Personal Choice Parallel Reading English 102A - Thaler 700 POINTS Read all of the following requirements, and mark the due dates on your calendars. All work is due on the date written. If you are absent on November 21 or December 3, a parent MUST call me at school before the day is over. Otherwise, late work is not accepted. I. Notecard - Due FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7 (25 POINTS) Turn in a 3" x 5" index card with the following information: + Top left corner - Call letters for filing your book in a public library See media specialists for assistance. + Top right corner - Your full name and class period + Middle of card - Bibliography entry for your book Author's last name, first name. Title. City of publication: Publisher, earliest copyright date. USE PROPER PUNCTUATION. + Bottom left corner - Type of book (horror, romance, sci-fi, young adult, general fiction, etc.) II. Creative Representation - Due FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 (50 POINTS) Choose one of the following: 1. Create a book jacket (11" x 17") that could be used for a hardbound edition of your book. Include an introductory summary of the story and a brief biography of the author on the flaps. Your purpose is to persuade readers to buy the book, but you must also be true to the flavor and purpose of the novel. You will want to create a striking illustration for the jacket as well. 2. Create a sculpture, portrait, or some likeness of a particular character from the novel. As some physical aspects demand to be portrayed, be sure to reflect the emotions and personality of your character. Include a paragraph describing your art work, including a quotation from which the project was inspired. 3. Create a 10th grade level colorful diorama of a particular scene from the novel. Pay attention to setting and characters. Include a paragraph describing the particular scene, including a quotation from which the project was inspired. 4. Create a 10th grade level mobile of at least 5 characters from the novel. Include a picture and description of the character on the mobile. Include quotations from which the descriptions were inspired. 5. Imagine that your book is to be made into a movie. You are to design the soundtrack. Create a tape containing at least five (5) songs to match your book. Instrumental music is allowed. Include a paragraph describing how the music relates to the book, including quotations from which some of the selections were inspired. 6. Choose a scene from the novel. Illustrate the scene in the form of a comic strip, lasting at least 10-15 frames. Utilize color and captions. On the back write the quotation or paragraph from which the project was inspired. 7. Research a concept discussed in the novel - a particular disease, chemical properties of a substance, geographic location, etc. Create a handout that summarizes the information found. Include bibliographies for all sources used. On the back, write a paragraph describing how this topic relates to the novel, including a quotation from which the project was inspired. 8. OTHER - Other suggestions must be approved by me by Tuesday, Nov. 11. III. Open Book Test - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 (100 POINTS) IV. Cliff's Notes - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3 (475 POINTS) Pretend you are writing the actual Cliff's Notes to be published for this book. You must include: + Life and Background of the author - 20 POINTS + List of characters and brief description - 30 POINTS + Plot summaries and commentaries - 200 POINTS TOTAL Divide the book into 4 main sections: Section 1: Chapters _____ - _____ or Pages _______ - _______ Section 2: Chapters _____ - _____ or Pages _______ - _______ Section 3: Chapters _____ - _____ or Pages _______ - _______ Section 4: Chapters _____ - _____ or Pages _______ - _______ Write a summary for each section. 25 POINTS EACH Then write a commentary for each section. 25 POINTS EACH Analyze the text and write several paragraphs about the role of the section in the novel (what part of the plot structure), major literary techniques used (symbols, foreshadowing, writing style, etc.), and important aspects or events to understand from this section. + Literary technique essay - 100 POINTS Write a full essay about one of the following: + Character analysis - Choose one character and analyze physical description, personality, role in the novel, effects of being static/dynamic + Symbol - Choose a recurring object from the story that signifies something greater than itself. Describe what the object symbolizes and its role in the story, providing examples from the novel. + Theme - Choose a recurring idea - could be journey, power, things are not what they appear to be, childhood trauma, etc. Provide examples from the novel. + Culture - Analyze the culture of the characters in the novel. Every novel has some culture represented. (Remember there are many cultures even in the United States!) If the culture is "American," pretend you are a stranger to even basic morals, practices, etc. Focus on the aspects of culture most relevant to your text. See me for assistance! + Writing Style - How is the novel literally organized - type of sentences, type of vocabulary, order of plot, point of view, length of chapters, description of characters, events, setting, the ending + Evaluation - 75 POINTS Your opinion on the book - is it "good"? What makes it "good" or not? + Review questions - 50 POINTS Write 2 questions for each level of Bloom's Taxonomy that would be appropriate to test a student over your book. + Knowledge - recognize or recall information (identify, define, who, what, when) + Comprehension - describe, rephrase, compare/contrast, explain, find main idea + Application - classify, select, choose, apply, solve (previously learned information) + Analysis - why, analyze, conclude, distinguish, detect, determine a conclusion + Synthesis - construct, produce, plan, design, predict, create, change + Evaluation - judge, argue, appraise, do you agree, which is better NOTE: Do NOT dare to plagiarize an actual Cliff's Notes for your book. V. Literature Circles - NOVEMBER 7, NOVEMBER 20 (50 POINTS) In predetermined groups you will discuss your book in two stages. Questions will be provided for the group. The goal for the group is to broaden their knowledge base of other novels, to compare their novels to similar or dissimilar ones, to formulate their opinions about their own novels. Each member of the group must speak at least 3 times during the meeting for full credit. Each meeting will be worth 25 points for full participation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- If you have not chosen a personal choice parallel reading by Friday, October 31 and had it approved by Ms. Thaler, you will complete this assignment for Silas Marner by George Eliot. In class reading days will be announced one day in advance. If you do not bring your book to class, you will be given an additional assignment to complete in class. If you are absent on the day that Part III or IV is due, a parent MUST call me before the day is over. 770-509-6111 Unexcused absences on days of literary circles will result in a grade of 0. If you are unsure about ANY aspect of the assignment, it is YOUR responsibility to ask questions during appropriate times in class,to find me before/after school, or to e-mail me at drthaler@bellsouth.net. ************************The Test************************************* ----------------------------------------------------------- Personal Choice Parallel Reading Test - 100 Points Answer all questions on loose-leaf paper. Write in pencil or blue/black ink (no green, red, purple, etc. ink). Staple your work together when you are finished. You may use your book for assistance. 1. Bibliographic information. Follow this format EXACTLY! 5 POINTS Author's last name, first name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher,Earliest copyright date. Thaler, E. M. How to Rule the Universe. Dreamland: Insane Teacher Association, 1992. 2. Explain the meaning of the title. 5 POINTS (NOTE: If the meaning of your title is obvious, like Silas Marner, then create a new title for your book. Explain why it would be appropriate.) 3. What is the main conflict in the novel? Explain in detail using examples from the rising action, climax, and conclusion. 15 POINTS 4. Identify the protagonist. List three (3) physical characteristics. Identify three (3) personality traits. Provide one example from the story to support each personality trait. (NOTE: Do not try to repeat yourself by saying "kind, nice, and sweet" as personality traits. Each trait must be distinctly different.) 10 POINTS 5. Describe thhe setting in the following terms: 10 POINTS a. Year b. Season of the year c. Amount of time the novel spans d. Location in the universe e. Place where most action occurs f. Cultural background of characters g. Political system 6. a. What is the main theme of your novel? (An idea that is introduced, relating to the plot - like power, jealousy, etc.) 5 POINTS b. What message does the author want the reader to understand about the theme? 5 POINTS 7. a. Write the last sentence of your novel. Explain how the conclusion of the novel leads up to that sentence. 10 POINTS b. Is this sentence appropriate as "the last sentence" of your book? Why or why not? 5 POINTS 8. Is the novel based upon the workings of the heart (meant to affect you emotionally) or of the mind (meant to make you think)? Explain why using at least three (3) example from the novel. 9. With which character do you most identify? Why? Explain using examples from the character's life and your life. If none, explain the differences between yourself and the most opposite character from you using examples from the character's life and yours. 10 POINTS 10. Would your novel be different if the main character was of the opposite gender? Assume that significant others would change genders as well, if that is a factor. Explain how this change would or would not affect your story. 10 POINTS REMEMBER: Since I have probably not read your book, there is no way I can read your mind. If your answers are not very detailed, I will count them as wrong.