Mr. Watson, Advanced English I. 100 points. Due Date: Your goal is to read a
book of your choice and demonstrate what you've learned in a two- part project.
INDEPENDENT BOOK PROJECT Mr. Watson, Advanced English I 100 points Due Date: _______________________________________ Your goal is to read a book of your choice and demonstrate what you’ve learned in a twopart project. Book guidelines: 1) It must be either a prose novel or a non-fiction book that tells one main “story.” (A biography would count.) No short story or poetry collections, graphic novels, movie novelizations, or “how-to”/informational texts. 2) The book must be 225 pages or more. This is somewhat flexible. 3) The book should be one that the student has not read before the project (or plans to read as part of the current academic year’s classes). 4) No HARRY POTTER or TWILIGHT books! All books must be shown to Mr. Watson for final approval. I also reserve to right to limit the number of readers on the same book title, as well as the number of people signed up for specific Part Two ideas, so first come, first serve! After you have read the book, you must complete two parts of your Project. PART ONE (worth 50 points total): Please TYPE up the answers to the following. I. Summarize the book in no more than 5 sentences. II. What was the main POINT OF VIEW of the book? III. What was the main TONE of the book? Explain. IV. What was one of the THEMES of the book? Explain. V. Give one open-ended (i.e., not yes/no or one word answer) Question you had while reading the book. VI. Give one Aha! you had while reading the book. VII. Describe one Monitor moment you had while reading the book (a moment when you “zoned out” or lost comprehension). Explain why/how it happened. VIII. Describe one Predict/Infer you had while reading the book. Explain it. IX. Give two Connections you made while reading the book. Explain it. X. Give two memorable examples of a Literary term or device. Quote the text directly, give page numbers, and correctly identify the term or device. PART TWO (worth 50 points): Pick one of the twenty ideas on the following pages to demonstrate your comprehension and understanding of the book by synthesizing your knowledge with a creative product. The key here is creative; use the guidelines for each idea as a minimal requirement for completion. If you have any questions along the way, please ask me! Each student will share both Parts above with the rest of the class on the due date given. Have fun!
1. CHARACTER ASTROLOGY SIGNS. After reading brief descriptions of astrology or sun signs, figure out which signs you think THREE of the main characters from your book was born under. Write an explanation of why you think they fit the signs, drawing on their actions, attitudes, and thoughts from the book. 2. HEROES AND SUPERHEROES. Take your protagonist and select THREE people your character would think of as a hero or superhero. (Heroes can be real people or imaginary.) Describe the characteristics of each hero and why those characteristics would be important to your protagonist, AND at least ONE characteristic/superpower from EACH hero that your protagonist would most want, and why. 3. COLLEGE APPLICATION. Get or print off a real college application (from the Internet is fine). Fill it out from the point of view of one of your main characters; base it as much as what the book tells you and infer the rest. For the essay portion, type at least one double-spaced page. (If no essay section, see Mr. Watson.) 4. CREATE A HOME PAGE. Select one of your main characters and create a home or MySpace page. This can be “virtual” (on a piece of 22” x 28” or bigger posterboard) or actually posted on the web; however, print off pages to share, since we will not be able to access the site at school. Include pictures, appropriate backgrounds and text, and at least FIVE website favorite links. Be sure to write up a short explanation of how you made the decisions you did and what you believe this tells us about the character. 5. CHAT ROOM / INSTANT MESSAGE CONVERSATIONS. Imagine that TWO or more or your characters meet online and begin talking. (If it’s a chat room, which room and why?) Write at least one page of the transcript of their conversation. 6. CARTOON STRIP / COMIC BOOK. Create a comic strip or book of at least SIX boxes or panels to dramatize a dramatic event from the book. Use a piece of posterboard (22” x 28” or bigger), folded or kept flat. Be sure to use both text and images. 7. DREAM VACATION. Where do you think one of your main characters would most like to go on vacation? Pick a spot, and print at least TWO pages from the Internet (or get a travel brochure) detailing the location. Type up a one page paper that gives a seven day journal/itinerary detailing the character’s trip; be sure to explain in your first “entry” why he or she would go there. 8. MUSIC SOUNDTRACK. Divide your book into at least FIVE sections. Find a piece of music or a song that you feel best captures the feel or tone for each section. Type up a one page paper describing each song/piece and explain why it best fits each section. (You may bring in the music to share if you like.) 9. POETRY. Write THREE poems in response to the novel. The poems can be about the characters, setting, or the themes of the book. One of these poems can be a Found Poem, taking a passage from the book that you feel has particularly powerful or interesting imagery and words and rearranging them in verse form. (See F451 example.) 10. FILE A COMPLAINT. Adapt the persona of one of the characters of the book who you feel was unfairly portrayed in a sexist, homophobic, or racist manner. Write a letter of complaint to the publisher explaining what you feel was unjust in your portrayal (give at least THREE examples) and explain the actions you would like the author to take to remedy the biased portrayal. 11. TALK TO THE AUTHOR. Write a letter to the author of the book explaining to him or her why you think he or she wrote the book and what he or she was trying to show through the book (bigger themes, morals, etc.). Be sure to explain what you got out of the book. If the author is still alive, mail him or her a copy of the letter via the publisher of the book! 12. CHARACTER MONOLOGUE. Take one significant event/moment in the story, pick the point of view of ONE character, and write a one page monologue based on their perspective of the event. You can adapt the text and embellish as necessary. Perform the
monologue in character for the class; before beginning, make sure to briefly introduce what is going on in the scene so we can follow the action. 13. ANSWERING MACHINE MESSAGES. Select FIVE characters from the book and record an appropriate answering machine / voice mail greeting for each. These greetings should reveal character and information from the book. Pay particular attention to diction and tone. Turn in the recordings on a CD-R (which will be played for the class) along with a copy of your “script.” (Note: for added realism, use mobile phones to make beeps, and actually call through a speaker phone so the voice sounds “canned.”) 14. NAME ANALYSIS. Select THREE characters from the book. Look up each name in name books / web searches (baby name books and sites can help!). Write your found meanings down, and write a paragraph for each character explaining in what ways the name is suitable and in what ways the name does not fit the character. 15. ADVERTISEMENTS. Pick ONE major character of the book. To show your understanding of the character, go through several magazines and newspapers looking for advertisements of FIVE goods you think your character would like. Do not make up or draw advertisements; find existing ones! Cut out the pictures, post them on posterboard, and under each picture explain why each product would appeal to your character. 16. DRAW A SCENE, CHARACTER OR OBJECT. Pick ONE important scene, character or object from the book and draw it the way you see it. (Material and media is up to the artist, but size should be at least 22” x 28”.) Type up a short explanation for what the focus is, and why you represented it the way you did. Note: no reproductions of book covers or movie posters! The picture should be original. 17. CREATE A CHARACTER’S ROOM. We learn a lot about people by what they keep in their closets, what they have on their walls, what they select to put in a room. Select ONE character you know well and create a living room, bedroom, kitchen, etc. that would mean a lot to the character. Create a diorama, draw it, or write about it. Make sure to include an explanation of your choices of style, objects, etc. in the room. 18. CD COLLECTION / MP3 PLAYLIST. Design a CD collection or playlist for ONE character you know well, being sure that the collection includes music that expresses as many aspects of the character as you are aware of. You must include at least FIVE CDs / songs. Make sure to explain each CD/song choice. (You may bring in the music to share if you like.) 19. CHARACTER ALPHABET. Choose ONE character you liked and then create sentences based on the alphabet scheme that demonstrates your knowledge of the character. For example: A is for the ABSENCE that made Romeo’s heart grow fonder for Juliet. B is for the BANISHMENT of Romeo after killing Tybalt. . . . 20. COMPOSE A SONG / RAP. Write a two-minute song or rap that you will perform for the class. The song can be a parody or completely original; it must be age-appropriate; it should concentrate on ONE character, major event, or theme from the book. On the day of the performance, you must introduce the song first (explain its point of view and what it’s about) and turn in the lyrics to Mr. Watson. If the song is vulgar or crude, you will get a zero for Part B of the project.
Adapted from Diana Mitchell’s “Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report (Teaching Ideas),” English Journal 87.1 [January 1998]: 92-95.
Fahrenheit 451 Found Poem
WHERE THEY BURN BOOKS, THEY WILL END . . . It was a pleasure to Burn to see things eaten blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists This great python Spitting its venomous kerosene upon the World The blood pounded in his head His hands The hands of an amazing Conductor Playing all the symphonies of Blazing and Burning to Bring down the Tatters and charcoal ruins of History. ---Adam Watson, 2007
INDEPENDENT BOOK PROJECT RUBRIC Student: _________________________________________ Text: ____________________________________________
Part I QUANTITY
QUALITY
All ten parts completed, extra parts/information may be included
Creative, insightful, careful investment of time evident, very informative Some moments of insight, effort evident, informative Effective, somewhat informative, some effort evident At times or parts are ineffective, information not clear or missing/incorrect, little effort evident Ineffective, little or no accurate information given, no effort evident
One of the ten parts missing or incomplete Two of the ten parts missing or incomplete Three of the ten parts missing or incomplete
Four or more of the ten parts missing or incomplete
GRADE / POINTS / COMMENTS 5 / 50 points
4 / 45 points 3 / 40 points 2 / 35 points
1 / 30 points
* Note: grade cannot be any higher than "Quantity" indicator. For example, if you are missing three parts, you cannot get higher than a 2 (35 points).
PART I TOTAL
/50 POINTS
Part II Project Type: ____________________________________ FOLLOW DIRECTIONS/ QUANTITY OF CONTENT
QUALITY OF CONTENT & PROJECT
PRESENTATION
GRADE / POINTS / COMMENTS
Format correct, extra parts / information may be included
Creative, insightful, careful investment of time evident, very informative Some moments of insight, effort evident, informative Effective, somewhat informative, some effort evident
Spoke clearly and confidently, presented with enthusiasm
5 / 50 points
Spoke clearly throughout, projected well Spoke clearly most of presentation, projected well at least some of the time Despite honest effort, hard to understand. Little enthusiasm shown.
4 / 45 points
No honest effort to present project
1 / 30 points
Format correct, all parts necessary are included Format correct, one part missing
Format mostly correct, two parts missing
Format incorrect, three or more parts missing
At times or parts are ineffective, information not clear or missing/incorrect, little effort evident Ineffective, little or no accurate information given, no effort evident
3 / 40 points
2 / 35 points
*Note: grade cannot be any higher than "Follow Directions/Quantity of Content" indicator. For example, if you are missing one part, you cannot get higher than a 3 (40 points).
PART II TOTAL
/50 POINTS
TOTAL PROJECT GRADE
/100 POINTS
