FIFTH LETTER (Assignment)

Fifth Letter
Due: 11/18 @ 8:30 a.m.

This letter has three parts

Part 1
Starting on page 103, Charlie is feeling great and says, "I try to remind myself when I feel great like this that there will be another terrible week coming someday, so I should store up as many great details as I can, so during the next terrible week, I can remember those details and believe that I'll feel great again. It doesn't work a lot, but I think it's very important to try."

If you do this, write about the time (or times) in your life when you felt great and why it was special enough to use during tough times -- what details do you store up and conjure when you're having a terrible day or week? If you don't do this, describe a time that would work (and that you might reference in the future).

Part 2
Starting on page 117, Charlie and his sister begin bonding over her pregnancy/abortion. Considering how much they seem to bicker throughout the book, it's a special moment for them. Have you and a family member/friend ever bonded like this over tragedy? Describe that time and what the significance was to you. If you'd rather not write about tragedy, describe a time when you and someone else bonded over a joyous occasion and what you learned from it.

Part 3
In earlier sections of the novel, Charlie dabbled in pot use and LCD, though those were both social uses. In Section 3, however, Charlie begins experimenting with both cigarettes and pot alone as a way of dealing with his own thoughts and feelings -- he shows clear signs of addictive behavior. Describe a time in your life when you experimented with something as a way of not dealing with something else. This doesn't have to be drugs, alcohol, or other chemicals/illegal substances -- it could be sleep, food, new friendships, a hobby...anything. Whatever you write about, make sure you're comfortable revealing it. In finishing, be sure to explain whether this experimentation was productive or not.

FOURTH LETTER (Assignment)

Fourth Letter
Due: 11/6 @ 8:30 a.m.

This letter has two parts.

Part 1
Using Charlie’s Secret Santa mix tape on pages 61-62 as inspiration, create the track listing for a mix CD/playlist that you would give to someone in your life right now. It can be the friend you’re writing to, though that’s not required. Requirements:

-Your compilation must have at least 10 songs, and the first and last song must be the same (like Charlie uses “Asleep” by the Smiths).
-It must have a title (Charlie’s is “One Winter.”)
-You must explain why the first and last songs are the same – why that song is the most important/meaningful/best song.
-You must finish up by explaining what you hope the recipient will experience when listening to it. Charlie says about Patrick: “I hope it’s the kind of second side that he can listen to whenever he drives alone and feel like he belongs to something whenever’s he sad.” Give your compilation a similar context.

Part 2
Beginning on page 82, as Charlie and his family are riding in their car on the way to see family for Christmas, Charlie subtly describes his family members in a way that reveals a lot about their character. For example:
-On 82, he says that, “My brother has a very full laugh.”
-On 83, he says that, “My sister rolls her eyes better than anyone.”
-On 84, he says that, “My mom and dad make a real team sometimes. It’s amazing to watch.”
-And on 85, about his grandma, he says that, “She always knew when someone was coming.”

For this part, describe 5 family members or friends in a short sentence much like Charlie does. Bullet/list format is sufficient.