“Quotes That Float Your Boat” Project

First Semester: Independent Reading Project

Purpose: That you, through independent reading, may grow in a deeper understanding of one of the themes we are addressing this semester, while further developing your reading comprehension skills.

Options: You will be reading a book of your choice from the following list, but must let me know which book you have decided upon. You may NOT choose a book you have already read!!! You may decide when you would like to read your book throughout the semester, but keep in mind that it must be completed by December 4 and the work for current units will not be reduced to account for your independent reading. Budget your time well!!!!

Choices:

A) Journey of Self-Discovery (The Alchemist):

Dragonsong (McCaffrey), The Warrior Heir* (Chima), The Alchemist (Coelho), Life of Pi* (Martel), I am the Cheese (Cormier), The Odyssey* (Homer), Stargirl (Spinelli), Feed (Anderson), Eragon* (Paolini), A Mango-Shaped Space (Mass), Whale Talk (Crutcher), Football Genius (Green), Redwall (Jacques), Peter and the Starcatchers (Barry, Pearson), Invention of Hugo Cabret (Selznick), Saint Biography (Story of a Soul), Peak (Smith), Dragonspell (Paul), Lightning Thief (Riordan), Heart of a Champion (Deuker), Love, Aubrey (LaFleur), Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Lewis)

B) Family Roots (Oedipus Rex):

Milkweed (Spinelli), House on Mango Street (Cisneros), The Joy Luck Club * (Tan), Angela’s Ashes* (McCourt), Kira-Kira (Kadohata), House of the Scorpion* (Farmer), A Step from Heaven (An Na) , Great and Terrible Beauty*(Bray), Looking Glass Wars*(Beddor) , The Reluctant Heiress (Ibbotson), Dogsong (Paulson), Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Alexie)

C) Prejudice and Injustice (World Connection):

Playing for Time (Fenelon), All But My Life * (Weissmann Klein), After the First Death (Cormier), Summer of my German Soldier (Greene), Monster (Myers), A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (Beah) , Down Sand Mountain (Watkins)

Other Ideas: Call of the Wild, Harris & Me, The River, Loser , Freak the Mighty , The Outsiders, The Giver, The Pigman , Chernowitz, Beardance , Running Loose , Harry Potter, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Eldest, Love (Spinelli) , Devil’s Arithmetic, Anthem, Time Machine , Lord of the Rings , Ember, Twilight , Crash, Hope Was Here , Thief Lord

Attaining a Book: Your independent novel may be purchased, checked out from the school or public library, or borrowed. You may check out one of these books from me, on a first-come-first-serve basis, for a maximum of two weeks – please respect the fact that I personally purchased these books.

Assignment:

· (A&B) You will complete a comparison/contrast graphic organizer. (This will be provided.) You will keep track of similarities and differences between the novel you chose and the novel from the matching thematic unit.

· (C) You will complete a Dense Questioning worksheet for the novel you chose.

· (A,B,C) You will complete the “Quotes that Float Your Boat” Project for the novel you choose.

· (A,B,C) You will participate in a group discussion, in which you will present your novel to the group and explain the similarities/differences between the novel you read and the novel from the matching thematic unit.

Book Chosen : September 28

Worksheet Due: November 19

Book Finished/ Project Due: December 4 th

In-Class Discussion: December 1 6 th

First Semester: Independent Reading Project

Purpose: That you, through independent reading, may grow in a deeper understanding of one of the themes we are addressing this semester, while further developing your reading comprehension skills.

Choices:

A) Journey of Self-Discovery (The Alchemist):

B) Family Roots (Oedipus Rex):

Milkweed (Spinelli), House on Mango Street (Cisneros), The Joy Luck Club* (Tan), Angela’s Ashes* (McCourt), Kira-Kira (Kadohata), House of the Scorpion* (Farmer), A Step from Heaven (An Na), Great and Terrible Beauty*(Bray), Looking Glass Wars*(Beddor), The Reluctant Heiress (Ibbotson), Dogsong (Paulson), Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Alexie)

C) Prejudice and Injustice (World Connection):

Playing for Time (Fenelon), All But My Life* (Weissmann Klein), After the First Death (Cormier), Summer of my German Soldier (Greene), Monster (Myers), A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (Beah), Down Sand Mountain (Watkins)

Other Ideas: Ask Me! Must connect with a theme and be approved.

Assignment:

· (C) You will complete a Dense Questioning worksheet for the novel you chose.

· (A,B,C) You will complete the “Quotes that Float Your Boat” Project for the novel you choose.

Book Chosen : September 28

Worksheet Due: November 19

Book Finished/Project Due: December 4 th

In-Class Discussion: December 16 th

“Quotes that Float Your Boat” Project

Objective: To create an attractive display of a favorite quote from your chosen independent reading novel. The display will include the quote, a written analysis, and a creative representation of the heart of that quote.

Procedures:

1. The Easy Part: After choosing your favorite quote from your novel, write the quote on nice paper (typing paper, card stock, etc.) using your best handwriting or a cool, appropriate computer font. Include the speaker of the quote and the page number. The quote may NOT be the title!

2. The Almost-as-Easy Part: On another sheet of paper, you will write three analysis paragraphs. These paragraphs should be typed, double-spaced, 12 point font, and a MINIMUM of five sentences each.

? (A,B,C) In the first paragraph, explain these three things:

· Why you chose the quote (This is your reader-response – why did this quote capture your attention?)

· The reason you think this quote is significant to the novel (This is where you make the meaning. Does it tell us something important about the character? Is it crucial to advance the plot? Does it show an important theme in the novel?)

· The relation between the quote /novel and the artwork, poem, song, etc. that you chose to supplement it. (This is where you make a connection. See #3, “The Fun Part,” to understand this part.)

? (A&B) In the second paragraph, you will discuss the similarities between the novel you chose and the novel we read in class with the same theme. (Consider character development and relationships, conflict, setting, climax, resolution, point of view, theme, etc.)

? (C) In the second paragraph, you will discuss the connections you found between the novel you chose and other literature you have read.

? (A&B) In the third paragraph, you will discuss the differences between the novel you chose and the novel we read in class with the same theme. (See above)

? (C) In the third paragraph, you will discuss the connections you found between the novel you chose and the world/society/culture. (Be specific!)

3. The Fun Part: You need to enhance your quote in some way. I’d like you to create something that captures the spirit, mood, theme, and significance of your favorite quote and/or the novel. This is pretty open-ended. This should be an original creation by you. This could be a drawing, painting, collage, poetry booklet, song, photo story, T-shirt design, playbill design, sculpture, cartoon, soundtrack, shadow box, children’s book, character scrapbook, power point presentation, etc. that you design, write, or create yourself. (No computer images unless several are being used for a collage.) – See Artistic Requirements Handout

? Display with the quote and analysis whatever you make or choose for this part (#3). Written supplements (poem, lyrics, etc) should again be written (or typed) nicely on nice paper. You may include the quote and/or analysis paragraphs within your supplement. For example, you may write the quote in the middle of a collage or make a poster that includes the painting, quote, and analysis together.

Please see me with any questions, ideas, thrilling developments, etc.

I want you to have fun and to give me an example of your best work. Impress me!

First Semester: Independent Reading Project

Purpose: That you, through independent reading, may grow in a deeper understanding of one of the themes we are addressing this semester, while further developing your reading comprehension skills.

Honors Choices:

A) Journey of Self-Discovery (Voyage of the Dawn Treader):

Dragonsong (McCaffrey), The Warrior Heir (Chima), The Alchemist (Coelho), Life of Pi* (Martel), I am the Cheese (Cormier), The Odyssey* (Homer), Feed (Anderson), Eragon (Paolini), Whale Talk (Crutcher), Redwall (Jacques), Saint Biography (Story of a Soul) , A Northern Light* (Donnelly), Lament (Stiefvater), Peak (Smith), The Pilgrimage (Coelho), The Naming*(Croggan) , Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Brashares), Lightning Thief (Riordan) , Looking Glass Wars (Beddor)

B) Family Roots (Oedipus Rex):

Love Walked In ( Santos ), Milkweed (Spinelli), The Joy Luck Club * (Tan), Angela’s Ashes* (McCourt), Kira-Kira (Kadohata), House of the Scorpion (Farmer), A Step from Heaven (An Na) , Trickster’s Choice (Pierce) , Great and Terrible Beauty(Bray), Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Alexie)

C) Prejudice and Injustice (World Connection):

Playing for Time (Fenelon), All But My Life * (Weissmann Klein), After the First Death (Cormier), Puddn’head Wilson (Twain), Monster (Myers), Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (Beah) , Book Thief*(Zusak)

Other Ideas: Ask Me! Must connect with a theme and be approved.

Assignment:

· (C) You will complete a Dense Questioning worksheet for the novel you chose.

· (A,B,C) You will complete the “Quotes that Float Your Boat” Project for the novel you choose.

Book Chosen : September 28

Worksheet Due: November 19

Book Finished/Project Due: December 4 th

In-Class Discussion: December 16 th