Catcher in the Rye Assessments[1] - Kenston School District

Catcher in the Rye
You will be assessed on the novel three different ways: Test, Essay, and the Creative Project.
Part I – Test over the novel (50 points)
Look at your calendar to know the date of the test. Expect to see some matching, multiple choice, and some
short answer.
Part II – Project (50 points)
Choose your creative project from one listed below or create your own idea (teacher approved). Only choose
a creative project that you have the talent, skill, or ability to successfully complete. In other words, don’t
choose an art project if you are not an artist. You will be graded on its resemblance of the events or
characters in the novel, time spent/neatness, and creativity/originality.
1. Pretend you lived in the room next to Holden at one of the schools he attended. Write a letter home to
describe the kind of guy Holden is. Be sure to include some examples of his behavior so your letter is
convincing. – This may take some additional creativity to make it worth the full 50 points! It cannot just
be a journal.
2. Write a fairy tale as Holden would tell it.
3. Design a cover for the novel.
4. Draw or paint a scene from the novel.
5. Investigate elite prep schools like those that Holden attended. Present your findings in an organized
manner.
6. Write a script for the dating game starring Holden, Stradlater, and Ackley as the bachelors. Write at least
four questions and answers for each contestant.
7. Create an “Everything I Know About Life I Learned From Holden” poster.
8. Create a menu for a restaurant owned by Holden.
9. Write and perform a song about Holden’s life and the weekend included here in the book.
10. Create a travel brochure with a map(s), pictures, and details of how someone could trace Holden’s steps
through New York City and what that experience would entail.
11. Any teacher approved project.
Part III – Essay (50 points)
This essay paper will have an introduction with a strong thesis followed by support from the novel. The
support will consist of references to the novel as well as actual quotes. You need to find at least three main
points that you will want to cover with your topic. It will make your organization so much easier.

Select one of the following possible essay topics and put your thoughts and ideas into a five paragraph essay.
(Introduction, 3 body paragraphs with a main point in each which will also include a sentence from the book
that supports your main point, and a conclusion paragraph) In this essay, you may refer to yourself and your
thoughts. You still cannot use ‘you’ as it is a formal writing. Your focus areas are:
1. You must have a clear statement of thesis in the introduction.
2. You must use direct support of your thesis with specific examples from the novel.
3. You must use a minimum of three (3) direct quotes from the novel- with page numbers in
parentheses following the sentence taken from the book.
4. You must use correct quotation punctuation and commas.
5. You must use complete sentences and have no misspellings.
Possible Essay topics:
1. Holden makes up elaborate lies. What advantages and problems does this give him? How does he feel
about telling lies all of the time?
2. Holden seems to have ambiguous feelings about sex. What does he seem to want? What is he afraid of?
3. Holden swears a great deal yet is very upset by the words he sees on the walls at Phoebe’s school. Is
there a double standard? Is obscenity acceptable sometimes and not others? Are some words less
acceptable?
4. Holden wants to be a “catcher in the rye.” What does this mean? What abilities does this require? Can
Holden do this?
5. Is the novel optimistic or pessimistic?
6. Holden and religion.
7. Holden and clothing.
8. Holden fails many of his classes, but he passes English and reads a lot of books. Meaning?
9. Could this novel be made into a good movie? Explain.
10. Choose one of the symbols Holden discusses in the book and explain its role. (i.e. the ducks, Allie’s
baseball mitt, his hat).
11. Or one of your own choosing, which should be approved ahead of time.