Day 1-2:
Choose one of the following stories to read.
A Perfect Day for Bananafish
Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut
For Esme with Love and Squalor
Fill out the Following guide:
Independent Reading Guide: TheShort Story
Directions to the Student:Use the questions below to clarify your under-
standing of and response to a short story. Reflect on each question before
answering.
Story ______
Title ______
Author ______
Elementsof theShort Story
1.Who is the protagonist—the main character— in the story?
2.What challenge or conflict does the protagonist encounter?
3.How is the conflict resolved?
4.What other important characters are involved in the conflict?
5.What kind of person is the protagonist?
6.What evidence in the story leads me to this opinion of the protagonist?
7.Where does this story take place?
8.How would I describe the mood? How does the author establish this mood?
9.Summarize the theme or central idea of this short story.
10.Is there a sentence or short passage that states or strongly implies the theme?
If so, what is it?
Response to theShort Story
Rate this short story by circling the appropriate word.
11. The characters and dialogue are
believable, and the plot engages
my interest.weakfairstrong
12.This story is written in a style
that is clear and interesting.weakfairstrong
13.This story helps me understand
people and events.weakfairstrong
14.The details in this story could be
easily visualized as I read.weakfairstrong
15.Overall, I rate this story asweakfairstrong
Reasons for my rating:
16.What predictions and questions occurred to me as I read this story? Were
my predictions accurate? Were my questions answered?
•Was there one passage or event you found puzzling in this short
story? If so, write one or more questions you would like to ask
the author to explain.
•In a short paragraph, describe an element of the short story that
reminds you of something in your own life.
Day 3-4:
Examine any connections between the story you read to Salinger’s novel you read last year, The Catcher in the Rye. What characteristics do some of the characters share with those from The Catcher in the Rye? What are some themes that Salinger includes in both? Write at least one page double-spaced.
(For transfer students who have not yet read The Catcher in the Rye, please read another of the Salinger stories for the questions above)
Day 5-6:
Go to Read two articles on education. Write a short summary (no more than 1 page) for each article. Be prepared to present and discuss with the class when school resumes.
If the internet is not available, please find an article in a newspaper or magazine that you have available wherever it is that you are staying. If there is nothing available, please find something to read and write a one page response.
Day 7-10:
Write a short story (4 pages minimum) based on a theme present in the Salinger short story that you chose to read. Be sure that the story is mechanically and grammatically perfect.
Perhaps you could base the story around whatever had kept you out of school for this long.