“Teenage
Wasteland”
Pg. 324 Between the Lines
ELA 20-2
discuss
• What sorts of problems cause teenagers
to fail and drop out of school?
• Does the home have any role or
responsibility in the process? Explain.
Donny and his parents
• Why are Donny's parents concerned about him?
How do they try to help their son? Why do their
efforts fail? What else do you think Donny's parents
might have done for him?
• Give reasons for why Donny is the way he is. How
does he see the world and his problems?
• What do you think finally prompts Donny to run
away? Does Donny have any responsibility for what
eventually happens to him?
What role do Donny’s parents play in his running
away?
Cal
• What are Cal's methods for handling troubled
teenagers? Do they work for Donny? DO you agree
with his methods? Why do you think Cal has chosen
to be a tutor?
• If you were Donny's tutor, would you have used a
different approach from Cal's? Explain.
If you were Donny’s parents, would you have
continued to hire Cal as a tutor? Why or why not?
• As a friend, what would you have advised Donny?
symbols
Analyze the following symbols and their
relationship to the story:
• the description of Donny in the first
paragraph
• the song "Teenage Wasteland"
• the basketball reference in the last paragraph
“Teenage Wasteland”
Out here in the fields
I fought for my meals
I get my back into my
living
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be
forgiven
Sally, take my hand
We'll travel south crossland
Put out the fire
Don't look past my shoulder
The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
So let's get together
Before we get much older
Don't cry
Don't raise your eye
It's only teenage
wasteland
Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland
Oh…yeah
Teenage wasteland
They're all wasted
How is each of these
ironic?
• Daisy's ignoring Amanda
• Daisy and Matt sitting on the principal's couch
like two bad children
• the comment that Cal has considerable
psychological training
• Donny telling his parents they act like wardens
• Cal's view that Donny needs more "rope“
• Cal accusing Daisy of being controlling
• Cal turning against Daisy
• Cal criticizing the school
•
Daisy ignoring Amanda (daughter)
Daisy has one daughter who is still ‘engaged’ in the relationship. Daisy
completely forgoes her relationship with her daughter in order to salvage her
relationship with her son. All the time, she will be losing her daughter.
Daisy and Matt sitting on the principal's couch like two bad children
They are taking on a childlike role – having to be talked to by the principal.
Also...where is Matt and why is he not part of this meeting?
•
the comment that Cal has considerable psychological training
He is spending his time controlling the parents and their actions and only
partying with the kids.
•
Donny telling his parents they act like wardens
It is the opposite. His parents have never taken charge of the situation. They
have allowed other professionals, like Cal (tutor) and the principal to make
pivotal decisions.
•
Cal's view that Donny needs more "rope“
Donny needs structure. When his mom was helping him and supervising his
homework, his marks were improving. He was achieving success!
•
•
Cal accusing Daisy of being controlling
Who’s controlling who!? Often it is Cal who is controlling all of Daisy’s actions
and Daisy allows it to happen.
•
Cal criticizing the school
Pot calling the kettle black!?
"Life is more difficult for teenagers today
than it was during my parents' teen years".
Write a personal persuasive essay (of at least five
paragraphs) that will support or disprove the above
statement. Remember that you need to provide
details and examples to "prove" your position.
Pay attention to the format of an essay:
• introduction - generalization, narrowed focus,
thesis statement
• body paragraphs (at least 3) - main idea, detail
to "prove" main idea, commentary on the
relevance of the supporting detail
• conclusion - restatement of thesis, brief
summary, universal appeal
N-E-X-T
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
(body paragraphs)
New idea - answer the question and provide a statement of
theme (thesis) for the paragraph
Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or
paraphrase from the story to support your statement
eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves
your thesis to be true
Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or
paraphrase from the story to support your statement
eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves
your thesis to be true
Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or
paraphrase from the story to support your statement
eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves
your thesis to be true
Transition - provide a transition from this paragraph to the next
pages 154-156, Communicate
• The pages discuss how to write a
persuasive essay and provide an
example for you to study.