Project Directions

Attention all 1^st Semester 8^th Grade Language Arts Students:

You have the wonderful opportunity to read a great novel of your choice. Mrs. Orlowski has several novels from which you can choose. You may also choose any novel of appropriate length and reading level that you would like (no nonfiction).

· Choose your novel (not one that you have read before).

· Fill out and turn in a Novel Choice Sheet by Monday, September 19.

· As you read, answer the critical thinking questions on the next page.

· Critical thinking questions are due by Thursday, October 13.

· After reading the book, choose two projects from the project list (one must be from the writing category).

· Book projects are due by Thursday, October 28.

Due Dates at a Glance

Novel Choice Sheet - Monday, September 19.

Critical thinking questions – Thursday, October 13.

Book projects – Thursday, October 28.

Novel Choice Sheet

Student Name:

Novel Title:

Author:

Number of pages:

By signing this form, I am affirming that I have not previously read this book.

____________________________ __________________________

Student Signature Parent Signature

Critical Thinking Questions

Directions: These questions should make you think and your answers should reflect careful thought. Please type your answers in COMPLETE SENTENCES and answer all parts of each question. I am looking for critical thinking. (5 pts. each for a total of 50 pts.)

1. Write a brief summary (one or two paragraphs) of the book.
2. Describe five characters from the book in one or two sentences. Include some descriptive details and how each character is important to the plot.
3. Describe the setting of the book (time and place). If you could, would you want to live in the setting of the book? Why or why not?
4. If you could trade places with one of the characters from the book, who would you choose and why?
5. Choose a quote from the book that you think is important. Write it down, explain it, and describe why you chose it?
6. What is a lesson or moral (theme) that the characters learn about life or others from their experiences in the book? Do you agree with the lesson that they learned.
7. Briefly compare this book to another book you have read or movie you have seen. How are they different? Similar? Which did you like more and why?
8. If you could change the ending of the novel, what would happen to the characters instead?
9. How do you think the main character or character would survive in Albuquerque? What difficulties might they face? Would they like it here? Why or why not?
10. What grade (A, B, C, D, or F) would you give this novel and why?

Project Choices

Directions: Choose one project after reading your novel. (Neatness and creativity count.)

Drama

• Choose a scene from the book to turn into a script for a play. Write the script including stage directions (see me for clarification if needed).
• Choose a scene from the book and act it out. Video record your production.
• Create an interview of one of the characters from the book.

Art

• Create a pictorial timeline of your novel with at least ten important events from the book. Include a sentence for each picture that describes why that scene is important.
• Turn this book into a children’s book complete with a cover and six additional pages. Use no more than two sentences on each page.
• Build your own model of a setting from the book. Include a written description (one paragraph) which explains the model and what happened there in the story.

Logic

• Compare this book to another that you have read. Create a Venn diagram and a chart to explain the similarities and differences. You must have ten items in each part of the Venn Diagram written in complete sentences. This should be done so that is can be displayed (small poster, etc).

Music/Poetry

• Write a song or rap that explains who three characters from the book are, what they look like, and at least one event in which they participated.
• Write a 15-20 line poem explaining a moral or lesson we can learn from this book.