Eighth Grade Independent Literature Study



Eighth Grade Independent Literature StudyGenre Reading ProjectWritten Genre Project Details:During this school year, each month you will be reading books outside of class from different genres. Remember, you can only use each genre once. The assignments accompanying these books alternate between projects and written reports. Be sure to budget your time carefully so that you have enough time to both read the book and complete the project by the due date. The genre project is completed primarily outside of class.Formatting:All projects and reports must be turned in with a signed rubric stapled on top. The written portion of all projects/reports must be formatted using MLA guidelines. (The Purdue OWL’s online MLA Formatting Guide is a great resource for all things MLA.)First page:-In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, create a heading: list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Double spaced the text.-Maintain double spacing and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.-Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text. Example:?Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?as a Morality Play.- Double space between the title and the first line of the text.General formatting:-Include a header: your last name and the page number right justified in the header.-Double-space and left justify the text of your paper.-Use Times New Roman size 12.- Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.-Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. Use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.Why does the rubric have to be signed?Since the genre project will be completed primarily outside of class time, it is expected that your parent/guardian will see you reading and completing the reports. While I can assist you with book selection if needed/desired, your parent/guardian is the expert on whether the book you have chosen is at a suitable reading level and contains appropriate content for you. The signature on the report is simply your parent/guardian’s confirmation that you’ve shared your work with them and that they’ve okayed your book choice. Reports/projects will NOT be accepted without a signature on the rubric. Reports found to have a forged signature on them will be returned without a grade and parents/guardians will be notified. Disciplinary action may also be taken.Important Note About Academic Honesty:Plagiarism is using another’s words/ideas as your own. It is unacceptable to plagiarize any part of your genre report. This includes using another student’s report, composing a report together with a classmate, using the synopsis on the cover, or using information found online (which is at some times appropriate when credit is given, but not on this project please). Slightly changing the words is still considered plagiarism; the ideas in the genre reports MUST be your own ORIGINAL work. Per class policy, any plagiarism automatically receives a zero and parents will be notified.Genres of LiteratureAdventure/Survival FictionAction-packed tales in which the characters come into conflict with nature or a dangerous enemy.Animal FictionStories that involve the relationship between a character and an animal or have animals as characters.Award-WinningBooks honored for their distinguished writing by the American Library Association and other National associations.Biography/Autobiography (Nonfiction)Factual books about the life story of a real person—the author himself/herself if an autobiography.Contemporary/Realistic FictionStories that take place in the present or recent past and deal with life-like characters and their problems.Fantasy FictionStories that deal with magic, the non-existent, the unreal, and/or the incredible—such as animals that talk.Graphic NovelsStories told in graphic format (like comic books, but longer). Manga style are from Japanese Anime artists.Historical FictionStories that take you back in time, putting you in touch with actual events and people of the past.Mystery/Spy Thriller/Detective FictionSuspense-filled stories that keep you guessing about what will happen next and often have surprise endings.Science Fiction/FuturisticStories set in the future or other worlds and that often deal with the impact of science on society.Folklore and LegendsStories, fables, and legends that people told one another over the years and were later written down.History (Nonfiction)Factual books about a particular time and/or place in history.Humorous FictionFunny books written to entertain and keep you rmative/How To (General Nonfiction)Informational books on a topic of interest: hobby, sport, health, technology, etc.MythologyStories dealing with gods and heroes of a particular people and that often attempt to explain natural phenomena.PoetryVerse written to inspire thoughts and feelings in the reader, often using rhyme and meter.Science (Nonfiction)Factual books that explain, describe, and illustrate information about animals, health, plants, the universe, technology,medicine, physics, etc.Sports FictionStories where the main character is an athlete and that often focus on the character-changing aspects of sports.Story CollectionCollections of short stories, usually by one author or arranged around a common theme.Suspense/HorrorSuspense-filled stories calculated to inspire feelings of dread or horror.Genre Reading Project – Report GuidelinesPart 1: Genre Analysis: Describe how this book fits the description for the genre you’ve chosen.Part 2: Vocabulary (If this is a graphic novel, you may do the graphic novel substitution instead.)Choose three words that are new to you from your novel.After listing the word, copy the sentence from the novel where your word was used. You may need to include some explanation if the sentence is short. Underline your word.After copying the sentence, define each word using a dictionary. Be sure to use the definition of the word in the same context it was used in your sentence.Finally, compose a new original sentence using the vocabulary word.Part 3: Setting - Answer all of the following.Describe when and where the story takes place in general terms. Your novel will probably not give exact dates, but you should be able to describe the time period by dress, transportation, speech, and other references. Does it occur in a small town or big city? Describe what it is like there. Does it matter when or where this story takes place, or could it have been set anywhere or anytime?Part 4: Characterization—Choose 1 item from this section and 1 item from the section below.Describe both physical and personality traits of the main character. What motivates this character to be the way he/she is and act the way he/she does? Give specific examples of the character’s actions, thoughts, and/or speech.Describe your first impressions of the main character. Give specific examples of the character’s actions, thoughts, and/or speech.Identify what caused a change in the main character (consequence of choice, a conflict that had to be resolved, display of an outstanding trait like courage, or result of events that occurred) and explain how the character changed. Now choose 1 item from this section.Which character did you like best? Why did you like him/her?Would you like to trade places with any of the characters in the story? Why or why not?Would you like to be friends with any of the characters in the story? Why or why not?Name a character in the story you wish you were more like and explain why you feel that way.Describe a character in the story that you did not like. Explain specifically why you did not like him/her.Did any of the characters in this story remind you of characters from another story? Which ones and in what way?Some characters play a small but important role in a story. Name such a character in your novel. Why is this character necessary for the novel?Describe an action of the main character that is exactly like what you would have done.Quote something a character said that sticks out in your mind. Explain its significance.Describe a time when you were in a situation similar to one the main character faces. Explain. Do you agree with the main character’s decisions? Why or why not?Place yourself in the novel. What advice would you give the main character? Why? Part 5: Ending/Evaluation—Choose 1 item from the list below.What would you have changed about the ending of the story if you were the author?Did the story end the way you expected it to? What clues did the author offer? Did you recognize the clues at first?Explain the significance of the title. Authors do not just choose a title randomly. Usually there is an important reason or the title is symbolic.What are your criteria for judging a good book? Using your criteria, would you recommend this novel to a classmate? Why or why not—be specific.SPECIFIC GENRE OPTIONSIf Graphic Novel, Part 2:Describe the graphic novel style the author/illustrator used. What did you think of the quality of the art? How did the art/illustrations enhance the telling of the story?If Non-Fiction Book, Parts 3 and 4: (History, Science, Informative, How To)3) What is the most interesting thing you learned from reading this book? Why is this topic interesting to you? What led you to select this book? 4) Write a well-developed paragraph summarizing what you learned from reading this book. Highlight important points, facts, and insights, demonstrating that you read the book.If Biography/Autobiography Book, Parts 3 and 4: 3) Describe this person’s childhood environment. In addition to time and place, discuss specifics such as any hard times, size of family, economic conditions, etc.4) Describe the main obstacles this person had to overcome to be successful. How did he/she do this? What qualities do you admire most in this person and why?If Poetry Book, Parts 3, 4, and 5: 3) What poetic styles and devices did the author use?4) List some of your favorite poems and tell specifically why you liked them.5) Explain the theme or purpose of the collection - what connected all of the poems?If Story Collection, Parts 3, 4, and 5: 3) Choose one story from the collection and write about the setting using the questions and directions in Part 3.4) Choose another story from the collection and write about characterization using the questions and directions in Part 4.5) Explain the theme or purpose of the collection—what did all the stories have in common?Name____________________________________________ Date ___________________________ Hr. _____________Parent/Guardian Signature:______________________________________ (This signature indicates that the book selected by this student is appropriate to their family values and reading level, and that the report has been shared.)Genre Report RubricPart 1: Genre Analysis- 8 pts possible8 points 6 points4 points2 pointsTitle, and author’s name is present within the selection. Genre is not only stated, but well defined. Evidence from the book is connected clearly to main points, and supports the genre chosen. Title and/or author name may be missing from within the selection. Genre is not only stated, but defined. Evidence from the book is present and supports the genre chosen.Title and/or author name may be missing from within the selection.Genre is stated, but not defined.Evidence from the book is present, but not connected back to how it proves the book belongs in the chosen genre.Response lacks enough information to demonstrate an understanding of the text in relation to the rmation from text is nonspecific.Part 2: Vocabulary- 4 pts possible4 points3 points2 points1 pointVocabulary words chosen are academically rigorous. All nine components are completed correctly: three sentences from the novel with word underlined, contextually correct dictionary definitions, and original sentences.Vocabulary words chosen are academically rigorous. All nine components are complete, but there are one-two errors.Vocabulary words chosen are not at an appropriate level of difficulty and/or there are there are three-five errors on the nine components.Vocabulary words are far below an appropriate level of difficulty and/or there are more than five errors on the nine components.Part 3: Setting- 8 pts possible8 points6 points4 points2 pointsAddresses the demands of the questions. Supports answer with multiple well-chosen examples from the text. Response is clear and insightful. Reader can clearly see the impact of the setting on the story.Addresses the demands of the questions.Supports answer with some textual evidence. Response is clear. Reader can infer the impact of the setting on the story.Response lacks information to adequately answer the question.Uses minimal information from the text. Reader wonders if the setting has any significance.Response lacks enough information to demonstrate an understanding of the text in relation to the rmation from text is nonspecific.Part 4: Characterization- 8 pts possible 8 points6 points4 points2 pointsAddresses the demands of both questions. Supports answer with multiple well-chosen examples from the text. Response is clear and insightful. Reader can clearly see the impact of the characterization of the story.Addresses the demands of both questions.Supports answer with some textual evidence. Response is clear. Reader can infer the impact of the characterization on the story.Response lacks information to adequately answer the question.Uses minimal information from the text. Reader wonders if the characterization has any significance.Response lacks enough information to demonstrate an understanding of the text in relation to the rmation from text is nonspecific.Part 5: Ending/Evaluation- 8 pts possible 8 points6 points4 points2 pointsAddresses the demands of the questions. Supports answer with multiple well-chosen examples from the text. Response is clear and insightful.Addresses the demands of the questions.Supports answer with some textual evidence. Response is clear.Response lacks information to adequately answer the question.Uses minimal information from the text.Response lacks enough information to demonstrate an understanding of the text in relation to the rmation from text is nonspecific.Formatting/Mechanics- 4 pts possible4 points3 points2 points1 pointAlmost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.MLA format is observed.Citation is included. Few grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. Reader is not distracted by them.MLA format is distinguishable.Citation is included with some errors.Some grammatical spelling or punctuation errors. Reader has difficulty ignoring errors.MLA format is attempted. Citation is not included.Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. Reader loses the message due to errors.MLA format is indistinguishable.Citation is not included. Total score = ____ / 40 points possible ................
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