you are particularly interested in and try to make an interesting, illuminating statement about this topic. Pick one topic that you are particularly interested in and try to make an interesting, illuminating statement about this topic.

4. What should this paper look like? Length Length Four pages – I won’t grade anything after the fourth page. You are welcome to write more, but your words will go unread. Four pages – I won’t grade anything after the fourth page. You are welcome to write more, but your words will go unread. MLA Format (ALWAYS!) MLA Format (ALWAYS!) Proper citations Proper citations Times New Roman 12-point Font Times New Roman 12-point Font Double-spaced Double-spaced

5. Where to start? Thesis Statement Thesis Statement A bland, unfocused thesis = a bad paper A bland, unfocused thesis = a bad paper Topic Sentences Topic Sentences Before you begin writing, you need to know where your paper is going. Before you begin writing, you need to know where your paper is going. Body Paragraphs Body Paragraphs Get ready to make some quote sandwiches (delicious). Get ready to make some quote sandwiches (delicious). Intro / Conclusion Paragraphs Intro / Conclusion Paragraphs

6. When is the paper due? As usual, I like to see how things progress in class, so I am not sure the exact date that papers will be due. As usual, I like to see how things progress in class, so I am not sure the exact date that papers will be due. Tentative Date – Monday, October 11th. Tentative Date – Monday, October 11th.