AGES 150 POINTS Topic: Coming of Age Introductions: Answer the question in your words- What is “coming of age”? There comes a time is each person's life when they reach the point where they are no longer children, but adults. The transition from a child into a young adult is often referred to as the "coming of age," or growing up. The time when this transition occurs is different in everyone, since everyone is an individual and no two people are alike. Certain children reach this stage through a tragic, painful event which affects them to such extent that they are completely changed. Other children reach this time by simply growing older and having a better understanding of the world around them. The coming of age really is indefinite and cannot be marked in general overview. This stage in life is one of the most important and most popular themes in literature. The “coming of age” theme Step 1: Choose a “coming of age” novel from the list below or choose your own “coming of age” novel. Be sure to have your teacher pre-approve it. You can not select a novel that you have already read. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sallinger Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Lord of the Flies by William Gerald Golding October Sky by Homer H. Hickam The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho The Book Thief by Markus Zusak To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys The Help by KathrynStockett Step 2: Read your “coming of age” novel. Step 3: Write an analytical essay (three to five pages double -spaced)addressing one or more of the following prompts that displays an in-depth knowledge of the novel and its themes. You must have your topic approved by your teacher. DURATION: 10 PERIODS AGES 150 POINTS What are the parallels between the themes in novels with other coming of age tales (ex. movies, novels, personal experiences)? Analyze how and if the protagonists and antagonists have evolved over the course of the novel. Were there any purely good or bad characters in the novel, or were their behaviors dictated by the situation? Was it a combination of both? How did the events shape the evolution of one or more of the characters? Describe the life philosophy of one of the characters in the novel using specific evidence from the novel to support your analysis. Guidelines to Help You Write Your Essay: Assume that both you and the reader have read the novel. o An analytical essay is not a summary. Do not just retell the story. An analytical essay breaks the content of the material into components or parts in order to get a complete understanding of its meaning. o Your analysis may not be identical to someone else’s idea of the novel, but, if your investigation is logical, believable, and well-defended, it will be well received. Closure: Share your paragraph with your fellow classmates. DURATION: 10 PERIODS