Assinments

__**The Independent-Collaborative Novel Project! (A great oxymoron!)**__

As the name implies, an independent-collaborative project will involve you reading a novel and then selecting a series of activities to be completed during the class time devoted to independent and collaborative study. You will be required to complete various assignments and projects both independently and collaboratively with the peers in your group. You will be evaluated on the following: Your progress during the class time given over to the novel. This will be assessed through conferences with me and by submitting your e-logs or assignments as you go along. Application of learning skills will be evaluated specifically with attention to your ability to effectively collaborate with your peers in a considerate and meaningful way Part One- The e-Log or e-Journal During class each week, you will submit a response to the novel based upon what you have read. I will assign pages to be completed. Each log entry will include the following at the top of the entry.Your name, the title of the novel and author, the date, the pages covered in the log entry. EACH e-JOURNAL ENTRY MUST INCLUDE THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND BE MORE THAN 250 WORDS. It must be carefully edited and proofed for errors and omissions. You will be provided with specific criteria for each entry. For example, you will have a mini lesson on summarizing, then summarize! At times you will be asked to work collaboratively or independently. You will be provided opportunities to use the lab, notebooks and work from home to complete this part of the project. This is a no-excuses portion of the project where you can work ahead at your own pace at times as you reflect on the questions to consider below. EvaluationEach week, you will share your e-journal in a conferencing format. (Writer’s Workshop) This may be with peers or with me. It will be marked on the basis of application of assigned criteria.

Contents of the e-JournalUse these questions as a guide. Include any personal observations on the novel. All responses must be in proper sentence and paragraph format. Each response I ask you to do will follow a mini lesson to get you started. You will be provided with models and samples and have opportunities to conference with peers and with me to ensure thorough understanding. **At the beginning of your e-log, these are some questions to consider:** What information did you need to know before reading the novel? What has happened before the novel began? What's going on as the story begins? Who is telling the story? What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why? What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest? **Towards the middle of your novel, these are some possible questions** :What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses? What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on? Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events? Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? To what age group is the novel aimed? Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown? Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose? Near the end of your novel:What is the climax of the novel? How are the major and minor conflicts solved? What were the major things, which helped to resolve the plot? What message did you get from the novel? How was this message conveyed? Is the novel believable? Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend? Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations? __**Part Two FINAL ASSIGNMENTS**__ Pick an additional 2 of the following selections for a total of 6. Feel free to make up your own assignment as long as you have it approved in advance. You must complete number 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9! My picks! 1. Write a book report. (Report writing- Ms C’s pick.) (We will create exemplars and rubrics together first before working on this assignment’s criteria.) What message did you get from this book?For whom was the book written?Do you think that the author was successful in getting the message across? Why?Good and bad points about your novel. Write a review of the novel and give good reasons as to why a friend should or should not read the novel. We will create rubrics and exemplars to support you in this project.

**INCLUDE EXAMPLES FROM YOUR NOVEL TO SUPPORT YOUR REVIEW.** Any other comments that you would like to make, such as whether the novel is part of a series or is it the only one by the author, and whether you will read any more by this author.Did the novel help you in any way? 2. Do a collage of newspaper articles or photographs and write an explanation of how it relates to your novel. **3. Write an alternate (better?) ending for the novel. (Ms C’s other pick.)**

4. Write a short story based upon the same theme, subject or characters as the novel that you read. **5. Create an Animoto movie! Take photos or yourselves acting out various components of your novel in order to present a video summary of your novel. (Ms C’s other-other pick.)** 6. Find a song or poem, one of each, or several songs and poems that relate to the theme or subject of your novel. Write out the words/lyrics and then explain how it or they relate to your novel. Or you could write a song or poems and then explain them. 7. Write a newspaper story about what happened at the end or during a part of your novel. This will be a news story. Include a photo. **8. Create a Prezi that outlines the timeline of events in your novel. Be sure to include facts and details to support the main events. Hilight the terms you have learned throughout the course of this Independent- Collaborative Project. (Ms C’s other-other-other pick.)** **9. Working in your group, collaboratively write out a script and act it out to support at least two chapters in the novel you are studying. (Ms C’s other-other-other-other pick.)** **10. In your groups you will be responsible for creating a wiki that supports you in your collaborative novel study. You must do this and be a member and you have to invite me!**