Author Study Unit Reading 8 Objectives Students will read a novel by an author they like.

. Students will compare and contrast the two novels. Students will examine literary conventions as they relate to novelssetting, dialogue, conflict, plot, theme, point of view, etc. Students will research and gather information about the author. Mandatory Activities (60 points) Choose and read a novel by an author previously read. (20 points) Complete a reaction to the book written in letter style to me or another student twice weekly. (20 points) Keep notes on daily mini-lesson topics. (20 points) C Level Activities (20 points) Vocabularychoose 10 unfamiliar words from the novel. Create flashcards for the words. On side A, write the word. On side B, write the definition of the word as used in the biography, the page on which you found the word, and an original sentence using the word correctly. You must pass an oral quiz of the words. (5 points) Paint or draw the scene from the climax of the book. Explain the scene and its significance to the book. (5 points) Collageusing pictures from magazines, make a collage that represents your books theme in some way and share it with the class. (5 points) Book TalkYour job is to get students to read your book. Pitch your book for the class (almost like a commercial) and try to convince them to read it. (5 points) Character cardscreate trading cards for at least 5 main characters. Include information about the character using the readwritethink.org card creator. The link is: http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/trading_cards/ (10 points) Dioramacreate a 3-D scene from your book in a small box (like a shoebox). (10 points) Comic Strip Summaryrecreate the book as a series of comic strips. Include the important events, characters, and scenes. (10 points) Theme songwrite a theme song for your book as if its a TV program. Use the lyrics to share the conflict, characters, setting, and theme. Perform the song for the teacher or earn an extra 5 points by performing for the class. (10 points)

Revised 20 Apr 2009

Author Study Unit Scoring Guide for C Layer Activities Vocabulary Cards (5 points) 1 pts = words spelled correctly. 1 pts = definition for words as used in book 1 pts = original sentence you compose using words correctly 1 pts = page number included for words 1 pts = pass oral quiz with 80% Drawing of Climax (5 points) ***Hand in a copy of the text that inspires the scene 3 points = the drawing or painting is of the climax of the book. It accurately represents the action of the scene. 2 points = explanation of the scene and significance answers the 5 Ws and H questions Collage (5 points) 1 point = collage is tastefully done 1 point = collage has a significant number of items that relate to the theme 3 points = presentation of collage explains the elements and how they relate to the theme of the book Book Talk (5 points) 1 points = the talk lasts two minutes minimum 1 points = the presentation is easy to understand in both volume and explanation 3 points = the presentation is persuasive and informative; the listener is interested in reading the book Character Cards (10 Points) 2 points per card for a complete, thoughtful card using readwritethink.org site Diorama (10 points) 5 points = the scene is important to the plot 5 points = the diorama is complete from all sidesmeaning that while one side of the diorama is cut away for viewing, the viewer can still see a complete scene from any angle. Comic Strip Summary (10 points) 7 points = the strip adequately summarizes the important events of the book. 3 points = the strip has a beginning, middle, and end; the paper shows mastery of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Theme Song (10 points) 2 points = characters are introduced 2 points = setting is introduced 3 points = conflict is introduced 3 points = theme is mentioned Revised 20 Apr 2009

Author Study Required Activities

Required Activities Read novel Take notes for each mini-lesson Complete readers response in notebook twice per week Layer C Activities Points Possible

Points Possible
Points Possible 60 /20 /20 /20

50

20

Layer B Activities

Points Possible

10

Layer A Activities Total Points

Points Possible

10 / 100

Author Study Required Activities

Required Activities Read novel Take notes for each mini-lesson Complete readers response in notebook twice per week Layer C Activities

Points Possible
Points Possible 60 /20 /20 /20

50

Points Possible

20

Layer B Activities

Points Possible

10

Layer A Activities Total Points

Points Possible

10 / 100

Revised 20 Apr 2009

Author Study B Layer Activities Character Switch (10 points) What if the main character in the first book you read switched places with the main character in the second book? Write a script for a scene in the novel you just read with the main character from the first book. What would that character do in that situation? How would it be different from the original scene because the character has different ways of handling problems? Recruit other students to help perform in class. Performers earn 5 points of general extra credit. Puppet Show (10 points) Write a script for a puppet show in which the conflicts from the two novels are compared. The show should explain the conflict for each novel and show the steps/events that occurred to solve the problem. Create simple puppets for the show. Recruit other students to help perform in class. Performers earn 5 points of general extra credit. Talk Show (10 points) Plan a talk show in which the two main characters from your novels are interviewed by the host. Use the show to explain how the characters are alike and different and how the conflicts they faced are similar or different. Recruit other students to help perform in class. Performers earn 5 points of general extra credit. Poster (10 points) Create a poster that compares the themes found in both novels. The poster should include an explanation of the theme(s) and several specific examples to back up your opinion. It should show the similarities and differences in the themes in the two novels. Readers Theater (10 points) Create a readers theater script for one short scene from each of the novels. The scenes chosen should either emphasize similarities between the novels or differences between the novels. Recruit other students to help perform in class. Write an introduction to the script that explains to the audience how the scenes relate to one another. Performers can earn 5 points of general extra credit. Journal Entry (10 points) Write a journal entry for each of the main characters in your novels. The journal entry should take place at the end of the novel and the characters should explain what the problem was and how they solved it. An explanation of what the character learned through the experience should also be included. What might the character do differently if a similar problem happens in the future?

Revised 20 Apr 2009

Author Study B Layer Scoring Guide All activities worth 10 points Character Switch 3 points = scene should set the stage for how the new character is different from the original character 3 points = the new character should retain his/her traits and personality in the new setting 1 point = scene should show how the character feels in the new situation 1 point = conflict is explicitly explained 1 point = script format 1 point = conventions Puppet Show 3 points = conflict from Novel A should be fully described 3 points = conflict from Novel B should be fully described 2 points = care and effort shown in quality of puppets 1 point = script format 1 point = conventions Talk Show 3 points = Character As personality is well explained 3 points = Character Bs personality is well explained 2 points = conflicts in both books explained well 1 point = script format and conventions 1 point = 5-10 minute length Poster 2 points = theme/s for Novel A listed 2 points = theme/s for Novel B listed 2 points = support for themes from book included 2 points = visually attractive and appropriate to theme and plot of novels 2 points = conventions Readers Theater 4 points = script shows similarities and/or differences in novels 4 points = introduction sets up how scenes relate 1 point = format 1 point = conventions Journal Entry (Two entries for each character) For each entry: 2 points = conflict/resolution explained 2 points = lessons learned On overall project: 2 points = conventions

Revised 20 Apr 2009

Author Study A Layer Activities All activities worth 10 points Recommend You are part of a panel for a movie studio that recommends books to be adapted to movies whose target audience is teens. The studio wants to make a movie based on one of the two books by ________________. Make a PowerPoint presentation for the studio executives that outlines your recommendation and justifies your choice. Critique You are a writer for the teen magazine, Teens!. Your editor asked you to write a review of one of __________________s books. Write an article for the magazine that shares the strengths and weaknesses of the book based on elements of fiction that appeal to teens. Award You are the judge of the Youth Literature Award. Two books by ___________________ have reached the final round of judging. Your task is to decide which book should win the award. Write a letter to the author explaining which book wins the prize and what makes it the better book. Defend __________________s books have come under attack by some organizations as not suitable for teens. These organizations have asked local libraries to remove these books from their shelves. Write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper that defends this authors books as appropriate for teens and justifies why these books should be available to teens.

Revised 20 Apr 2009

Author Study Unit A Layer Scoring Guide Recommend Content Summary of both books (2 points) Character information (2 points) Strengths/Weaknesses of book (2 points) Novels appeal to teens (1 point) Recommendation (1 point) Quality PowerPointMakes sense, readable background and font, font size (1 point) Conventions (1 point) Critique Content Strengths (2 points) Weaknesses (2 points) Rating (2 points) Plot information (2 points) Quality Articleintroduction, body, conclusion (1 point) Conventions (1 point) Award Content Compare the novelsplot, characters, pacing, theme (4 points) Choose winning novel and justify your choice (4 points) Quality Letterfollows format of sample (1 point) Conventions (1 point) Defend Content Brief summary of novels (2 points) Reasons to keep in library (2 points) Why is it good for teens? (2 points) Examples (2 points) Quality Letterfollows format of sample (1 point) Conventions (1 point)

Revised 20 Apr 2009