I plan to use Audacity
for a unit centered on Catcher in the Rye for sophomore
English. My essential questions probe the sympathy/antipathy
dichotomy in human interactions. Why do we like some people and
dislike others? I came to this after hearing from my mentor that
students of late do not identify with Holden, but rather see him as a
spoiled rich kid. (He is, but that's not the point.) By having
students examine their reactions to Holden and to people in their own
lives, I hope to encourage reflection on what sort of things make us
like or dislike someone else.
The unit is still a
work in progress, but poetry will be a substantial component. Many of
the secondary texts will be poems that address the themes and ideas
of the unit. I would also like to have a component involving written
self-expression, preferably poetry. This may be nothing much beyond a
biopoem. I will try, however, to give students the chance to refine
and shape their poem—and their understanding of themselves—over
the course of the unit, as their (self) understanding progresses. The
specific role for Audacity is also a little vague at this time. One
possible application could be an audio log or diary recording changes
in their poems read aloud over the course of the unit. It could also
include commentary or reflections. It might also be a way for
students to develop themselves as readers aloud with the added
attraction of being able to spice up their readings of the poems they
choose with music and commentary.
If you have any ideas
about Catcher in the Rye, teaching poetry, what poems might
fit with the themes of Catcher, or using Audacity in this
context, please share them!
