Literature Circles Literature Unit Task Book
Name______________________________
Instructions: The following (9) tasks must be completed and handed in by _________. All information must be filled in and legible. You are required to use the book you are currently reading during this marking period. Extra pages for information made be used as needed. Unit books must be well presented in a neat and orderly manner.
Name of book___________________________ Author______________________
Literature Circle Process Choose one of the available texts to read.
2. I’ll arrange the class in literature circle groups, based upon book choice.
3. First Literature Circle Meeting • Decide how much of the text to read and which role each of you will fill during the next meeting. • Make sure you have a copy of the correct role sheet. • Read your text and prepare for literature circle meetings.
4. Following Literature Circle Meetings (repeat until the text is finished) Use written or drawn notes to guide the group’s reading and discussion, according to the role you are filling for the session.
Be open and make sure that everyone has a chance to participate. Remember that personal stories that connect to the reading and open-ended questions about the text are welcome. Decide how much of the text to read and rotate the roles that each of you will fill during the next meeting.
Make sure you have a copy of the correct role sheet.
Read your text and prepare for the next literature circle meeting.
5. When books are finished, readers share with their classmates, and then new groups form around new reading choices.
Literature Outline 1 Choose 2 characters from your book. Make a brief profile of them (in words describe) those characters, write their names down.
Briefly describe their relationship as you know it up to now in the book. Be as specific and clear as possible. Give examples for your descriptions.
Make a prediction about the future of their relationship based on what you know up to now in the book and give your reasons as to why.
Literature History and Context In this module we will take a look at literature in Context.
Name of the literature Period
Name and author of your book
List at least five different possible influences on the writer and his/her works.
“Literature is not created in a vacuum�. What influences writers when they are composing their work? How are they influenced? What influences readers when they interpret the work? How does the intended audience receive their work? How do you interpret the work? Are there any similarities? Differences? Explain:
Literature Exploring plot and Setting
Briefly explain the plot of your book
What key events help the plot to evolve
Briefly describe the setting(s) of your book
Why is/are the setting(s) important to the story
Is TIME a factor in the plot of your book
Why is or why is the time not important?
Is your book a narrative or is there a chronological order or a combination of both of these story telling methods.
Literature in Perspective Quotations and Content
Character Quote (3) for each main character
Defining the plot (2)
Communicating Writers Message (2)
Shows development or Change in Relationships (2)
Agrees with your interpretation (2)
Opposes your Interpretation (2)
Your favourite quote and why.
Point of View An automobile accident occurs. Two drivers are involved. Witnesses include four sidewalk spectators, a policeman, a man with a video camera who happened to be shooting the scene, and the pilot of a helicopter that was flying overhead. Here we have nine different points of view and, most likely, nine different descriptions of the accident. In short fiction, who tells the story and how it is told are critical issues for an author to decide. The tone and feel of the story, and even its meaning, can change radically depending on who is telling the story. Remember, someone is always between the reader and the action of the story. That someone is telling the story from his or her own point of view. This angle of vision, the point of view from which the people, events, and details of a story are viewed, is important to consider when reading a story. What is the point of view in your book Is it fixed or does it change? Does it stay the same distance from the events of the story, or does it zoom in and zoom out, like a camera lens? Who is telling the story? Types of Point of View Objective Point of View With the objective point of view, the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue. The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer. Third Person Point of View Here the narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know exactly how the characters feel. We learn about the characters through this outside voice. First Person Point of View In the first person point of view, the narrator does participate in the action of the story. When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth. We should question the trustworthiness of the accounting. Omniscient and Limited Omniscient Points of View A narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all knowing, or omniscient. A narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or minor, has a limited omniscient point of view. As you read a piece of fiction think about these things: How does the point of view affect your responses to the characters? How is your response influenced by how much the narrator knows and how objective he or she is? First person narrators are not always trustworthy. It is up to you to determine what is the truth and what is not.
Think about the ways that point of view is used to help you understand the writers point of view about the themes in the book. From what point of view(s) is your story being told?
Why is this point of view chosen?
How would the story be different if it were told from another point of view? Examples: at least 5
Journal Entries Directions: Date and number your entries. Write the question in your journal. Then write complete sentence answers. Entries: What conflicts have you faced in your life? What challenges? Entry should be at least one half page long. Write a description of one of the main characters from your book in your journal based on the written story. You should use some words from the story. Be sure to put quotation marks around exact words from the book. Entry should be one-half page. What is your opinion of this character? Would you expect him/her to do anything differently? Why or why not? Consider: how he/she chooses to live their life; how they treats others; his or her response to the challenges in their own life and, the author’s description. Entry should be one-half page. What do you think the strongest quality is for the main character? Why? Would you be able to be friends with this character? Why or Why not? Write out one quote from the first chapter that indicates the priorities he/she has in their life. What are your priorities? Why? Looking at this quote, what do you think the character is trying to show about themself and what, if anything, has he or she experienced at this point? Compare this character with yourself. How are you alike? Different? Contrast this character with another character from a book you have read. How are they different? Similar? According to the writer is the character good? Bad? Other? Explain. What seems to be happening to the character throughout the story? Are they changing? How? List at least five things you know about your character now? Write a paragraph in your journal contrasting the characters life with yours or someone you know. Write a new description of the character in your journal. Entry should be one-half page. What led to this change? Consider the events in the book and the climax. Based on your literature circle discussions, write what you think is one major theme found in your book. Include symbols and motifs that help to support it.
Literature Task 9 Document
Objectives: Students will be able to recognize symbolism in the novel and explain their interpretations, as well as common explanations from scholars. Students will be able to compose a novel cover which will: capture the attention of potential readers, B) include at least three symbols from the book in the cover, and then C) explicate in a short essay, reasons for their creative choices and the meanings behind the symbols that were chosen. Introduction: Take current book cover and have discuss the symbols featured on the cover. Topics of discussion: The colors The /the font/pictures/illustrations/students' observations Why is this an effective book cover? If you saw this book's cover, would it interest you? Would you choose this book based on its cover? Ha! Ha!
Assignment: Today, you will begin an assignment which will challenge you to demonstrate your knowledge of how symbolism was used in your novel. You will design a book cover which should include at least three symbols from the novel. It should be on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and any of the given materials should be used. Accompanying your cover, you will submit a 250-300 word essay explaining the creative choices that you made when designing your cover. You should include a detailed explanation of the symbols used and their meaning in the novel. It will be important for you to explain why the symbols you chose to include are significant. You will have two class periods to work on the project.
Literary Assessment Title of book_____________________________________________ Author__________________________________ Names of Group Members
First step reached Date________________ Grade_______________ Second step reached Date_______________ Grade______________ Third step reached Date_______________ Grade______________ Fourth step reached Date _______________ Grade______________
Fifth step reached Date________________ Grade_______________ Sixth step reached Date_______________ Grade______________ Seventh step reached Date_______________ Grade______________
Eighth step reached Date _______________ Grade______________ Ninth step reached Date _______________ Grade______________
Group assessment received Grades _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ Final assessment and grade Group________________________ Individual ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________