Novel Study                                                         English 8                                              Mrs. McDee                                                        2006

 

I hope this will be an enjoyable project for you and one which will be an aid to a fuller understanding of literary terms and the structure of novels.

 

DUE DATE:                         Monday, 1 May by Break in the box labeled with your section found in the CLASSROOM (Rm. 214)

                                                Thursday, 4 May (A classes)           Peer Evaluation of Novel Study in class

                                                Friday, 5 May (B class)

GOAL

                 The basic goal of your literary book is to use the literary terms below and apply them to your specific book along with the basic plot of the novel, presented in story book form,  in conjunction with the statement (in a complete sentence) of the main theme which generates from the plot.

 

REQUIREMENTS:           1. Choose a novel that is either about a young woman OR written by a woman.

                                                2. The novel you choose must be AT LEAST 150 pages in length.

                                                3. After reading the novel, you will create a literary book following the specific instructions below.

BOOK COVER

                Be creative with your book covers. (SEE SAMPLES) Your book cover must include the name of the novel you read and its author. The cover of your book must be ‘protected’. You can laminate it, use hard materials as the cover or both. The choice is yours. However, make sure you follow the cover with a page that explains in a paragraph (word processed) why you covered your book as you did. The book must be bound in some way not just stapled together. The binding, however, must be pliable enough so that the reader can easily maneuver through your book without destroying or ripping it. PLEASE DO NOT PLACE YOUR NAME ON THE COVER.

 

INSTRUCTIONS: STRUCTURE OF THE LITERARY BOOK

                I will show you some samples of literary books in class but since some of us are visual learners I will include here the structure in written form.

Following the book cover and its explanation, please insert a Table of Contents page. Label this page Table of Contents and then along the left margin, name your pages and give the page number where that page can be found. Make sure each page is numbered at the bottom. Please word process this page. BE SURE YOUR NAME IS ON THIS PAGE.

 

The first page of your book should list the characters according to how they are presented in the novel, such as antagonist, protagonist, narrator, dynamic character, flat or       static character and a short description of their importance to the novel’s plot.

                The second page should state the plot in written form, including the conflict, the climax and the conclusion. (1-2 SENTENCES SHOULD SUFFICE.)

                The third page should state in written form the point of view employed in the novel and the time and place setting of the novel.

                The fourth page should include any other of the literary terms studied (see attached sheet) that your novel might have used such as symbols, irony, flashback or foreshadowing and a complete explanation of each term and how it was displayed in the novel.

                The next few pages should be set up as a summary of the novel’s main content. This will be a summarized version of your novel which will also include illustrations drawn by you.

                The last page of your book should be a one sentence statement of the main theme of the novel.

               

ILLUSTRATIONS

                The manner in which you choose to present your book is up to you personally. You can create a children’s book, a condensed replication of the book, or a pop-up book (SEE SAMPLES IN CLASS). The possibilities are endless. However, whichever genre you choose, the above literary terms must be included as stated above and the theme must be stated in a generally applicable way and in sentence form on the last page of your book. You do not have to be an artist to neatly and appropriately draw figures which would enhance the summary of your novel. You do not necessarily have to draw a complete scene for each page of your book. Symbols might sometimes be more effective. No cut-outs from magazines are allowed. Use your own creativity and imagination and remember to make sure your ‘drawings’ are neat and appropriate.

 

GRADING

                On Monday, May 9 each of you will be given a classmate’s literary book to read and evaluate using a criteria sheet I will give you later. I will also individually grade each book using the same criteria. This project is worth 300 points (150 points from your peer grader and 150 points from my evaluation). THIS PROJECT WILL NOT BE CONFERENCED. READ---THINK---CREATE---BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY: HAVE FUN!!!!!!

 

 

 

SUGGESTED READING

 

Bronx Masquerade                                                                                                                             Nikki Grimes

 

Shakespeare’s Daughter                                                                                                                    Peter W. Hassinger

 

Margaux with an X                                                                                                                             Ron Koertge

 

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart                                                                                                                   Deb Caletti

 

Here Today                                                                                                                                           Ann M. Martin

 

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler                                                                                                             e.l. konigsburg

 

Mabel Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril and Romance                                           Marthe Jocelyn

 

Pigs in Heaven                                                                                                                                     Barabara Kingsolver

 

Gentlehands                                                                                                                                         M.E. Kerr

 

The Secret Life of Bees                                                                                                                       Sue Monk Kidd

 

Enemy Women                                                                                                                                      Paulette Jiles

 

Make Lemonade                                                                                                                                  Virginia E. Wolff

 

The Summer of the Traveling Pants                                                                                                 Ann Brashares    

 

The Second Summer of the Traveling Pants                                                                                  Ann Brashares

 

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things                                                                         Carolyn Mackler

 

 

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