ENG1501/202/2/2017
Tutorial Letter 202/2/2017
Foundations in English Literary Studies
ENG1501
Semester 2
Department of English Studies
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
FEEDBACK AND EXAMINATION GUIDELINES
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 ASSIGNMENT 02 ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Question 1: Catcher in the Rye ..................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Question 2: When Rain Clouds Gather ......................................................................................... 6
2 EXAM PREPARATION GUIDELINES .......................................................................................... 8
2
, ENG1501/201//2017
1 ASSIGNMENT 02
Dear students
In this feedback letter, we have given you some pointers about how you could have answered
the questions set in this assignment. Please note that in order to pass you need to express
yourself in intelligible English, engage with the material in a coherent manner, and construct
solid arguments substantiated with references to the texts.
1.1 Question 1: Catcher in the Rye
Important work to study before writing your essay
Before we focus more closely on the analysis, it is important that you reflect on the guidance
provided in the assignment question. You will notice that the question specifically refers you to
Chapter 3 of the Introduction to English Literary Studies (IELS), as well as to Section 2 of
Tutorial Letter 501, which deals with The Catcher in the Rye. In this assignment, we wanted you
to illustrate not only that you understand the concept of close reading, but that you are able to
conduct such an analysis using a particular section of The Catcher in the Rye.
Structuring your essay
If you look carefully at the question, you will notice that it firstly suggests that you write an essay
of at least five paragraphs. It then provides a number of focus areas to structure your
paragraphs by indicating that you must discuss how Salinger uses (1) narrative point of view,
(2) setting, and (3) the symbolism of ducks and fish in the lagoon to represent Holden’s feelings
of isolation and loss.
If your essay is slightly longer than five paragraphs, that is not necessarily a problem. What is
important, though, is that you make sure the additional length does not compromise the
structure of your essay, and that you still carefully discuss the three points set out in the
question.
Your essay
Introduction
In your introduction, it is important to indicate to your reader (in other words, your marker or your
lecturer) what you will discuss in your essay. You can rely on the question to help you write your
introduction. An example would be something like the following:
In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye the protagonist, Holden Caulfield,
experiences intense feelings of isolation and loss. In this essay, I will discuss
Holden’s feelings through a close reading of a section of Chapter 12 of the novel.
3
Tutorial Letter 202/2/2017
Foundations in English Literary Studies
ENG1501
Semester 2
Department of English Studies
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
FEEDBACK AND EXAMINATION GUIDELINES
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 ASSIGNMENT 02 ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Question 1: Catcher in the Rye ..................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Question 2: When Rain Clouds Gather ......................................................................................... 6
2 EXAM PREPARATION GUIDELINES .......................................................................................... 8
2
, ENG1501/201//2017
1 ASSIGNMENT 02
Dear students
In this feedback letter, we have given you some pointers about how you could have answered
the questions set in this assignment. Please note that in order to pass you need to express
yourself in intelligible English, engage with the material in a coherent manner, and construct
solid arguments substantiated with references to the texts.
1.1 Question 1: Catcher in the Rye
Important work to study before writing your essay
Before we focus more closely on the analysis, it is important that you reflect on the guidance
provided in the assignment question. You will notice that the question specifically refers you to
Chapter 3 of the Introduction to English Literary Studies (IELS), as well as to Section 2 of
Tutorial Letter 501, which deals with The Catcher in the Rye. In this assignment, we wanted you
to illustrate not only that you understand the concept of close reading, but that you are able to
conduct such an analysis using a particular section of The Catcher in the Rye.
Structuring your essay
If you look carefully at the question, you will notice that it firstly suggests that you write an essay
of at least five paragraphs. It then provides a number of focus areas to structure your
paragraphs by indicating that you must discuss how Salinger uses (1) narrative point of view,
(2) setting, and (3) the symbolism of ducks and fish in the lagoon to represent Holden’s feelings
of isolation and loss.
If your essay is slightly longer than five paragraphs, that is not necessarily a problem. What is
important, though, is that you make sure the additional length does not compromise the
structure of your essay, and that you still carefully discuss the three points set out in the
question.
Your essay
Introduction
In your introduction, it is important to indicate to your reader (in other words, your marker or your
lecturer) what you will discuss in your essay. You can rely on the question to help you write your
introduction. An example would be something like the following:
In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye the protagonist, Holden Caulfield,
experiences intense feelings of isolation and loss. In this essay, I will discuss
Holden’s feelings through a close reading of a section of Chapter 12 of the novel.
3
