Independent Book Study (Extra Credit)

Transcription

1 Independent Book Study (Extra Credit) You should choose a substantial work, (taken from the classroom library, or otherwise approved by me) which you have never read before, preferably a work that represents a challenge and a risk for you. The intent here is to foster a friendly reading of something you may never have experienced. Despite years of being "taught" or "force fed" canonical literature, you may never have experienced a voluntary reading of some of the authors who are generally regarded as the greatest in our culture. Indeed, you may harbor resentment for some of these authors. Below are a few of the titles that you can find within the classroom. If you cannot find a copy of these titles in the classroom, you are free to rent them from your local library (either digitally or in a hard copy). If you have trouble obtaining a book, let me know. We will not have in class assignments over these books, as this is an extra credit assignment. You are welcome to read the book at your own pace, but the deadline for your or review is February 29th. You must sign up via or in person by February 12th, notifying me of your choice of book and assignment. The Stranger Fahrenheit 451 The Road Life of Pi The Call of the Wild The Chosen The Good Earth The Inferno The Hobbit Into Thin Air Wuthering Heights A Separate Peace Travels with Charlie Beowulf Ender s Game As I Lay Dying The Sound and the Fury For Whom the Bell Tolls The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Option 1: Review Paper Your first option for this assignment is a review of your book. Reviews are evaluations of literature. Your review should focus not only on your opinion of the book, but also on your assessment of its literary value meaning if this book will stand out in the future as one of the greats in literature! Establish and discuss what makes a work one of literary merit, and evaluate how your chosen text measures up to that criteria, citing specific examples from the text. Review should be at least two pages in length. This will be submitted via turnitin.com, and graded using a rubric that I have made available below.

2 Option 2: Review Presentation Your second option is to deliver a book review to the class using Prezi, Powerpoint, or Google Slides. This will allow you to show your peers which book you chose, why you chose it, and, potentially, your interpretation of key aspects of the book. You may also incorporate graphics into your slides. Your should be structured as follows: i) A brief overview of the narrative, omitting spoilers. (1 2 slides) ii) A description of the major characters. (1 2 slides) iii) A defense of the narrative s literary merit with citations (2 slides, see below) What makes your novel great? What will make it stand out in the future as one of the greats in literature? Choose at least three of the criteria below. iv) Your opinion of the story as a whole with justification of said opinion. This should also include your reasons for choosing the book in question. (1 2 slides) v) Optional Pick one literary device and discuss its use within the narrative (1 2 slides) A Definition of Literary Merit The work of literature: 1. Entertains the reader and is interesting to read. 2. Does not merely conform to the expectations of a single genre or formula. 3. Has been judged to have artistic quality by the literary community (teachers, students, librarians, critics, other writers, the reading public). 4. Has stood the test of time in some way, regardless of the date of publication. 5. Shows thematic depth: The themes merit revisiting and study because they are complex and nuanced. 6. Demonstrates innovation in style, voice, structure, characterization, plot and/or description. 7. May have a social, political or ideological impact on society during the lifetime of the author or afterward. 8. Does not fall into the traps of pulp fiction such as clichéd or derivative descriptions and plot devices, or sentimentality rather than earned emotion. 9. Is intended by the author to communicate in an artistic manner. 10. Is universal in its appeal (i.e., the themes and insights are not only accessible to one culture or time period).

3 Assessment Rubric for Book Study Presentation: Exemplary Accomplished Developing Beginning Organization Information presented in logical, interesting sequence Information in logical sequence Difficult to follow stude nt jumps around Cannot understand no sequence of Subject Knowledge Demonstrates full knowledge by multiple aspects of literary merit and salient features of the book in question. Elaborates to a lesser degree here, but still addresses the assignment instructions. Uncomfortable with and is able to recount only rudimentary or give unsubstantiated responses. Does not have a grasp of the. Delivers minimal about the subject. Graphics Explain and reinforce screen text and Relate to text and Occasionally uses graphics that rarely support text and Uses superfluous graphics or no graphics Research Uses the book thoroughly in characterization, literary merit, plot, opinion, and devices. Cites accurately. cites when the novel s literary merit, but may lack evidence in other areas. presents evidence that does not support conclusions, and may be absent in key areas. Does not justify conclusions with. Oral Presentation Elocution/Eye Contact Maintains eye contact and pronounces all terms accurately. All audience members can hear the. Maintains eye contact most of the time and pronounces most words correctly. may connect with the audience to a lesser degree. Occasionally uses eye contact, mostly reading, and incorrectly pronounces terms. Audience members have difficulty hearing. Reads with no eye contact and incorrectly pronounces terms. Speaks too quietly.

4 Assessment Rubric for Book Study Paper: Exemplary Accomplished Developing Beginning Organization Information is presented in logical, interesting sequence with transitions and ideas that build on previous. Information is presented in a mostly logical sequence. s topic sentences, transitions, and overall structure lacks cohesion. Ideas are presented out of order and with little to no context. Content Knowledge x2 (10 Points) Demonstrates a thorough knowledge by multiple aspects of literary merit and salient features of the book in question. Elaborates to a lesser degree here, but still addresses the assignment instructions. Uncomfortable with and is able to recount only rudimentary or give unsubstantiated responses. Does not have a grasp of the. Delivers minimal about the subject. Style conveys his or her voice authentically throughout the paper, and uses precise diction as well as minimal wordiness or redundancy. writes in an authentic manner, with relatively few bland words or phrases. Several words or expressions are bland, which may detract from the student s overall message. Too many words or expressions are bland. Research Integrates specific, verifiable, and in characterization, literary merit, plot, opinion, and devices. Cites accurately and frequently. cites when the novel s literary merit, but may lack evidence in a few other areas. presents evidence that does not support conclusions, and is absent in several areas. Little to no support from.

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