Nothing Phony About This!

An Internet WebQuest on The Catcher In The Rye

In the WebQuest you will be working together in small groups of three or four. Each group will answer the Task or Questions that they have been assigned. Within your group, you will assume one of the following roles:

The Writer is responsible for writing the actual text to be placed on the poster. (two may share this role if there are four people in the group.)

The Editor is responsible for assisting the writer, proof reading, and revising the final content.

The Graphic Artist is responsible for the creative artwork on the poster. (two may share this role if there are four people in the group.)
Note: Simply printing out web pages and pasting them on to poster is not generally considered "creative."

We will be working in the library for TWO DAYS only on this project. Any other time you require will have to be arranged on your own. Exchanging e-mail, addresses, and phone numbers will be useful.

As a member of the group you will explore web pages created by people all over the world who care about The Catcher in the Rye. These are real web pages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools. The reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online dictionary or one in your classroom.

Background Information
Something for Everyone

Everyone in class, regardless of the group you're placed in, will FIRST need to access the following websites. These provide essential background information on J. D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye, as well as the site which provides the poem from which the novel takes its name.

• Robert Burn's Poem
• Literature Resource Center - Biographical info.
• Dead Caulfield - A site related to the life and work of J. D. Salinger
  

Remember to include the URL of the page you take information from so you can return to it and use it as a citation.
Focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task.

Additional resources:

Check out the books on the cart in the Internet Lab

• Books and essays on J.D. Salinger ;
• Criticisms on The Catcher in the Rye ;
• Psychological and Medical resources
• Popular American Culture in the 1950's
  

Create a Poster in which you answer these questions specifically related to Psychological Perspective:

• What is wrong with Holden? Use the appropriate medical terminology to diagnose his psychological state.
• What are the factors which have contributed to Holden's current state?
• What telltale signs does Holden demonstrate to indicate that there may be a problem?
• What are appropriate treatment options for Holden (both then and now)?

Create a Poster, in which you answer these questions specifically related to Geographical Perspective:

• Which specific sites in New York City does Holden visit, and for what purpose?
• What major events were taking place in New Your City during this time period?
• How have these sites changed in the past fifty years, since Holden first visited? Provide a 'before and after' perspective.
  

Grand Central Station
Photo Tour of New York City
Walking Tour of Greenwich Village
The Catcher in the Rye HomePage- links to New York landmarks

Time Period Perspective

Use the Internet information linked below, on American culture in the 1950'a

Create a Poster and answer these questions specifically related to Time Period Perspective:

• Go through the novel and locate specific references to singers, writers, actors, films, etc. of the period. Research these subjects.
• What is the significance of these cultural representations of the 1950's to the novel? Why do they play such an important role in Holden's development?
  

Artistic / Book Publisher Perspective
Use the Internet information linked below to create a new book cover and inside jacket for The Catcher in the Rye.

• You want to create a colorful and imaginative book cover which will provide some information about the novel and pique potential readers' interest. Consider major symbols, events, and other elements.
• The inside front cover of a book usually provides some brief plot summary, without giving anything away.
• The inside rear cover usually provides some biographical information about the author, as well as a picture.
• The back cover usually provides positive reviews by other respected authors or journalists about the book.

You have all learned about different parts of Catcher in the Rye. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the web sites you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's response. Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Conclusion

Now that you have become 'experts' on your assigned topic and broken down this novel into manageable pieces your appreciation for the novel should have been enhanced. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of Catcher in the Rye could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.