Independent Novel Study
Name:______
Choosing Your Novel – Science Fiction
Books are available in the library. Students are encouraged to choose their book from the ones provided by Mr. Reilly and I. Students should ensure that they would find the book interesting.
If you are in doubt about a particular title, spend some time online, completing a quick ‘Google’ search, which may assist in finding the book that will most appeal to you.
If you want to read a book NOT from the list, you must consult with the teacher first. All books must be approved first, to receive credit. Any book shown to you by Mr. Reilly does not require the teacher’s approval.
Once you have chosen your book from the list you need to do two things:
1. Register which book you have chosen, with the teacher – either in person or by email.
There will be a maximum of two people, only, per book, so choose quickly.
2. Submit a “Reading Plan” to the Ms. Shumway through e-mail or on paper in class by Friday, 4/29. Your reading plan must include:
o Basic Info:
_ Your full name, Your book title, and author.
_ Total number of pages in your book
o Book Sections
_ 4 Sections by page number AND chapter.
o Reading Plan
_ Date you want to start and date you want to finish. You may want to finish this unit in two weeks or work on it all marking period, it’s up to you.
_ Dates you want each section completed, and the number of pages you need to read each day.
Suggestions for Developing a “Reading Plan”
· I have scheduled April 27th, May 6th, 13th, and 20th as SSR Days.
· I will be doing a Reading Check on those days, so I will be expecting to see what page you are on and that you have completed the requirements (Vocab Glossary and Reading Log).
· The last check will be May 27th, our last day of class, where I will collect your WNBs.
· Therefore, I would suggest that you schedule your reading plan to be completed the day before SSR/Reading Check days.
Below is a sample ‘Reading Plan’.
Independent Novel Study - Reading Plan
Basic Info
My Name: John Smith
Book: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Total Pages: 370
Sections
Section 1: Ch 1-7; pages 1-91
Section 2: Ch 8-15; pages 93-178
Section 3: Ch 15-21; pages 179 - 284
Section 4: Ch 22 - 27; pages 285 – 370
Reading Plan May 5, 2011 – May 27, 2011
Section 1: Due May. 5; 30 pages per day
Section 2: Due May 12; 28 pages per day
Section 3: Due May 19; 35 pages per day
Section 4: Due May 26; 28 pages per day
As You Read: Vocabulary Glossary (25 points)
One goal of this class is to make your vocabulary more sophisticated. The only way to do that is to read new words and take the time to look up words you don't know. This is particularly important with science fiction novels, which often use very technical terminology.
For EACH SECTION (4) of your book, you need to add three new vocabulary words to your WNB under a section you will title “Vocabulary Glossary”. In total you will be adding 12 new words to your vocabulary!
For each word, you will need to have:
1. Correct Spelling
2. Part of Speech
3. Definition #1
4. Sentence it was used (context) with a page number.
Do not pick words that you already know. You will be graded on the variety and originality of your words.
As You Read: Reading Journal (in WNB) (20 points per entry)
After EACH SECTION you will complete a “Reading Journal”. The journal is intended to be an account of your journey through the book. In your WNB, you will record your responses to the novel as you read through it.
Be sure to be specific and give lots of detail. The reading journal should be roughly 2-3 paragraphs and should cover as many of the following questions as possible. Not all of the points listed below will apply for each section of your book, so don’t feel like you need to answer these questions; they are just a guide to help you.
Your journal entry should show that you are thinking about what you are reading and that you are evaluating and analyzing the content.
What kinds of things in the writing should you respond to? Not all of these points will work for every section of your book, so don’t feel like you need to answer these questions; they are just a guide to help you.
· Characters - What kind of person is this character? What do you think about this person and why?
· Themes - What ideas is the writer presenting and what do you think/feel about them?
· Plot - Is this an interesting story? Why/Why not?
· Mood - Is this story depressing? uplifting? Why?
· Use of figurative language - metaphor, symbolism, etc.
· Setting
· Style
· Which kind of science fiction is this novel? (Alien, Space, Time, etc)
· Feelings - How does this writing make you feel? How do you react to this writing and why?
· Thoughts - What does this writing make you think about? Does it raise important issues that are important to you? Does it deal with complicated issues and why?
· Ideas - Does this writing help you look at things in new ways? Does the writing give you any interesting ideas about life? What are these ideas?
· Experiences - What kind of experiences have you had in your life that are similar to the experiences of characters in the writing? Does this writing remind you of anything that has happened to you before?
The journal writing needs “academic honesty,” meaning that you are honestly doing the reading and responses to the novel as you read. By turning in the journal for a check, you are signifying that all of the information you’ve presented is accurate and yours.
After You Read: Final Exam
A large portion of the final exam will be an essay that you write in class on the following question:
Select 1 theme from those discussed in class, that is on the wikispace, or that you discovered for yourself. Write a 3-5 paragraph essay detailing how this theme was used in your independent novel and at least 1 other short story read in class. How does this theme help make the story(s) Science Fiction? Be sure to provide specific examples from both/all stories. Pay close attention to organization.
I would highly suggest thinking about your answer to this question ahead of the Final Exam. On the final exam you may use:
Copies of the stories read in class
Textbook
Independent Novel
1 3x5 Prepared Notecard