READY PLAYER ONE!
ACADEMIC SKILL FOCUS: ANALYTICAL READING & COMPREHENSION
The major skill area we will be working through is reading comprehension and reading analysis—actually trying to dig in to these characters’ emotions and experiences. Our main goal is to try to understand the choices the author made while writing this novel. This means there will be various reading quizzes and journal prompts throughout the novel reading.
Our main project, however, will be quite different—we are going to become theoretical film makers. Instead of testing or writing an essay in response to the novel, you are going to put together a film pitch proposal. You will become a screen writer and director whose main goal is to have a studio (our class) produce your movie.
As we read we will have movie focus days where will be discuss and breakdown how this novel would look if it were actually a movie (which it will be!). You will be in charge of casting and scenery, plot and text detail. I am not going to expect you to write a script, but you will have to explain which novel details you will include and how those details will play out in your film. Instead of writing out the dialogue, you are planning out the framework. This is meant to be engaging and fun; I know it sounds like quite a bit of work, but it doesn’t have to be. The main element I need to see if your deeper understanding of the novel based upon the choices you would make for your own film.
If you are open minded and actually willing to interact (well, and actually read, I guess) this could be a project that is done entirely in class and entirely in a creative environment. I guess the way the year ends depends entirely on how much you as an individual are willing to commit to working through this novel—dear god, please let’s just choose to end on a high note!!!
PLANNED READING CALENDAR
WEEK #1 – 5/5 – 5/9
Pages 1 – 99: Movie focus = “The first 5 minutes” / Casting / Challenge #1
WEEK #2 – 5/12 – 5/16
Pages 100 – 166: Movie focus = Soundtrack / “The transition” / What stays & what goes
WEEK #3 – 5/19 – 5/23
Pages 169 – 266: Movie focus = Building a New World / Soundtrack / Action-Plot Outline
WEEK #4 – 5/27 – 5/30
Pages 269 – 372: Movie focus = Soundtrack / Technology on Display / The Perfect ending
Last week of the year = final exam! That’s it—we’re done? Holy moley…