English 10 Novel Study: Understanding Perspective

Novels:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran)
Marcelo in the Real World (Francisco X Stork)

All of these novels are written through the perspective of a person with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (and/or Asperger's). Your task is to see what you can learn
about ASD and life through the eyes of someone who perceives the world
differently than you!

Driving Questions (topic): What is autism and how do people with autism
perceive the world differently? What can we learn from novels with autistic
narrators and how can these novels change our perceptions of people who
are different than us? How can reading help us gain awareness of the
struggles faced by those with a different way of seeing the world?

Time: 3-4 weeks

Weekly plan
- Each week, you will meet with peers to discuss your novel.
- On your own, you must complete ALL elements of the assignment. We will
go over them together one at a time. The group time is your chance to
ask questions and get ideas from your peers.
- We will complete the final essay at the end as a class.

Schedule for Discussion Groups Reading Schedule

Meeting 1: Monday November 27th CHAPTERS: ___________________________

Meeting 2: Wednesday November 29th CHAPTERS: ___________________________
Meeting 3: Friday December 1st CHAPTERS: ___________________________
Meeting 4: Wednesday December 6th CHAPTERS: ___________________________
Meeting 5: Friday December 8th CHAPTERS: ___________________________
Meeting 6: Monday December 11th Finished Novel
Meeting 7: Wednesday December 13th Finished Novel

*Date for submission of assignment (including essay) is Tuesday January 9th.

 Novel Study Assignments

Read novel

Vocab: Create a list of 20 vocabulary words in the novel and define them.

Quotes: Select 10 significant passages or quotes that stood out to you in
the novel. Properly cite them and explain why theyre significant.

Creative Expression: Write a poem, create a song, paint a picture, draw a
picture, or create a collage that represents the protagonist in your novel
and the world around him. Write a paragraph explanation.

Symbolism: Identify 2 significant symbols in the novel and explain what
they represent.

Conflict: Find 4 examples of how your protagonists Autism Spectrum
Disorder (or Aspergers) causes conflicts/struggles for him. 3-4 sentences
each.

Research: Research 5 people within the ASD community: either advocates
for Autism Spectrum Disorder OR famous successful people with ASD or
Aspergers. Write a summary explaining what they have done for ASP or
have accomplished. Please include a works cited.

Assignment Cover: Create a cover for your assignment that represents
your novel, and includes a thematic statement that connects to the topic
of perspective.

Final Essay: We will complete the essay at the end of the unit. Topic TBD.
Critical Thinking (12) Communication (18) Creative Thinking (6)

6 4 2

Required The project All required Several required

elements includes all components are components are
required included in the missing. Some
components project. All elements are
as well as sections are incomplete.
additional addressed
information or adequately.
extras.

Creativity Project cover Project cover There is a lack of

and creative and creative creativity in both
elements show elements show a presentation of
a depth of basic the assignment,
understanding understanding of and in the
and ability to the story and its creative portion.
connect theme, elements. The work shows
character, little ability to
symbolism and connect to
conflict. theme.

Understanding The project The project The project does

of Topic and clearly somewhat not demonstrate
Theme demonstrates demonstrates an an
an understanding of understanding of
understanding autism, autism,
of autism, perceptions, and perceptions, and
perceptions, the unique the unique
and the unique perspective of perspective of
perspective of the narrator. The the narrator.
the narrator. theme is evident. There is a
The theme is misunderstandin
communicated g of the topic.
throughout.

Language/ There is a There is an Limited use of

Vocabulary sophisticated acceptable use vocabulary. Word
use of of vocabulary. choice is weak
 vocabulary. Basic word and sentences
Effective word choice and are not varied.
choice and sentence variety. Some parts of
sentence Attempts to the project are
variety. The engage. hard to
writing is clear, understand.
concise, and
thoughtful.

Grammar/ There are Errors generally Frequent errors

Mechanics minimal do not impede interfere with
grammatical meaning. meaning and
errors in the understanding.
project. Errors
are not
distracting.

Citing Sources The project The project has The project does
has thorough valid research not have
research that components but adequate
includes a has only a few research
Works Cited sources. The components, is
page. The project has missing a works
novel has been quotes cited, but cited, and does
cited properly may not use not use novel
in text and on them in-text. quotes properly.
its own.

Rubric for project *A separate rubric will be given for the final essay