Final Project -- Advanced Literature

Advanced Literature: Survey of J.D. Salinger – Final

Due March 5^th, 2014 by 5:00 PM

In order to demonstrate your engagement with and developing knowledge of J.D. Salinger and his literature, you will complete a two-part final project focusing on a Salinger short story (or novella) of your choice. Since teaching others requires thorough understanding and high-level cognition, this assessment will require you to delve deep into the text you choose, applying your ‘underwater’ thinking skills and evaluating your cognitive process.

Assignment: Lesson Plan for “_________________________________” by J.D. Salinger

First, you should choose one of the following works of fiction by Salinger as a focus:

·      “Zooey”

·      “Franny”

·      “Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes”

·      “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters”

·      “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut”

·      “Just Before the War with the Eskimos”

·      “The Laughing Man”

·      “Down at the Dinghy”

·      “Teddy”

You will read and analyze the text as thoroughly as possible. You may use study aides like SparkNotes or Shmoop in order to enhance your understanding and analysis. Be sure to consider how your selected work connects to a) other texts we’ve read in class, and b) J.D. Salinger’s life experience, as portrayed in Salinger (2013).

Next, you will write a lesson plan for a class teaching your chosen work. You will include the basic requirements of a lesson plan, including but not limited to: rationale, objectives, materials, anticipatory set, modeling & practice, assessment, and independent practice. (See the example lesson plans accompanying this handout for guidance.) Imagine that you are teaching this very class with the same students and same environment. Also, consider Bloom’s Taxonomy (which we will discuss in class).

Finally, you will write a half-page reflection defending your lesson plan. In this reflection, you should explain your process of creating the plan, the challenges and successes you faced, the reasoning behind your final product, and any notes or qualifications not apparent in the plan.

You will be scored using the following rubric:

Lesson Plan: The student constructs a lesson plan for at least one class period which reflects understanding of the Salinger work, cognitive engagement and evaluation of the work, and a plan for engaging students in the writing. (300 pts. possible)
Completion (25 pts.)	Student completes all required elements of the lesson plan (see above).
Comprehension and Analysis of Salinger work (100 pts.)	Student demonstrates understanding and engagement with the work by presenting meaningful and thoughtful discussion topics, activities, etc. in the lesson plan.
Rationale of Teaching (25 pts.)	Student explains why the selected work is meaningful and beneficial to education.
Exercises, Activities, and Methods (75 pts.)	Student incorporates relevant and unique methods for teaching the selected work.
Meta-cognitive Reflection (75 pts.)	Student reflects on the process and reasoning behind creating the lesson plan.