Independent Novel Study

Part A - Keeping a Notebook (GLO3)  50 marks

Directions:      Students will create and maintain a well-ordered notebook. Students will have a page for each of the following:

Characters -   Keep an ongoing list of important characters. For each character, provide a brief description and a quotation either said by the character or said about the character (with a page number).

Symbols -        Keep an ongoing list of important symbols and a brief explanation of what each one symbolizes.

Concepts (Ideas) -  Keep an ongoing list of important concepts. These concepts will later be turned into themes.

Events -           This will be the largest section of your notebook. After each section (usually a chapter), write down a brief description of at least one important event that happens. Find and write down a short quotation about the event (with page number). Then write down the related concepts for that event. Finally, write down any important symbols related to that event and a very short analysis of those symbols.

Part B – Presentation (GLO4) 50 marks - Here is the Rubric

Directions:            Students will create and present an online presentation using a format of their choosing. The presentation will be approximately 5-10 minutes in duration.  The presentation will cover the following aspects of the novel:

The Genre:    What genre does the novel fall under? How does it fit the criteria of this particular genre?

The Plot:        Give a VERY BRIEF description of what happens in the novel, and tell us about the main characters.

The Main Themes:            What is being said about the concepts that you’ve listed in your                 notebook? What is the a main message that comes across through your study of the novel?

The Symbols: Find and display images that represent the main symbols in your novel, and talk about what these symbols represent.

Chrysalids Essay

This is going to be a standard, five-paragraph academic essay. The assignment itself is posted here. While there are several topics to choose from, you can also create a topic of your own. Please let me know what you would like to write about BEFORE you begin writing.

Here is a recommended order of operations for writing your essay.

There are many helpful websites on the internet about academic writing. You can simply Google "academic writing" and educate yourself, or you can look at this folder of materials about writing essays. I HIGHLY recommend that you read this PowerPoint on editing your essay after you have completed your rough copy.

You will be getting class time with computers to work on your essays, but not always in the same place. It is recommended that you save your work on the internet in order to avoid problems with the school network.

Please have a look at the rubric that will be used for scoring your essay.
 

Novel Study

Keeping a Notebook (GLO3)  50 marks

Directions:             Students will create and maintain a well-ordered notebook. Students will have a     page for each of the following:

Characters -             Keep an ongoing list of important characters. For each character, provide a brief description and a quotation either said by the character or said about the character (with a page number).

Symbols -             Keep an ongoing list of important symbols and a brief explanation of what each one symbolizes.

Concepts (Ideas) -            Keep an ongoing list of important concepts. These concepts will later be turned into themes.

Events -             This will be the largest section of your notebook. After each section (usually a chapter), write down a brief description of at least one important event that happens. Find and write down a short quotation about the event (with page number). Then write down the related concepts for that event. Finally, write down any important symbols related to that event and a very short analysis of those symbols.


Connections - This is a section devoted to exploring your personal connections to the novel. Perhaps you can identify with a character, or a concept, or maybe an event in the novel. Write about it and explore your connections to the story.

Paragraph Writing

Here is a link to the rubric that will be used to grade your paragraph assessment.

	Above Level 5	At Level 4                                 3	Below Level 2                            1
Topic Sentence Outcome 1	The topic sentence is exceptionally clear, is sophisticated or insightful, and is well supported throughout the essay.	The topic sentence is clear and is well-supported throughout the essay.	The topic sentence is either unclear or it is not supported throughout the essay.
Supporting  Ideas (Outcome 2)	Supporting ideas and textual references are very effective at supporting the topic sentence.	Supporting ideas and textual references aim at supporting the topic sentence and, for the most part, are successful.	Supporting ideas and textual references require development. Examples do not support the topic sentences.
Topic and Concluding Sentences, and Discussion of Literary Devices (Outcome 3)	Topic sentences are focused. They support and discuss aspects of the thesis statement. Several literary devices are discussed.	Topic sentences are somewhat focused. For the most part, they support and discuss aspects of the thesis. Discussion of literary devices is adequate.	Topic sentences are unfocused. For the most part, they do not support and discuss aspects of the thesis.  Discussion of literary devices is limited or non-existent.
Conventions (Outcome 4)	Spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph structure are very accurate.	Spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph structure are fairly accurate.	Inaccuracies in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph structure hinder communication.
Citing and “Works Cited” Outcome 5	Resources have been cited correctly using MLA format. The “Works Cited” page has been created following proper formatting conventions.	Resources have been cited correctly, for the most part, using MLA format. The “Works Cited” page has been created following most formatting conventions.	Citations are heavily flawed or missing. Formatting problems exist in the “Works Cited” page.