Marvelous World Book 1: The Marvelous Effect English Language Arts Standards» Reading: Literature» Grades 6-8 This document outlines how Marvelous World Book 1: The Marvelous Effect meets the requirements of the Common Core State Standard Initiative for grades 6 8. (Abridged) Key Ideas and Details Question 1 RI.6.1. Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. RI.7.1. Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. RI.8.1. Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. The Marvelous Effect offers many examples where there are explicit and inferred meanings. One such example is Louis Proof s explicit reference to his desire for material possessions to validate his worth. The inferred meaning is that individuals can place value on material possessions above immaterial qualities such as character something that made Louis well liked among all of his friends before his coma. (125-126) Students will have the opportunity to analyze and reference relevant portions of the text for implied and explicit meaning. Question 2 RI.6.2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
RI.7.2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text. RI.8.2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text. The Marvelous Effect has a central theme that family and friends are very important to personal success and development. Every time that the main character, Louis Proof, is in some sort of peril, either his family and friends or a mixture of both are there to help him in some way. This theme becomes a motif and develops while becoming more important over time. For example, Brandon Davis, who has no super powers, constantly supports Louis Proof throughout the novel and even saves Louis from his ultimate demise. (364) Question 3 RI.6.3. Describe how a particular story s or drama s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. RI.7.3. Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot). The Marvelous Effect is a story with a plot that develops over time and consistently places Louis Proof within situations that force him to grow in strength and character. One such example is when he must truly be generous and sacrifice is all-powerful Alonis Medallion to save his cousin Lacey Proof. (239 240) This is essential in order for him to develop the ability to resolve the central conflict the destruction of the social contract. RI.8.3. Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
There are multiple examples of where dialogue and incidents within The Marvelous Effect propel the action forward. One such example is when Louis begins to question his own values and his uncle Albert points out the estrangement. Louis must decide if he is going to make a change for the worse or remain on the honest path that his parents have modeled for him. (125-126) Craft and Structure Question 4 RI.6.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone. RI.7.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama. RI.8.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts. The Marvelous Effect offers students opportunities to analyze the varied meaning, implications, usage and allusions of words. One such example is the sentence It seemed to always be there like a noose around Louis s neck or a raspy snake constantly hissing in his ear or a scratchy two times thick burlap coat draped over his bare skin. It was annoying. It was haunting. It was the vacuum of confusion created by the loss of three months. (155) This sentence offers multiple literary devices such as anaphora, onomatopoeia, internal rhyme and alliteration for students to recognize and understand the true intent of word choice in creating a specific tone ect. The novel employs many other literary devices throughout. Question 5
RI.6.5. Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot. The Marvelous Effect is a multi-layered text; many different elements of the novel fit into the development of theme, setting, and/or plot. One such example is when Louis Proof experiences a turning point while in the thought dimension. During that example he strengthens his resolve, is able to realize see why the entire plot has been happening, and understands why he must fulfill his destiny as a hero. (302 304) RI.7.5. Analyze how a drama s or poem s form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning. This book has a highly unique structure that is unlike any other book. It is written in three parts. Level One, Level Five and Six. Levels Two, Three, and Four are missing. This serves as a major plot device and presents Louis with lost time where he must try to decipher what is actually going on during the present progression of the story. He must also eventually remember what happened during the missing segments (this is the focus of the sequel/prequel to The Marvelous Effect). RI.8.5. Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style. The Marvelous Effect offers students the opportunity to juxtapose separate texts that examine the state of the JunkYard JunkLot before and after Louis Proof s coma. Each text has a very distinctive tone and meaning. Also, The Marvelous Effect (15 16) and The Scarlet Letter (Chapter One: The Prison Door) both contain examples of a Utopia but the writer s styles depict them as total opposites when juxtaposed. Question 6 RI.6.6. Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text. The Marvelous Effect has multiple narrators. One of them is reliable narrator and one is intrusive. Each of them has a different perspective and brings different elements of the story to the attention of the reader.
RI.7.6. Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text. RI.8.6. Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor. Many opposing positions are present in The Marvelous Effect, perhaps the most central example of contrasting opinions are the two distinct perspectives on freedom demonstrated in the text. One perspective is that freedom does not exist in this country because laws and the fear of punishment keep people in check so they do not act solely upon selfish desires. The other perspective is that America is the land of the free and that we do experience true freedom. These conflicting views cause the main character to take pause and truly question what the reality of what freedom is. (362 363). Integration of Knowledge and Ideas Question 7 RI.6.7. Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they see and hear when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch. RI.7.7. Compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium (e.g., lighting, sound, color, or camera focus and angles in a film). RI.8.7. Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.
The Marvelous Effect is available in audio from Random House Listening Library Audio. Students are able to hear how audiobook reader, Malcolm Jamal Warner, brings elements such as alliteration and internal rhyme to life as they are found within the book. This will allow for students to determine the nuances of the adapted work. Question 8 8. (Not applicable to literature) Question 9 RI.6.9. Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics. The Marvelous Effect contains themes found within various other forms of literature: the theme of duality is present in the novel as well as in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the concept of the shattering of the social contract is also found within The Lord of the Flies, the exploration of the reality of war also present in All Quiet on the Western Front, and finally, the concept of an utopia similarly explored in The Scarlet Letter. All of these concepts can be found in each text and then compared and contrasted. RI.7.9. Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history. The Marvelous Effect makes use of various time periods during a visit to the Thought Dimension. The time periods are merged together to create a horrifically wondrous world that Louis Proof must navigate in order to resolve the central conflict. (286-290) RI.8.9. Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including describing how the material is rendered new. The Marvelous Effect offers a unique spin on the three temptations of Christ when Louis Proof is tempted three times while in the Thought Dimension. (268 276) Christ s ability to walk on water is also alluded to when Louis runs on water to get to New York City. (322)
Question 10 RI.6-8.10. By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6 8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. The Marvelous Effect is a complex work of literature that is easily readable by grades 6 and up. It stresses the values of self-confidence, family, friends, freedom and truth. It embodies the concepts of Rationalism, Empiricism, Contractualism, Immaterialism and Materialism thereby exposing readers to the philosophy of Kant, Hume, Berkeley and Rousseau. This book also exposes students to multiple literary devices and promotes critical thinking as it presents contrasting views on topics.