Independent Reading Projects Language Arts 9 During each term of Language Arts 9, you will be asked to read at least one book of your choosing each term. This book needs to be at your grade level. If you are not sure it is appropriate for the project, see me. You will be given time weekly to do some reading, but for some of you, you may still need to read outside of class in fact I encourage you to! You will most likely have to do the bulk of the work for this project on your own time. Each term you will prepare one of the following assignments in conjunction with reading your Independent Reading book. These will demonstrate to me your understanding of the book and enrich your experience reading it as well. These are worth quite a few points, so take them seriously, and start them well before they are due! Notice that there are three more elaborate options to choose from and six shorter options. Each semester you must complete a shorter option in the term of your choosing and a more elaborate option in the term of your choosing. Therefore, over the school year of Language 9 you will have read four books and completed two longer projects and two shorter projects. Teachers are in communication about which project was completed and which book was read by each student. Hold onto this packet and turn in the appropriate page when you do that assignment; I will grade you with these pages. I encourage: the reading of classics, talking to librarians for book ideas, and asking parents for book suggestions. You cannot read: Gary Paulsen books, The Giver, Holes, The Outsiders, books you read in middle school (I know!) or books that are well below your reading level. See me if you are not sure your book is sufficient! DUE DATES: Term 1: Friday, Oct. 11 Term 2: Term 3: Term 4: No exceptions! You have six weeks to do the project. Plan ahead; work ahead. I will NOT accept a late project. *Of course, I would always welcome you to turn your assignment in early! TIPS: While you read, take notes on what quotes, events, etc. that could be used in your project. Start early! The due date will be here before you know it! Choose a book that you really enjoy. The librarians are a great help for finding a book that fits you. Choose a book that has a lot going on fiction or memoir is your best option. Choose a book that is at your age and reading level. Ask for help! I am happy to help you come up with ideas or answer questions. Bring your Independent Reading book daily; you never know when you ll get a little extra time to read in class. I will be checking to see that you ve brought it! Read and reread the requirements for the project you choose. Look at some student samples of projects. Choose a book that will challenge you and prepare you for college such as a classic piece of literature. See me if you need ideas. READ YOUR BOOK!!! The nature of this project allows me to discern if you have actually read the book.
OPTION #1 Elaborate Book to Movie! Create a movie poster of your book it should include: *NOTE: The movie poster is NOT an option if the book is a movie. Also, the movie poster cannot look like the cover of your book. Be original! On the front of the Poster: 1) Your Movie s title (this should be the same as the book) 2) A significant scene from your book on the poster to give us clues about the plot, setting, themes and characters. 3) Lots of color! Make it attractive. The less white on the poster, the better! 4) A tag line to entice viewers and give them a little insight into the plot and characters. a. Example: A thriller that follows two young lovers on an adventure across time. 5) A rating who is this book/movie appropriate for? (G to PG-13 there probably shouldn t be an R!) 6) A list of stars in the movie. Pick out some of your favorite actors or even your friends to play the parts of the characters in your book. The Director should be the book s author. On the back (typed): 1) A typed Film Critic s Review what would a critic say about this movie? Give it some STARS (* = worst and ***** is the best) This is your chance to really demonstrate your thoughts on the book: what did you like about it and why? What was not so great about it and why? What characters were the most powerful? What do the character s experience and what lessons were learned? What conflicts were the most significant? What did the author/director do well? What emotions did it make you feel? What will make this movie worth watching? You must address ALL of these questions! **To support your responses to these questions, please include within it at least FIVE quotes from your novel. 2) An explanation of why you chose the scene you did on the front of your poster: What does it reveal about this book? Why is it an important scene? What insight does it offer about character, themes, setting, and/or plot? 3) An explanation of why you chose the rating for your book/movie that you did. Give some examples from the book to support this rating this means you need at least two quotes from the book! 4) An explanation of why you chose the cast members of the movie that you did. What about their appearance and personality made them a great fit for the character they will play? Be detailed! Grading Scale: The poster is aesthetically pleasing and colorful 10 The poster has a catchy tagline, rating, starred rating, title, director, and cast list 5 A typed film critic review that is: specific, detailed, and aligned with the requirements (5 quotes!) 20 The poster is an accurate and revealing rendition of the book, offers insight 20 --thorough explanation of chosen scene s significance --images insightful to plot, characters, setting, and/or theme The book s ratings are fully explained and supported by at least TWO quotes from the book 10 A complete explanation of cast member choices and why they fit the role assigned 10 COMMENTS TOTAL: /75
OPTION #2 Bag Assignment - Elaborate Select a main character from the book you read. Decide what kind of bag they might carry: a purse? a suitcase? a backpack? etc. The type of bag you select should fit with both the character s personality as well as the era of the book be sure to fully explain WHY this character has this type of bag! You can choose to bring in the actual bag or create it out of paper, this might depend on what type of bag the character you selected would carry. It is then your task to decide what items the character would carry in this bag. You should select 10 or more items. These items should have significance to the plot of the story as well as the personality of the character. You can fill the bag with the actual items if you have them, or if the item is too large, you could put a picture of the object in the bag (such as a magazine cut out). To each object you must attach an explanation of why you chose that item to be in the bag as well as a quote from the book (with page numbers!) to prove this further. Work towards the symbolic when possible. It should look something like this: Red Nail Polish: Rebecca is very lady-like and girly. In the novel, she is always doing her best to look presentable and polished. She is very self-conscious about how she looks. The color red represents the passion that she feels for Roberto. QUOTE: She reapplied her red lipstick with great care. She needed to look good. She only hoped he would be at school today. p 155 Grading Scale: The bag selected is appropriate to the character/time era and the reason for its selection is well explained (you need to write this out!) **The Title & Author appear on the bag somewhere /10 An actual bag and 10 items are either brought in or created (pictures okay) /10 The items in the bag are significant /15 to the character s personality and the story plot. Each item s significance is thoroughly explained in accordance to the character s /20 personality and the plot of the story. A quote is attached to each item that supports the item s significance (page # included) /20 TOTAL: /75 COMMENTS:
OPTION #3 Book Playlist Elaborate Select a set of 6 to 8 songs that you think relate to the events, characters, or themes in the novel you read. Put these on a CD. In the case of your CD, put a creative cover for your CD that should represent some major aspect of the book such as events, theme, characters, or conflicts. The cover should also include the name of the novel you read, the author, and of course your name and class period. You must include a short written explanation of why you chose the cover art you did. Then, as an attachment include a copy of song lyrics and at least a paragraph explanation (8-10 sentences) with each song about HOW this song depicts some important aspect of the book and WHY you chose it. You must be detailed and refer to specific events, characters, conflicts, or themes in the novel. Support these details with an actual quote from the book. Connect these quotes to the words of the song! Be creative! *Talk to me if you are unable to burn a CD. Only burn content legally meaning you OWN it. Grading Scale: 6-8 songs were selected, burned to a CD, and presented in a CD case /5 6-8 songs were selected and explained related to: events, characters, conflicts and themes in the novel -each song explanation is at least 8-10 sentences /10 -each song choice is explained as how it relates specifically to the novel (see above) /20 -appropriate quotes (with page numbers) are used to support the song choice /10 The CD cover art is representative of major events, themes, characters or conflicts which is made clear in a written explanation /15 The CD cover includes: the title, author, your name and class period /5 The song lyrics are included in the CD case /10 TOTAL: /75 Points COMMENTS:
Shorter Options 32 points each Each of these options requires that you demonstrate, though briefly, that you have read the entire book. Your writing should be concise, but it should be enough explanation to provide your teacher with insights into the basic plot of your text. The ending or resolution should be revealed. For each project, include the author and title of the book as well as your full name and class period. Wordle Board Create a Wordle using www.wordle.net or another comparable site that gives a word snap shot of the content of your choice novel. Your Wordle s largest words should be the most significant ideas, themes, conflicts, and people in your story. Your Wordle should include at least 25 different words. The top five most significant words that pertain to your story (these should be the largest sized font in your Wordle) need to be explained in a few sentences as to their significance in your story. Print your Wordle and type your explanations. Comic Strip Plot Map Complete a Story Map via a comic strip. Select an event from the exposition, several events from the rising action, the climax, any falling action and finally the resolution and present them through the medium of a comic strip. You should have at least seven frames but no more than twelve frames total. This should be colored or attractively shaded. Word bubbles and/or summary statements should be a part of each frame. Journal Entry of your Novel s Climax Identify the climax of your story. Write a journal entry from the perspective of your main character(s) as the climax unfolds. This entry should be approximately 1 to 1 ½ pages typed. Then, complete a short (one paragraph) explanation of why you believe this is the story s climax as well as explain briefly how the story resolves (the ending). In total, this is a maximum of two typed pages for this entire option. Interpretive Dance Choreograph a dance the best captures the primary conflict in the book you read. Perform it for the class to a song (two minutes long at least) that likewise relates to the topics of the book such as its conflict and themes. Upon completion of your performance, give a brief one minute explanation of your performance and its relationship to your book. Write a Song/Rap Write a song/rap that gives insights into the plot of your story including the climax and resolution as well as conflict information. Incorporate some of the thematic topics your story covers as well (i.e. love, death, pain, family, etc.). Set your song/rap to a current beat or create your own melody. Perform your creation for the class.
Rubric Shorter Independent Reading Projects *note be sure to carefully read your chosen option s requirements! Name: Class Period: Title: Author: Project Option: Conflicts and/or Themes 4 Points Advanced 3 Points 2 Points Approaching 1 Points Needs Improvement 0 Points Below Standard or Incomplete Plot Components Neatness and Presentation Quality including Grammar Met All Assignment Overall Comments: Total: points x 2 = points Grade:
Rubric Shorter Independent Reading Projects *note be sure to carefully read your chosen option s requirements! Name: Class Period: Title: Author: Project Option: Conflicts and/or Themes 4 Points Advanced 3 Points 2 Points Approaching 1 Points Needs Improvement 0 Points Below Standard or Incomplete Plot Components Neatness and Presentation Quality including Grammar Met All Assignment Overall Comments: Total: points x 2 = points Grade: