Ninth Grade Independent Novel Projects



Ninth Grade Independent Reading Projects

You will be reading four books outside of class this year. You will read one book from each suggested list provided at the beginning of each quarter and complete the assigned project by each of the following due dates:

*October 13th *January 5th *March 9th * May 25th

• In addition, there will be graded checkpoints each quarter.

• Plagiarism or cheating in any way will not be tolerated and will result in a grade of -0- for the entire project.

• You will complete the project, and/or give a short presentation for each of the four novels.

Categories:

• Quarter 1: Mythology Allusions or Stories of Survival

• Quarter 2: Mystery, Horror, or Suspense

• Quarter 3: Coming of Age

• Quarter 4: Rebellion

Your project must be typed in 12 point font, with 1 inch margins, double spaced and note page numbers where information can be found in the text using correct MLA parenthetical citation. Each page should be consecutively numbered using correct MLA pagination. Please create a cover page for your project listing your name, the author and title of the book you have chosen, and the category it represents, as well as a Table of Contents (label each assignment with the corresponding page number listed). Please be prepared to present your project to your classmates.

You will complete one of the assignments listed in each row below. Some quarters a certain section in a row may be required in lieu of choice.

| |Authors do not choose a title randomly—usually|Describe the genre and setting (time and |Create a PLOT DIAGRAM for your book. |

| |there is some significance to it. Identify |place) of your book in 100-150 words. |Identify all the key parts. Have 10 pieces |

| |and describe the meaning of your book’s title |Explain its importance to the narrative. |of rising action, and 4 pieces of falling |

|Knowledge |in 100-150 words. | |action. |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| |Write a SUMMARY of your book in 300-500 words.|Explain the MAIN CONFLICT in the book. Give|Copy 10 of your favorite phrases/sentences |

| |Make sure to focus on the key events of the |examples of how this conflict shows up in |from the book and explain the significance |

|Comprehension |story. |the story and how it is resolved. 300-500 |of each quote in 300-500 words total. |

| | |words. | |

| | | | |

| |***CREATIVE PROJECT*** Do something creative to show your understanding of your book. You could make a movie poster, do a music video,|

| |write an alternate ending, do a “graphic novel” depiction of a scene, create a soundtrack for your character with explanation of why |

| |each song is appropriate to the text, write original poems or songs for your character, etc. You MUST get your idea approved by ME. |

|Application |The creative project needs to show off your skills and display a depth of understanding about the book/character/theme, etc. You must |

| |also create a 300-500 word explanation of what you created, why you created it, and how it is appropriate to your novel selection. |

| | |

| |Write an analysis of the main character. |Relate the book to human experience. In |Choose another book or movie with a similar |

| |Describe him/her and his/her transformation. |300-500 words explain three truths about |conflict, and in 300-500 words, |

| |Then, explain WHY they transformed over the |human nature and find three events from the |compare/contrast the book to your new |

|Analysis |course of the book. 300-500 words. |text that relate to those truths. |choice. Analyze characters, plot, setting, |

| | | |etc. |

| | | | |

| |Locate and discuss the allusions and symbols |Choose a controversial issue from the text |Title two columns with opposite words |

| |present in your novel in a chart. Write a |and take a stand on ONE SIDE of the issue. |(hate/love, peace/violence, power/ |

|Synthesis |300-500 word paper explaining how the |Write a 300-500 word paper discussing your |submission, honesty/deceit, etc). Now list |

| |allusions and symbols enhance your |reasons for disagreeing or agreeing with a |5 elements from the novel (characters’ |

| |understanding of the novel. |decision a character made in the novel |actions/ words, plot development, symbols, |

| | |regarding this issue. |etc.) that fit each of the descriptive |

| | | |words. Write a 300-500 word paper |

| | | |explaining your lists. |

| | |

| |Find and include 2 professional, published reviews of the book with MLA documentation of where they were located. In 300-500 words |

| |write your own review of the book. Would you recommend the book? Why or why not? Would you have changed any element of the story |

|Evaluation |(plot, characters, setting, resolution, conflicts, point of view, etc)? |

| | |

| | |

Independent Reading Project (Minimum) Presentation Expectations:

• Explanation of what the book is about

• Personal review of the book

• Presentation and explanation of creative assignment related to the book

• The controversial issue covered within your project

OR

• Analysis of the main character

OR

• Truth about human nature covered within your project

• Some presentations will be formal and require the use of technology, others will be informal and given to small groups…

• If formal, the quality of your presentation is important and will be graded. This means speaking clearly, knowing your information, not reading a prepared statement, etc. Presentations should be 3-5 minutes long, so plan your time carefully, as there is a lot of information to be covered in such a short time: be succinct!

Project is worth 100 pts. In addition, if an Informal Presentation is required, an additional 15 point grade will be awarded, and if a Formal Presentation is required, an additional 35 point grade will be awarded.

Ninth Grade Independent Reading Projects

Parents and Guardians,

Your student will be completing the following project once each quarter until the end of the school year, and projects will be due October 13th, January 5th, March 9th, May 25th unless scheduling conflicts arise. The project is designed to encourage reading, specifically books which connect to our class content. Students will be able to choose books interesting to them and allow their creativity and unique vision of the reading to shine through.

This is not a small undertaking, and is not the kind of project that can be completed the night before it is due. I will need your assistance to make sure that your student works throughout the time they have been provided in order to ensure his or her success. Also, please be aware that the suggested lists contain traditional classics alongside more modern works, and there may be books within these lists you may find objectionable. Please work with your student to select novels within the guidelines that you find appropriate. Your child will be required to keep this letter in his or her binder and at the beginning of each quarter have you sign below so that everyone involved will know precisely what book has been chosen for each quarter’s project.

The work required for this project must be typed, and computers are available at school for your child to use in the school media center; he or she will need to work on time management as media center hours are out of my control. The requirements for the project are on the student handout for you to read through. Some of the important details are listed below:

• The books chosen must be listed on the suggested lists or approved by me within the first week of the Quarter the project is due (By the end of the second week for 1st Quarter)

• Plagiarism or cheating in any way will not be tolerated and will result in a grade of -0- for the entire project.

• Students will complete the project, and give a short presentation for each of the four novels.

• The projects will be due on a specified dates above unless otherwise noted. (These dates are also listed on the student handout.) In addition, there will be graded checkpoints each quarter to help your student with time management.

Please feel free to contact me at the school by phone or email me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child or this project. E-mail: marcus.palmer@

Independent Reading Project Form Quarter 1 Title: ___________________________________________

Student Name: _______________________________ Student Signature: _________________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________ Date: ______________________

Independent Reading Project Form Quarter 2 Title: ___________________________________________

Student Name: _______________________________ Student Signature: _________________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________ Date: ______________________

Independent Reading Project Form Quarter 3 Title: ___________________________________________

Student Name: _______________________________ Student Signature: _________________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________ Date: ______________________

Independent Reading Project Form Quarter 4 Title: ___________________________________________

Student Name: _______________________________ Student Signature: _________________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________ Date: ______________________

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