Classic(Partner) Book Project

Finish Reading Novel By:May 4th

**You must have a copy your classic by Monday, April 13th (day we return from Spring Break)

PART 1: Annotation of the text

  1. As you read, annotate the novel. In other words, highlight notable words, phrases, and/or sentences and write questions, comments, connections, and reactions in the margins.
  2. Questions – interpretive questions or ask about something you don’t understand
  3. Signposts – mark any signpost you see (again and again, memory moment, words of the wiser, aha moment, tough questions, contrasts and contradictions) by labeling it and writing that signposts question to discuss during the meeting days
  4. Comments - note instances of interesting word choice, imagery, character motivations, and literary devices, etc. that might suggest an author purpose or theme
  5. Connections – make text-text connections (ways the book relates to another book, a movie, a television show an article, etc.), text-self connections (ways the book relates to you), text-world connections (ways the book relates to things that exist in our society)
  6. Reactions – this can be something you think is funny or interesting, something you agree with or disagree with
  7. Predictions – what do you think is going to happen next, is this foreshadowing?
  8. Write any insights or ideas about the novel on the title page or inside covers of the book.
  9. The number of annotations may vary amongst students and chapters, your annotation should reflect a high level of engagement with the text. You need to agree with your partner and check with Mrs. Miller about the minimum number of annotations you will have before your next meeting. If reading individually, you just need to OK your number with Mrs. Miller.

***If for any reason you are unable to buy the book, reader response journals may be substituted. Use the following format:

• Fold paper in half lengthwise or use two equal sized text boxes.

• On the left side, copy quotations that would have highlighted. Use quotation marks and write page numbers for each quotation.

• On the right side, write your questions, comments, connections, and reactions

• Please keep entries parallel on the page. Reader response journals must reflect a high level of engagement with the text.

PART 2: Non-fiction reading & response

One day, after Spring Break, we will spend a class period going to the libraryand/or lab. You will find non-fiction resourcesthat will tell you more about the context of the novel you have chosen to read (i.e. the time period it was written, biographical information about theauthor). Mrs. Miller will provide you with a template for taking notes and making text-text connections on this day. These notes will provide you research needed for your presentation.

PART 3: Presentation

Critics Corner OR Book Commercial (you will receive more details later).

  1. Requirements in Presentation:
  1. Name and author of novel; picture of or actual book
  2. Introduce the main character(s) and describe setting
  3. Exposition/Rising Action
  4. Climax
  5. Falling Action/Resolution
  6. Author’s Influence – What influenced the author to write this story?
  7. Why you would OR would not recommend this book?
  8. Include at least two reasons for your opinion
  9. Include examples from the book to support each reason
  10. Closing statements regarding who might like/not like to read the book

Classic (Partner) Book Project

Suggested Classics – 6th Grade Language Arts (must have a copy by Monday, April 13)

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (abridged version)

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The Jungle Bookby Rudyard Kipling

Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (abridged versions)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathon Swift

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred Taylor

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (choose one of the three)

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

20,000 Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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Permission Slip due Thursday, April 2Student Name: ______

Partner(s): ______

Classic Title Choice: ______

Why I chose this book: ______
______
Student signature: ______Date: ______
Parent signature: ______Date: ______

Name: ______

Partner’s Name(s): ______

Reading Partnership Planning Sheet

Title of Book:______

Author of Book: ______

“Meeting the Book” Meeting (before you start the book) on Monday, April 13

  1. What do you think the book will be about?
  2. Have you read other books by the same author?
  3. Set up reading calendar
  4. Agree upon minimum # of annotations you will have by next meeting and check with Mrs. Miller
  5. Computer Lab – independently work on Nonfiction Reading & Response

First Discussion Meeting on Monday, April 20

  1. What is happening in the book so far? (retell the story together)
  2. Discuss confusing parts of the story
  3. What connections have you made while reading?
  4. Discuss signpost questions that came up while you read this part of the story.
  5. Share interpretive questions and discuss answers.
  6. Make predictions about what will happen next in the story.
  7. Agree upon minimum # of annotations you will have by next meeting and check with Mrs. Miller

Second Discussion Meeting on Monday, April 27

  1. What is happening in the book so far? (retell the story together)
  2. Discuss confusing parts of the story
  3. What connections have you made while reading?
  4. Discuss signpost questions that came up while you read this part of the story.
  5. Share interpretive questions and discuss answers.
  6. Make predictions about what will happen next in the story.
  7. Agree upon minimum # of annotations you will have by next meeting and check with Mrs. Miller

Final Discussion Meeting on Monday, May 4

  1. What happened at the end? (retell the ending together)
  2. Discuss confusing parts of the ending
  3. Were you surprised by the way the story ended? Did you like the ending?
  4. Discuss signpost questions that came up while you read this part of the story.
  5. Share “lingering” questions about the story.
  6. Choose and begin to plan your Final Book Project.