Choose 1 of the following:
A) Individuality is a clear theme in Stargirl. You are to write an essay in which you discuss what the book communicates about this theme and how. Considering the following questions should help you to structure your paper:
a) What does it mean to be an individual?
b) What are the consequences of being an individual?
c) What are the obstacles to being an individual?
d) What are the influences which lead someone to want to be an individual?
e) Is individuality good or bad? Always? Sometimes? When?
Your discussion should start from the book itself, and use parts of the book to show what Spinelli is trying to say about this topic (not what you think about this topic). (4 pages minimum)
B) Be Stargirl (or Starboy) for a week, keep a journal about your experiences, and then write a short reflective essay about these experiences. Based on the book, you figure out what �being Stargirl/Stargirl� means. Throughout the week, keep a record of what you do and what happens. Then, write an essay in which you 1) briefly describe what you did 2) discuss the effect of your actions on others and yourself and 3) explain your thoughts about the experience. Remember, there will be obstacles to your being �just like Stargirl� (for example, word will probably quickly get around, unless you can somehow �keep it a secret�, that you are just doing an assignment for Mr. K. and didn�t really change who you are, and, people will see a change in you whereas they always knew Stargirl as Stargirl.) You may want to write about these obstacles too. Or, you can conduct the experiment in another environment, where people don't know about the assignment (journal and 3 page essay).
Writing Assignment for Hoot
Choose 1 of the following:
A) Research paper: The endangered species controversy is an important element in the story. In your paper, you should explore the reality of this controversy. You must begin with focus questions to guide your research, such as a) What are the arguments presented for and against protecting endangered species? B) What are some obstacles and or difficulties with regards to protecting endangered species? C) What is the status of some specific endangered species? D) What are the methods of protecting endangered species? Be sure to check out the links on my website under �Writing Help� which have to do with writing a research paper, writing a bibliography, and avoiding plagiarism. (4.5 pages plus bibliography)
B) Hoot presents several different methods of responding to and dealing with injustice. You are to write an essay in which you explain a) what they are b) how they are shown in the book and c) the advantages and disadvantages of each method and how these are shown in the book. You will need to consider specifically Roy, Mullet Fingers, and Beatrice. (4 pages)
Behind the Bedroom Wall Assignment
Korrina changes quite a bit from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. You are to imagine you are Korrina a few years after the end of the book. You have decided to write a letter to Rachel (and perhaps her mother) explaining the changes which took place in your life during the course of the story. How did you change and what caused you to change? Do you have regrets? Apologies to make? Questions to ask? Your letter should be firmly supported by the book itself and should be creative and thoughtful. Don�t fill your letter with a lot of �fluff� (i.e. chit chat, apology after apology for the same things, etc.). Be sure to refer to particular examples from the book. (3.5 pages)
Phoenix Rising Assignment
A) Imagine that the town you live in is considering building a nuclear power plant. As a reporter for the local newspaper you are assigned to write an article to inform the community about an existing power plant to run in a series about current nuclear power plants. You are assigned to provide the community with an unbiased report on Three Mile Island in PA.
Your article must include:
-General info about the nuclear power plant
-The accident
-Immediate problems
-Current problems/conditions
-Probable and possible future problems
You will need to do research for this article. You MUST visit my links about research writing and avoiding plagiarism first. You also must have a bibliography at the end of the paper, and BEWARE of just copying and pasting. (3.5 pages plus bibliography)
B) In the story, we read a letter that Ezra wrote to Nyle. You are to imagine that you are Nyle writing a letter to Ezra (after his death) to say things you never got to say. Your letter should be realistic and genuine, as if it could fit at the end of the book. Be sure to address the following in your letter: 1) how Nyle changed in her thoughts/feelings 2) Nyle�s thoughts on the accident and nuclear power in general 3) any regrets Nyle might have 4) what the events of the story have taught her. (4 pages)