Literature Circle: Analysis of Literary Elements
Character Reading Notes
Week 1
Write the names of the main characters in the character column. Assign each character a color. As the characters grow and change highlight words that describe their character traits.
Character / Color Key
Week 1 Weekly Response Summary Paragraph
2. How do the main character’s thoughts, words and actions reveal his or her motivations and show their character traits? Use your graphic organizer and the quotes to help you with this section. Include the four traits you listed and support it with the evidence from the text. (after reading)
______
Character Traits / Week 1(Student evaluation) / Week 1
(Teacher evaluation)
Graphic Organizer
Graphic organizer of the weekly skill is complete with accurate information / ___/5 / ___/5
Discussion Participation
1. Offers relevant remarks using accurate information from the text / ___/5 / ___/5
Reflection Paragraph
1. Provides at least two appropriate quotes that relate to the main character’s personality
2. Includes evidence to support your opinion pertaining to the character’s personality. / ____/10 / ____/10
Total / _____/20 / _____/20
Comments:
Point of View Reading Notes
Session 2
Point of View Questions:
1. How is this point of view similar or different the others in the story? Explain.
______
2. How does the author’s point of view affect how you think about the characters and how the events are being told?
______
3. Do you trust the author’s point of view? Why or why not? Give details from the text to support your opinion.
______
4. Is the author’s point of view objective? Give reasons.
______
Week 2 Weekly Response Summary Paragraph
2. How does the point of view of the author affect the text? Use your graphic organizer and the quotes to help you with this section. Include the four traits you listed and support it with the evidence from the text. Use your graphic organizer and questions to help guide your response.(after reading)
______
Point of View / Week 2(Student evaluation) / Week 2
(Teacher evaluation)
Graphic Organizer
Graphic organizer of the weekly skill and questions are complete with accurate information and citations where required / ___/5 / ___/5
Discussion Participation
2. Offers relevant remarks using accurate information from the text / ___/5 / ___/5
Reflection Paragraph
1. Provides at least two appropriate quotes from the text that demonstrate the author’s perspective.
2. Includes evidence to support your opinion on the impact on the author’s perspective. / ____/10 / ____/10
Total / _____/20 / _____/20
Comments:
Setting Reading Notes
Session 3
How often do references to setting appear in the story? Use your literature circle story to help you get ideas. Respond to the following directions by reading and rereading what you have read for your literature circle book so far.
1. Copy three different excerpts from the story that refer to settings. Underline descriptive words about the setting. Be sure to include the paragraph and page number where you found each example of setting. ______
2. Stories have to begin somewhere. The author decides where the story will take place, but because stories have to have things happen, the author often changes the place or the time of the day. Changing the place or time in a story sets the scene for new action to occur. Locate a scene change. What action occurred there? How did it impact the story?
______
Week 3 Weekly Response Summary Paragraph
2. How does the setting affect the problems that the characters are facing? Use your graphic organizer and the quotes to help you with this section. Include the details about events that occurred in the setting and support it with the evidence from the text. Use your questions to help guide your response. (after reading)
______
Name: / Week 3(Student evaluation) / Week 3
(Teacher evaluation)
Graphic Organizer
Questions are complete with accurate information and citations where required / ___/5 / ___/5
Discussion Participation
Offers relevant remarks about the weekly skill using accurate information from the text / ___/5 / ___/5
Reflection Paragraph
1. Provides at least two appropriate quotes from the text that demonstrate how the setting impacts the character.
2. Includes evidence to support your opinion on the impact on the impact of setting. / ____/10 / ____/10
Total / _____/20 / _____/20
Comments:
Plot Reading Notes
Session 4
Resolution / Falling Action / Climax / Rising Action / Exposition
Week 4 Weekly Response Summary Paragraph
2. How do the chapters fit together to provide the overall structure of your literature circle story. How does the problem impact the plot? Use your graphic organizer to help you with this section. Include the details about the events in the story and how they lead up to climax in the story, how it impacts the climax in the story, the conflicts and types that are in the story and what your prediction for the theme is and why. Use your graphic organizer to help guide your response.(after reading) ______
Name: / Week 4(Student evaluation) / Week 4
(Teacher evaluation)
Graphic Organizer
Graphic organizer of the weekly skill with accurate information and citations where required / ___/5 / ___/5
Discussion Participation
1. Offers relevant remarks about the weekly skill using accurate information from the text / ___/5 / ___/5
Reflection Paragraph
1. Provides at least two appropriate quotes from the text that demonstrate the plot.
2. Includes the conflict type, conflict, and the events leading up to the climax / ____/10 / ____/10
Total / _____/20 / _____/20
Comments:
Tone and Mood Reading Notes
Session 5
Mood and Tone
Directions: Provide examples of mood and tone. Mood is the feeling of a literary work. It is synonymous with atmosphere and ambiance. The mood is set by the author’s use of diction, description, setting, and characterization. Tone is the author’s attitude about the subject matter and characters. The tone might be sarcastic, straight forward, pessimistic, optimistic, etc. Readers understand an author’s tone through the use of style and dictation.
In short, mood is what the reader feels about the story and tone is what the author feels about it.
Week 5 Weekly Response Summary Paragraph
2. How does the author’s tone affect the mood of the story? Use your graphic organizer and the details from the text to help you with this section. Include the details from the text that demonstrate mood and tone. (after reading)
______
Name: / Week 5(Student evaluation) / Week 5
(Teacher evaluation)
Graphic Organizer
Graphic organizer of the weekly skill with accurate information and citations where required / ___/5 / ___/5
Discussion Participation
1. Offers relevant remarks about the weekly skill using accurate information from the text / ___/5 / ___/5
Reflection Paragraph
1. Provides at least two appropriate quotes from the text that demonstrate the mood and tone of your story.
2. Includes evidence to support your opinion. / ____/10 / ____/10
Total / _____/20 / _____/20
Comments:
Theme Reading Notes
Session 6
Common Themes in Books
You will find that many books include a theme, or lesson, that is revealed as you read the story. Below are common themes you will find in your books.
Acceptance / These books have characters who respect & accept others' differences and beliefs.Courage / These books have brave characters who have the strength to overcome a fear or accept a risk.
Perseverance / These books have characters who never give up even when facing difficult times.
Cooperation / These books have characters who work together to solve a problem or achieve a goal.
Compassion / These books have characters who want to make those who are suffering feel better.
Honesty / These books have characters who find that it is best to always tell the truth.
Kindness / These books have friendly characters who are generous and considerate of others.
Loyalty / These books have characters who trust each other and never turn their backs on their friends.
Week 6 Weekly Response Summary Paragraph
2. What major events lead to the theme of the story? Be specific! Include all the events and details from the text that contribute to the theme. Use your graphic organizer and the details from the text to help you with this section. (after reading)
______
Name: / Week 6(Student evaluation) / Week 6
(Teacher evaluation)
Graphic Organizer
Graphic organizer of the weekly skill with accurate information and citations where required / ___/5 / ___/5
Discussion Participation
1. Offers relevant remarks about the weekly skill using accurate information from the text / ___/5 / ___/5
Reflection Paragraph
1. Provides the theme and at least two appropriate quotes from the text that demonstrate the theme
2. Includes the support for the theme / ____/10 / ____/10
Total / _____/20 / _____/20
Comments:
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