1. Explain this to the students that interspersed with reading the story will be quickwrites. Explain to the class that they will have 5-6 minutes to write and that you will ask them to share after each focused writing time.
Pre-Reading Quick Write:
2. What is success? How is it measured? How will you know you are successful? How will others know?
3. On Page 407, have students note the epigram that opens the story. Point out that it is different than the rest of the text and that this is shown through its presentation in italics (the final sentence is in plain text so that it may stand in contrast to the rest of the italic passage). Ask students how the question, “How badly does the patient want to survive?” might relate to the story.
4. On page 410 after the paragraph about the $350,000 of heroin compose a Quick Write:
What is value? How do you know something is worth something? How important is money to you? What would you do for money?
5. On page 412 stop at “January 30” have the class brainstorm and compose a writing :
Ask the students to describe the protagonist, brainstorm a list of adjectives.
6. On page 415 have a brief Class Discussion:
“How much shock-trauma can the patient stand? … How badly does the patient want to survive?
Have the class discuss what they think these two questions mean to a surgeon. Prompt them to see how it applies to the protagonist.
7. At Page 418, either at the break here, or after reading the entire piece present students with the text of the Hippocratic Oath. Consider Richard Pine’s activities as he has described them so far and compare them to the oath he presumably took upon becoming a physician.
8. On page 419 Teaching Note:
It seems to be that the paragraph that begins “Wait. Haven’t I told you” is a hint that he has eaten his foot. We think it best to go a bit further and see if someone in the class has an “ah hah” then to go back and point out where the clues start to come in.
Later you can point out how his use of the heroin began a steady downfall that is perhaps more significant.
9. On page 420 at “February 8th” have students compose a Quick Write:
What do you think will happen to Richard Pine?
If time permits share, but be sure to ask that no one share who has read ahead.
(Page 422 Teaching note: “drooling” during operation – hungering for his own flesh.)
End of Story Discussion:
10. Obviously there are multiple ways to end the class work on this story; one suggestion is:
Briefly discuss initial reactions to the story.
Then offer questions for a quick write:
What is failure? How does one know failure? Of their own? Of others?
Was the protagonist successful? As a Doctor? In getting out of poverty? In surviving for a time?
Discuss student responses.
11. Analyze Richard Pine according to the chart on “Traits of Resilient People.”
Or use those same questions in discussion format.
Closure:
To what extent is Richard Pine’s experience an allegory for modern man’s experiences in a capitalist society?
After all this you should make two entries in your "Essential Questions Journal".
____ Introduction has a clear thesis statement
____ Introduction mentions the title of the novel
____ Introduction gives and thesis relate to a “big question”
____ Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence
Topic sentences explain what the whole paragraph is about
Topic sentences relate to thesis statement
____ Each paragraph basically makes sense read on it’s own
____ there are at least two (2) quotes from the book
____ each quote is introduced (who is speaking, about when in the book)
____ what each quote is explained thoroughly
____ each quote has a parenthetical citation in correct format (see blog for examples)
____ all longer quotes are block indented, single spaced, no quotation marks
____ shorter quotes are inside quotation marks, parenthetical followed by end mark
____ Spelling is generally correct Use the following tips:
•Use spell check.
•Circle words that might be wrong and look them up.
____ All sentences begin with a capital letter?
____ Each sentence ends with the correct punctuation mark. ( . ! ? ; )
____ Titles of novel is italicized or underlined. Nouns and verbs and first word capitalized.
____ Comma usage is correct:
•Commas separate items in a series.
•Commas precede coordinating conjunctions (and, but, so, for or, nor, yet) in compound sentences.
•Commas DO NOT separate two complete sentences. (This is called a comma splice).
____ Apostrophes are used to show possession or to mark contractions or to show missing numbers (as in ‘99)?
____ All proper names of people, places and things are capitalized.
____ Check subjects and verbs to see that they agree in tense and in number.
•I/am or We are and He/she is and They are
____ There is an appropriate title that reflects the main topic of the essay.
____ Actions in the book are presented in “Eternal Present Tense,” e.g. Holden watches a football game in Chapter 1. Then he goes to visit his teacher.”
Arms and the man I sing, who, forced by fateNot that in this kind of quote quotation marks are not used (unless there is dialogue). The citation (page reference) occurs after the final period. The quote is introduced (who is talking, what is the context of the quote), then preceded by a colon (:). As in every use of a quote for evidence, the quote is followed by an explanation of what it means.
And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate,
Expelled and exiled, left the Trojan shore.
Long labors, both by sea and land, he bore;
And in the doubtful war, before he won
The Latin realm and built the destined town,
His banished gods restored to rights divine,
And settled sure succession in his line;
From whence the race of Alban fathers come,
And the long glories of majestic Rome. (Dryden 1)
The play he saw was based on the Illiad, but these lines, too, show the focus on war and honor that was part of ancient society.
Advice for Holden
Directions: Read the “Dear Abby” letter Holden has written. As Abby, pen a response to Holden. You want to be specific, realistic (consider 1950’s time period,) and no-nonsense. Your reply letter should include:
-An addressee (Dear….)
-The date
-A closing and signature
-Approximately 3-4 paragraphs
Dear Abby,
I can’t seem to do anything right these days. I just got expelled from school--and this has been the 3rd school I’ve been in during my years in high school. I decided to just leave school right away instead of waiting for winter vacation to officially start, and I’m currently hiding out for a few days in New York.
While my school problems are certainly bothering me a lot, I also seem to be very confused where girls are concerned. A girl I had a crush on for years just went out with my roommate who is a very sexy bastard, and I felt that something may have happened between them. I just can’t seem to get it together with her.
Then I was in this club with these three girls, and they treated me awful-they were ignoring everything I said and then let me pick up the check for all three of them! Girls really drive me crazy. Abby, what can I do to start solving some of my problems with girls and school?
Signed,
