Sophs---The Catcher in the Rye essay help

Write in MLA format---3-4 pages, MLA heading, MLA pagination style, EVERYTHING double spaced.

Write in the third person ABOUT the novel, avoiding the I first person point of view.

Use formal language, no slang or "Holden" speak. Do not use contractions unless you're quoting.

NO research desired or needed for this paper, other than citing the original text of the book. NO outside sources.

NO title needed for this paper.

First paragraph help--this paragraph should be about 4-6 sentences TOPS. In the paragraph, include (probably in this order) the full name of the author, the full title of the novel (underlined) and some quick introductory information about the novel that leads into the central idea. Then write your central idea and your thesis statement.

Here is an example:

The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger's famous novel published after World War II, features
a troubled adolescent named Holden Caulfield who resists growing up because he mistrusts everything he sees in the world around him. His only heroes are idealized innocent children, and this fact contributes to his problems. Without an adult role model, Holden looks to three inspirations to remain in his state of arrested development: his dead brother Allie, his childhood friend Jane Gallagher, and his beloved younger sister Phoebe.

Circle your central idea and underline your thesis statement in this first paragraph. I'm not able to do this in this blogging document. Sorry.

This is my central idea: His only heroes are idealized innocent children, and this fact contributes to his problems.

This is my thesis statement: Without an adult role model, Holden looks to three inspirations to remain in his state of arrested development: his dead brother Allie, his childhood friend Jane Gallagher, and his beloved younger sister Phoebe.


For each body paragraph, try to begin with a topic sentence. Underline that sentence in this paragraph.

The topic sentence of my first body paragraph might read: Allie, Holden’s younger brother who died of leukemia, represents Holden’s idealized conception of the perfect child.

From here, you should provide at least three examples of how Allie represents Holden’s idealized conception of the perfect child. Write about each. Perhaps quote directly from the text.

Follow this approach for the next two body paragraphs, also.

Now it's time to CONCLUDE.

As in your INTRODUCTION, this paragraph doesn't need to be too long, perhaps 4-6 sentences. In this paragraph, restate your central idea and thesis. You might also want to conclude by stating why you chose to analyze this particular topic and/or how the topic fit into a larger theme of the book.

E-mail me if you have any questions!