Independent Novel Project
Second Paper/Project Due:May 19, 2010 Total points: 110 points
As the name implies, you will be reading a novel outside of class and then completing a series of activities. You will be required to complete four journal assignments and then one literary terms paper on the novel or a final project on the novel. IF YOU CHOSE TO DO THE PAPER SEMESTER 1, YOU MUST DO THE PROJECT SEMESTER 2 AND VICE VERSA.
The Log or Journal. This will be done four separate times throughout the duration of the novel project (individual due dates are listed by each journal entry). (10 points each entry)
By the due date stated for each journal, you will submit a response to the novel based upon what you have read up to then. You may upload these journal entries to your wikispace under the “novel project 2” link. Make sure it is labeled as to which journal entry it is (i.e. 1,2, 3, etc). At the top of your journal entry page on your wikipage please make sure to write the name of the novel (underlined) and the author’s name.
EACH JOURNAL ENTRY MUST BE MORE THAN 250 WORDS. THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL WRITE ABOUT 250 WORDS PER JOURNAL AND SUBMIT FOUR JOURNALS. Use the questions below as a guide. You are NOT limited to these questions; feel free to include any personal observations on the novel. All responses must be in sentences. This is your time to convince me that you are reading your novel so add specific, thoughtful details in your journal entries.
Journal Entry # 1 – The Beginning of the Novel – Due: January 29
At the beginning of your log, these are some questions to consider:
· Why did you select this novel?
· What information did you need to know before reading the novel? (any key background about the novel, plot, or author that assisted you in selecting this novel)
· What has happened before the novel began?
· What's going on as the story begins?
· Who is telling the story?
· What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why?
· What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character?
· How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest?
Journal Entry # 2 – The Middle of the Novel – Due: February26
Towards the middle of your novel, these are some possible questions:
· What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?
· What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on?
· Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events?
· Is the language in the novel difficult or easy?
· To what age group is the novel aimed?
· Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown?
· Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose?
· At this point, if it was not required, do you want to finish the novel? Explain.
· Is the plot holding your attention? Why or why not?
Journal Entry # 3– Your Reaction – Due: March 31
Write a reaction to what you are reading. A reaction is your chance to think and write about what you’ve read. Do not summarize the plot! You can write directly to the author, a character, me, or another student. Your reaction can also be freewriting as your mind works its way through the novel. Below are some suggested prompts if you are not sure what to journal about in this entry.
· I wonder what the author means in this part because…
· I really don’t understand this part because…
· I really like/dislike this idea because…
· (Name of character) reminds me of somebody I know because…
· (Name of character) reminds me of myself because…
· (Name of character) is like (name of other character) in (title of work) because…
· I think this setting is important because…
· This scene reminds me of a similar scene in (title of work) because…
· This part is very realistic/unrealistic because…
· I like/dislike this writing because…
· This section makes me think about (give memory) because…
· I think the relationship between (character’s name) and (other character’s name) is interesting/uninteresting because…
· The ideas here remind me of ideas in (title of work) because…
· I believe the author’s message is (list idea) because…
· I like/dislike (name of character) because…
· (Name of character) is the character I admire most because…
· If I were (name of character) at this point, I would…
· This situation reminds me of a similar situation in my own life. It happened when…
· I think this book will end…
· If I could become any character in this book, I would be (name of character) because…
Journal Entry # 4 – The End of the Novel – Due: April 30
After finishing your novel:
· What is the climax of the novel?
· How are the major and minor conflicts solved? (What is the novel’s resolution?)
· What were the major things that helped to resolve the plot?
· What message or theme did you get from the novel? How was this message or theme conveyed?
· What type of characters were the main characters? (round, flat, dynamic, etc.)
· Were you satisfied with the end of the novel? Why or why not?
· Is the novel believable?
· Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend?
· Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations?
· What did you like the most and the least about this novel? Be specific. Think of the plot line, the style of writing, the characters, the setting, etc. when making your comments.
Literary Elements Paper: After reading the novel, type a paper that explains how the following literary terms are used by the author of the book you read. You do not have to address the literary terms in the order below but they all must be included.
Do not number each term. Simply write several paragraphs that explain how the lit terms are used. Some of your lit terms explanations will be in separate paragraphs, and some of them can be combined with others. Some may be answered in one sentence.
Some novels will not have all of the lit terms below however, even if your novel doesn't fit the "strict “definition of a lit term, you must explain how it does not fit the lit term.
Literary Terms: (Please use the terms and underline each the first time it is mentioned. Do NOT underline the term every time.) (70 points)
1. Discuss the major characters in the story, and briefly describe each one (what type of character they are, what they look like, and, more importantly, what they act like and what part they play in the novel as a whole). Explain who the protagonist is and who the antagonist is. (One paragraph for this.)
2. Describe the plot of the story. This can be just one or two paragraphs, about 150 words. I don’t need all the tiny details, just the basics of what happens and why. You need to cover the entire novel. In these paragraphs, explain all of the different parts of the plot are using specific terminology (i.e. exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution) for this novel.
3. Describe the main conflict(s) in the story. Explain what type of conflict this is and how the conflict is resolved.
4. Describe the point of view of the novel, and explain who the narrator is. Make sure you explain how you know this is the point of view in your novel. (These items could be one paragraph.)
5. Describe the setting of the novel, including the time period. If it doesn’t say the time period, and you think it’s just whenever the author wrote it, just say that. How does this setting influence the story, the characters, and the action of the novel.
6. Describe the theme(s) of the novel. Remember a theme is a general statement about human beings or life that applies to both the novel and real life. Therefore state it as a complete sentence without mentioning specific characters or events from the novel. Most novels have more than one theme. (These last two could be a paragraph.)
7. Write a brief review of the novel. What were the good points and the bad points of your novel? Give well thought out reasons as to why a friend should or should not read this novel. (Thinking the book was too long does not constitute a well thought out reason). Include at least 3 reasons to support your opinion making sure to include examples from your novel to support your review
******If you write about the following terms they will count for extra credit.
If you decide to write about any of these terms, please keep them separate from the rest of your project; in other words, put them at the end of the paper and label it.
Examples of similes and metaphors; flashbacks and foreshadowing; irony and/or sarcasm; onomatopoeia; personification; symbolism; and the author’s tone. For these terms, you MUST include the page number where the term occurs (except tone).
Final Project: Select ONE of the following projects to complete on your novel. Upload project onto your wikispace under the link “novel final project”– 60 points
1. Headline News Story Choose a few scenes from the novel and create a headline news Web page and two or three related links based on the event for a Web-based news site. To get an idea of length, format, and the kinds of links typically included in such stories, visit news sites on the Web. Try signing up for a wikispace at wikispaces.com (take the tutorials to help in creating this page) or use Microsoft Publisher for a print version.
2. Instant Messages or Text Messages Rewrite two scenes of dialogue between two characters from the text in modern-day format as if it took place online through instant messages or on cell phones or another tool using text messages. Your scenes must be a combined 2 pages long.
3. Blogging Create a series of blog entries for the point of view of one of the characters. (You must have at least 5 entries of 10-20 sentences each). Try setting up a blog at blogger.com. Include appropriate links to other Web pages, and comments that other characters from the text might leave on the blog entries.
4. Digital Artifacts Imagine that you find portable disk next to the computer of one of the characters from the play. It might be a floppy disk, Zip disk, USB keychain disk, or another device. This storage disk contains personal documents—letters, “to do” lists, data, and poems written by the character for his or her eyes only. Decide on five documents, recreate them, invent file names for each, and create a (fake) printout of the disk directory. Put all these together in a packet about the character.
5. Playlist Choose one of the characters from the text and create a playlist that that character would have on his or her iPod or MP3 player. Invent the name for the playlist, and create a list of the names of the songs, artists, the albums the songs came from, and the reasons why you think that song would be on the character’s play list, and any other relevant details in your word processor. Alternately, if you have the resources available, you can burn a CD of the character’s playlist and create a CD label with the appropriate details. (you must include at least 7 songs)
6. Reality TV Show Imagine that the characters from the text are part of a reality TV show. Rewrite a scene from the text as it would have been caught from the surveillance cameras of the show. Film your scene using a video camera, or write a transcript of the scene (including details on background sounds, setting, and props).
7. Technology Product Endorsement Have a character in the text endorse a technology product—design a letter or short narrative where the character tells readers why they should purchase or support the product. Then create a poster or advertisement for this product.
8. Create a Wikispace MySpace-like Page Create a MySpace-like page for one of the characters using wikispaces.com (take the tutorials on how to create a page before starting your page). You must include the following pages: profile (tell about the character, what they are like, what they look like, etc.), faves (what does your character life and dislike – music, movies, websites, food, hobbies, etc.), Blog (3 entries reflecting on events in the novel), friends (who are your character’s friends and why). You may add more pages if you want, but these are the minimum. Make sure each page includes graphics.