Name ______Period ______
Teacher: M. Beverly, 8th Grade Language Arts
Independent Reading Project
Spring Semester
Forms and Guidelines
Independent Reading Grading Rubric
Spring Semester Novel ______
Author’s Name - ______
Selection Due Date (March 6, 2015) Teacher Approval ______
Book Report Form (Spring Semester Project Rubric):
Topics / Points Obtainable / Points EarnedNovel Form / 10 points
Project #1 – / 45 points
Project #2 – / 45 points
Bonus (up to 5 points)
Total Points / _____ points
Independent Reading Project Guidelines
1. You will be required to complete an independent reading project during the Spring semester. These will be read on your own; although, I will give you silent Independent Reading Project time several times throughout the semester with a reading log for a daily grade. You will know the dates ahead of time—be prepared.
2. You may choose any author you like as long as it is at your reading level. (That means no “Goosebumps”/ “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books). I must approve of your book. If I do not, then you will not be able to read it. Each piece of literature must be at least 150 pages in length!!
3. For the Spring semester, you must choose two of the following projects to complete that are in your packet. You do not have to complete a book report for the Spring Semester Independent Reading Project.
4. For your independent reading project, you may choose from many types of literature. It is based upon your interest level but also challenge yourselves with your selection.
5. I will keep a list of what books are being read. You must have your choice turned into me for TEACHER approval by Friday, March 6, 2015.
6. Each student must complete two of the following projects of their choice plus the Novel Form for the Spring Independent Reading Project.
7. Please note that all projects must be typed. Handwritten final copies will not be accepted.
Note: You will not be able to change your novel selections after March 6, 2015. No exceptions!
Independent Reading Project Due Dates
These dates are absolute!!! This means that your project needs to be turned in ON TIME. You must contact me via email or my school phone if there are other circumstances.
Spring Semester Novel Selection DUE DATE
Due: March 6, 2015
Spring Semester Project DUE DATE
Due: May 8, 2015
Basic Literary Genres (a type of writing):
· Fiction- Stories that are not true
· Non-Fiction- True retellings of people’s lives or events in history
· Poetry - Verse
· Drama- Plays
Fiction Sub-Genres:
§ Fantasy
These stories contain elements that are not realistic such as talking animals, magical powers, medieval universes, and may possibly involve mythical beings.
§ Historical Fiction
These are stories that are centered around the basis of a partially historical situation or a novel set in a historical period.
§ Mystery (also known as Detective)
This is a story involving: strangeness, solving a puzzling event or situation, something unknown, solving a crime, centered around a person who investigates wrongdoing, centered around a person or persons employed to obtain secret information.
§ Realistic Fiction
These stories takes place in modern times, and characters are involved in events that could happen.
§ Science Fiction
These are stories that often tell about science and technology of the future. They involve true fictions, laws, or theories of science. They have settings in: the future, space, a different world, a different universe or dimension.
§ Action Adventure
These are stories that feature physical action and violence, often around a quest or military-style mission set in exotic or forbidding locales such as jungles, deserts, or mountains. The conflict typically involves commandos, mercenaries, terrorists, smugglers, pirates, and the like. These stories include elements of technology, weapons, and other hardware.
§ Crime
These stories are centered on criminal enterprise and told from the point of view of the perpetrators. They range in tone from lighthearted "caper" stories to darker plots involving organized crime or incarcerated convicts.
§ Horror
These are stories that try to evoke some combination of fear, fascination, and revulsion in its readers. They often deal with religion, supernatural beings, medical and psychological ideas.
§ Romance
Stories that feature the mutual attraction and love of a man and a woman as the main plot, and have a happy ending
§ Western
Stories set in the American West in the second half of the 19th century, and feature heroes who are rugged, individualistic horsemen (cowboys)
Novel Form:
Spring Semester Independent Reading Project
Part One – Directions: Complete the questions for your book. (10 points)
Your name:______
Date Completed :______
Title of Book:______
Author:______
Type of Book (genre):______
Sub-Genre of Book:______
Number of Pages in the book:______
Copyright Date:______
Publisher:______
Independent Reading Project
Choice Projects (45 points each)
Directions: You must pick two projects. Please remember that anything that you write must be at least 5 well-developed paragraphs in length.
In the News Create the front page of a newspaper that tells about events and characters in your book. The newspaper page might include weather reports, an editorial or editorial cartoon, ads, etc. The title of the newspaper should be something appropriate to the book. The front page should look as much like a real newspaper as possible with writing in columns, headlines, a newspaper title, etc. You can include a variety of different kinds of features, comic strips, news articles, advertisements, personal ads, an obituary section, or anything else you might find in a newspaper. Everything you include; however, must be based on events and characters in the book you read.
News Report Pretend that you are an anchorwoman or anchorman for a T.V. network. Write a 5 paragraph-long news story for a breaking story from your book. Dress up as a professional anchorperson and perform the news. Watch a few news shows to get the feel for the way they speak, write, and deliver the news.
Diorama Construct a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes models of people, buildings, plants, and animals) of one of the main events of the book. Usually an old shoebox works as a backdrop for the scene of a diorama. If you want to create a diorama on a bigger scale, use a cardboard box instead. Find and create miniature replicas of the objects and place them in the scene. Write a 5 paragraph summary about your novel.
Travel Agent Prepare a travel brochure for the main town or city in which your book takes place. Take a piece of letter-sized paper and fold it into thirds length-wise. Design a cover for the travel brochure, with the name of your book's town or city. A travel brochure is meant to entice potential travelers to visit the place being advertised, so highlight the different attractions and sights of the town/city. Use pictures you have found or drawn to add color and interest to your brochure. Also include a 5 paragraph summary of your book.
Script It Write a 2-3 page movie script for a favorite scene in your book. At the top of the script, assign real-life TV or movie stars to play each role. Be prepared to tell us why you chose these actors/actresses for each part.
Collage Do a collage on poster board showing pictures or 3-D items that relate to the book, and then write a sentence or two beside at least 8 pictures detailing their significance. Use newspaper and magazine pictures to decorate your collage, as well as any other photos or 3-D materials you have access to. The collage should be made of found pictures and objects. The poster board should be completely covered. Also include a 5 paragraph summary of your book.
Scrapbook Create a scrapbook for one of the main characters that reflects the many events that occur to him or her in the novel you read. You can include photographs, letters, post cards, telegrams, a family tree, newspaper article clippings, memorable items, or anything else you can think of that you might find in a scrapbook. If you include objects or photographs, be sure to write captions below describing what they are or what's going on and their significance to the character. Create a nice cover for your scrapbook. Also include a 5 paragraph summary of your book.
Map If the book you read involves a number of locations within a town, country, or geographical area, create a map. First, make a list of all the locations - houses, stores, streets, parks, lakes, etc. mentioned in your book's setting. Then, draw the map showing a bird's eye view of the area. Label each location. Below the map, create a legend with a list of all the locations and a description of important events that occur at each. Make sure your map has lots of details, is colorful, and large enough to be seen clearly. Also include a 5 paragraph summary of your book.
Sell It! Pretend to be a publicist for the book that's just been read. Write and then deliver a 2 minute speech that will persuade other students that they should read the book. Writing and speaking persuasively will be especially difficult if you didn't like the book. If that's the case, share that fact after completing the speech. (The speech should be at least 5 paragraphs in length.)
Interview a Character Compose 12-14 questions to ask a main character in a book that you have just completed. Write the character's response to each question. The questions and answers should provide information that shows the student read the book.
Create a Comic Book Turn a book, or part of it, into a comic book, complete with comic-style illustrations and dialog bubbles. Also include a 5 paragraph summary of your book.
Picture Books After reading your book, create a picture book version of the story that would appeal to younger students. Also include a 5 paragraph summary of your book.
"Dear Diary" Create a diary or journal and write at least 8 entries that might have been written by a character in your novel. The entries should share details about the story that will prove that you read the book.
Make a New Book Jacket It should include an attractive picture or cover design, an original summary of the book (at least 5 paragraphs in length), information on the author and illustrator, and information about other books by the author.
Dear Abby Letters People write to a column in a newspaper or magazine called "Dear Abby" to ask for advice or help when they are caught in a difficult or troubling situation. Write 4 letters to "Dear Abby" from the point of view of one or more characters from your book. Be sure to use the letter format. Then answer the letters as if you were "Dear Abby" giving advice to the character(s).
Note:
Remember all Spring Semester Independent Reading projects must be typed.
Feel free to complete this assignment on Microsoft Word and print it out from home. If you do not have computer or printer access, you may use the library or our classroom computers before school. Please note that it costs $.10 per page to print in the library. Final copies of the Independent Reading project need to be typed using Microsoft Word and printed on your own time.
Beverly-1
8th Grade Language Arts