Coming of Age: A Thematic Unit Plan
Everyone knows that growing up is not an easy thing to do. In fact, the teenage years can be one of the most tumultuous stages of a person’s life. Changes take place daily, making it seem as though a person has no control over his life. These years often are marked by feelings of insecurity, hostility, and uncertainty. Despite this, however, the fact remains that the teenage years also serve as a time of personal growth and maturation. Because these years are so important, it is my belief that schools would be wise to consider adding a unit devoted to the study of texts that chronicle this growth process. I believe that many students would benefit greatly from a curricular unit centered around the “coming of age” theme.
In order to teach this unit effectively, a wide variety of texts and materials will be needed. Bear in mind that the word “text” as used here does not operate within the bounds of its conventional definition. When discussing the topic of thematic inquiry, this term refers to any medium that facilitates the communication of information (Pailliotet & Semali 4). It is my belief that the learning experience as a whole becomes more meaningful when multiple types of texts are incorporated into the curriculum. Although works of the canon certainly have an undeniable place in the English classroom, the benefits of more modern and up to date learning tools simply cannot be ignored. For those reasons, I have chosen to utilize a wide variety of textual sources.
The first type of text is the aforementioned classic novel. For this unit, two texts in particular will be utilized. One is J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In the Rye. This novel focuses on the experiences of a cyn...
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...on to critical theory. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.
Pailliotet, A.W., & Semali, L. (Eds.). (1999). Intermediality: The teachers’ handbook of critical media literacy. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Pennsylvania Department of Education. (2000). Alignment of standards: An alignment of PA academic standards for reading, writing, speaking, and listening with TESOL ESL standards from Pre-K – 12 students.
Richardson, W. (2003). Web logs in the English classroom: More than just a chat. The English Journal, volume 93, pp. 39-43.
Semali, L. (2000). Literacy in multimedia America: Integrating media education across the curriculum. New York: Falmer Press.
Singleton, M. (2000). The school experience in the coming of age novel: Jane Eyre and The Catcher In the Rye. Retrieved October 13, 20003 from http://www.uh.edu/hti/curriculum_units/2000/v01/05.htm .
Writing with Readings and Handbook. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. 52-57. Print.
For many years people have argued about the inclusion of The Cather in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger in the high school english curriculum. This is such due to the inappropriate and adult oriented themes within If considered, many times within the novel the main character will face situations in which that the negative and vulgar themes will blossom into something meaningful that the reader can benefit from as a person and as a student. While the vulgarity and adult themes in The Catcher in the Rye are indeed inappropriate for adolescent students, ultimately its underlying themes of self discovery and possessing moral values provides life and ethical lessons that can be applied in the classroom as well as on a daily basis and therefore, the novel should be included in the high school curriculum for students to learn.
The book The Catcher in the Rye was published in the year 1951 and has been the subject of constant debates and controversies. The novel has not only been the target of criticism, but has also sparked discussions on its effectiveness for use in high schools. The novel is about a period of three days in the life of Holden Caulfield. The novel’s most criticised points are its issues such as profanity, irrational behavior, and teenage sex, but it still gives very important lessons to young readers because it teaches tolerance, discipline, religion, and rational behavior. More specifically it teaches that desirable behavior will make them and society better, and as such, I do not think it should be banned from high school curriculum. This paper analyzes the reasons why The Catcher in the Rye should not be banned from English classes that are taught in high schools.
He examines the core arguments against homosexual sex such as: it is abnormal, the idea that homosexuals choose to be that way, it goes against the purpose of our sexual reproductive organs, it is disgusting and how it goes against biblical teachings. He first looks at the meaning of homosexual sex being “unnatural”. It is hard for him to claim that one definition of natural is right compared to another person’s. He does argue against the idea of natural law theorists by saying that many things that are important in our society are not natural, and there are many natural things that people detest. He says, “If the unnaturalness charge is to be more than empty rhetorical flourish, those who levy it must specify what they mean”(Shafer-Landau 239). Disease and death are natural things that people do not like. Cancer is natural but no one believes that it is just or good. Then there are unnatural things people enjoy in life such as medications and a democratic government. These examples refer back to Corvino’s quote, challenging the true intentions of those who argue things based on naturalness. Another challenge to the naturalness of homosexuality is the idea that a homosexual person chooses to live that lifestyle, they were not born that way. It is hard to believe this is true however due to the fact that most heterosexuals cannot
Joseph STRAUBHAAR and Robert LaROSE (2002). Media Now. Communication Media in the Information Age. 3rd Edition. Belmont, Wadworth/Tompson Learning.
Throughout history people who manifested an attraction for others of the same sex usually have gone through a lot of maltreatments, discrimination, and have often been regarded as “sexual deviants.” Relationships between people of the same sex have been present since the beginning of history. Their lives have not always been easy, because they have been persecuted and sometimes even forced to go through a psychiatric evaluation. At the same time, in order to gain their rights and dignity, they had to take their fight to the legal system because as George Chauncey, a professor of history at Yale University mentioned, “although most people recognize that gay life was difficult before growth of the gay movement in the 1970s, they often have only the vaguest sense of why: that gay people were scorned and ridiculed, made to feel ashamed, afraid, and alone” (290). However, discrimination and maltreatment were not the only reasons homosexuals had to take their struggle to the courts. An American professor of history at Yale University, who has testified in a number of gay rights cases, has exposed the ins and outs of the legal system in the second half of the twentieth century. During this time, a great number of states had created laws, which authorized the indefinite detention of homosexuals in mental institutions, and conditioned their release upon proving that they were cured from homosexuality (Chauncey 294). This past history, together with studies conducted by some prestigious institutions have lead society to understand that the right to homosexual marriage is economically, ethically, and morally correct, because it would benefit the economy and society by increasing the federal budget and creating a legal status for homosexual c...
Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher In the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger has served as a conflagration for debate and extreme controversy. Although the novel has been the target of scornful criticism, it has also been the topic of wide discussion. The novel portrays the life of sixteen year old, Holden Caufield. Currently in psychiatric care, Holden recalls what happened to him last Christmas. At the beginning of his story, Holden is a student at Pencey Prep School. Having been expelled for failing four out of his five classes, Holden leaves school and spends 72-hours in New York City before returning home. There, Holden encounters new ideas, people, and experiences. Holden's psychological battle within himself serves as the tool that uncovers the coming-of-age novel's underlying themes of teen angst, depression, and the disingenuous nature of society. The novel tackles issues of blatant profanity, teenage sex, and other erratic behavior. Such issues have supplemented the controversial nature of the book and in turn, have sparked the question of whether or not this book should be banned. The novel, The Catcher In the Rye, should not be banned from inclusion in the literature courses taught at the high school level.
“Catcher in the Rye”, written by J.D Salinger, is a coming-of-age novel. Narrated by the main character, Holden Caulfield, he recounts the days following his expulsion from his school. This novel feels like the unedited thoughts and feelings of a teenage boy, as Holden narrates as if he is talking directly to readers like me.
Literacy is used for many purposes across a range of socio-cultural contexts bringing meaning to texts, words and images (ACARA, 2011; Fellowes & Oakley, 2010). Socio-cultural theorist Vygotsky highlights the role of socio-cultural contexts and interactions in children’s learning, stating that children learn literacy through every day social interactions in which they take part such as, viewing and critiquing television programs, playing video games, playing sport and going shopping (Arthur, 2001; Christie, Enz, Vukelich & Roskos, 2013; Hill, 2012). Through these interactions children are developing a wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding from the surrounding popular culture that embraces their interests, while also promoting engagement in areas of literacy such as reading, talking, writing and responding to texts. (Beavis, 2012; Hall, 2011; Lotherington, 2003; Walsh, 2010).
Joseph STRAUBHAAR and Robert LaROSE (2001). Media Now. Communications Media in the Information Age. 3rd Edition. Belmont, Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.
Zeus overthrew his Father Cronus. Cronus was the king/ruler of the Titians. Zeus made a deal his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is known to be the lord of the sky and the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt. Zeus throws the thunderbolts at those who displease him. He is also known to punish those that lie or break
As Corvino’s discussion with the naturalness of gay sex suggests, it is plausible to suppose that the relationships do not violate what constitutes sexual ethics. However, as I have argued, we cannot over-generalize sexual ethics, encompassing gay sex as moral in the areas of marriage, reproduction, and creating a home. Thus, Corvino fails to provide an adequate reason to believe his claim that gay sex is not “unnatural”.
Joseph STRAUBHAAR and Robert LaROSE (2002). Media Now. Communications Media in the Information Age, 3rd edition. Belmont, Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.
Straubhaar, J. Larose, R. Davenport, L (2009) Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology Wadsworth: Cengage Learning
Corporate governance is the set of guidelines that determines the control and organization of a particular company. The company’s board of directors is in charge of approving and reviewing changes to this set of formally established guidelines. Companies have to keep in mind the interests of multiple stakeholders, parties who have an interest in the company. Some of these stakeholders include customers, shareholders, management, and suppliers. Corporate governance’s focus is concentrated on the rights and obligations of three stakeholder groups in particular: the board of directors, management, and shareholders. Corporate governance determines how power is split between these three stakeholders. A company’s board of directors is the main stakeholder that influences the corporate governance of a company (Corporate Governance).