Use the language and expressions of the characters to ...



Suggestions for Extra Credit

The following suggestions will help you if you are in need of (or just want) extra credit. You may complete as many of the activities as you like, and may repeat activities for different works of literature. Please complete the activities based on current works of literature –that is, the work or works that we’re currently studying or very recently studied in class (i.e., in June, don’t complete an activity based on a character we read about in October). Credit will be awarded based on the completeness, insight, creativity, and overall presentation of an activity. All extra credit must be submitted no later than the Friday before the end of the marking period in which you want extra credit.

1. Character Astrology Signs

After reading brief descriptions of astrology signs, figure out which sign you think a character was born under. Write an explanation that includes the astrology sign you have chosen and why you think the character fits the sign, using evidence from their actions, attitudes, and thoughts from the novel or story.

2. Heroes and Superheroes

Select two or three people that you think your character would think of as a hero or superhero. Describe the characteristics of the hero and why those characteristics would be important to your character. Also describe which characteristics your character would most want for himself or herself that the hero or superhero possesses.

3. Create a Childhood for a Character

If your character is a teenager or an adult, try to figure out what he or she would have been like as a child. Write the story of (or one story from) that character’s childhood in a way that shows why that character is the way he or she is.

4. Critique from the Point of View if a Specific Organization

Select an organization that might have a lot to say about the actions or portrayals of a character or characters, and write a critique of the book from the organization’s point of view. For example, the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals might have a lot to say about Lennie’s treatment of animals in Of Mice and Men, while the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People might comment on the portrayal of Crooks, and the National Organization of Women might have an opinion on the portrayal of Curley’s wife and the fact that she is never given a name.

5. College Application

Create the application that a character could write and submit to a college. Use all the information you know about the character, and infer and create the rest of it. On the application, include these sections: Name, Academic Rank in Class, High School Courses Taken and Grades, Extracurricular Activities, Personal Activities, and Work Experience. For even more extra credit, choose one of the following questions or issues to discuss from the character’s point of view in essay format: What experience, event, or person has had a significant impact on your life? Discuss a situation in which you made a difference. Describe your areas of interest, your personality, and how they relate to why you would like to attend this college.

6. School Counselor’s Recommendation Letter

Write a summary appraisal from the school counselor’s point of view that assesses the character’s academic and personal qualities and promise for study in college. The college is particularly interested in evidence about character, relative maturity, integrity, independence, values, special interests, and noteworthy talents or qualities. Why do you feel this student would be well suited to attend college?

7. Movie Recommendations

From all the movies you’ve seen, pick five you would recommend that your character see. Give a brief summary of each movie and explain why you think the character should see it.

8. Chat Room Conversations

Imagine that your character has found other people to talk with while in a chat room he or she found while surfing the Internet. Describe the chat room your character was in and why your character would be drawn to the kind of group that operates the chat room. Then construct the conversation that your character had with others while in the chat room.

9. Collage

Write (neatly and attractively) or type the title of the book in the center of a large sheet of construction paper or poster board. Then look through magazines for words, phrases, sentences, and/or pictures that illustrate or tell something about your book. AS you look, think in terms of the theme, setting and plot line, as well as characters. Work to get 50 such words, phrases, sentences, and/or pictures so that the whole sheet of paper is covered. The visual impact of the collage should tell a potential reader a lot about the book.

10. Yearbook Entries

Imagine what three or four characters from a story or novel were like in high school. Cut out a picture of a person from a magazine to represent each character. Mount one picture per page, and under each picture place the following information, which you will create: nickname of character; activities, clubs, sports they were in and what years; class awards (for example: Valedictorian, Most Likely to Succeed, Class Clown, All-State Gymnast); quotation that shows something about the person and what is important to him or her; favorites such as colors and foods; a book that has a great impact on him or her; plans after high school.

11. Awards

Create an award for each of three or four characters in a short story or novel based on their actions. One might be awarded “most courageous” fighting peer pressure, another might be awarded “wisest” for the guidance he or she gave other characters. For each award write a paragraph or two explaining why this character deserves this award using specific references to the text.

12. Photos or Magazine Pictures

Find two or three photos or magazine pictures that would have special significance to your character. Neatly and attractively mount them on a sheet of paper and write an explanation of why they would be important to your character.

13. Music

After reading a story or novel, figure out how you would divide it up into sections. Then select a piece of music that you think captures the feel or tone of each section. Record the pieces (preferably to a CD). Accompany the recording with a written description of what is happening in the story or novel during each piece of music and why you felt this piece of music fit each section of the novel (this may include both lyrical and musical qualities).

14. File a Complaint

Adopt the persona of one of the characters who you feel was portrayed in a sexist or racist manner. Write up a complaint explaining what you feel was unjust in that portrayal, and explain the actions you would like the author to take to remedy the biased portrayal.

15. Tangible or Intangible Gifts

Select a character and figure out what two or three things you believe he or she most needs or wants. Draw or cut out pictures to represent these “gifts” and write to your character an explanation of why you picked these things out for him or her.

16. Voicemail or Answering Machine Message

Outgoing voicemail and answering machine messages (“You have reached the Smiths. We cannot answer your call right now…”) have gotten more and more creative over the years, reflecting the interests and idiosyncrasies of the owner(s). Select five characters from a work of literature and create an outgoing message from each one of them. Pay particular attention to diction and tone. You may record the messages or simply compose the scripts. For even more extra credit: Create a series voicemail or answering machine message that these characters left for someone else (another character in the novel, or someone not mentioned in the novel that you think these characters would be likely to call: the police, a teacher, a hotline, etc.).

17. Ring Tones

Select five characters from a work or literature and figure out what their ring tones would be if they each carried a cell phone. Record each ring tone and write a description explaining why each ring tone is appropriate for each character. Be sure to refer to specific character traits. (May be combined with previous activity.)

18. Name Analysis

Select a few of the characters from a work of literature. Look up each of their names in a name book (or the internet) to see what the name means. Write down all the meanings, and then write a short analysis for each character explaining in what ways the name is suitable and in what ways the name does not fit the character. You may also want to consider the literal definitions of a character’s name using the dictionary (for example, Lennie Small from Of Mice and Men), or break the name down to analyze its parts (for example, you might notice the significance of Willie Loman – “Low-Man”) from Death of a Salesman).

19. Current Events

Select five current news or feature stories from television, newspapers, or the internet that you think your character would be interested in. Then explain how your character would respond to each of the stories and the opinions our character would have about what was happening in the story.

20. Advertisements

To show your understanding of a character, go through several magazines and newspapers looking for advertisements of goods that you think your character would like. Cut out the pictures, neatly and attractively mount them on poster board, and under each picture write a paragraph about why this product would appeal to your character.

21. Draw a Scene

If you are artistic, think of an important scene in a work of literature and draw it the way you see it. Place the characters in the scene too, and then figure out where you were in relation to the characters when you read the book. Then write or tape your explanations of why you drew the scene the way you did and why you think you were in that particular place in the scene. What does your drawing or explanation reveal about who you related to in the work?

22. New Acquaintances

Select a character from a work of literature. Then think about three to five people, living or dead, who you would like your character to meet. Write about how you selected these new acquaintances and what you would like the character to learn from the people you introduced him or her to. For instance, after reading Monster by Walter Dean Myers, you might want the main character to meet Malcolm X, who learned who he was while in prison, and Frederick Douglass, who understood the importance of freedom. Bonus: Imagine what would happen if your character actually met one or all of the people you’ve selected. Script one (or all) of the exchanges between your character and another person. Remember to keep your character in character!

23. Book Choices for Character

Select a character and then choose five books (fiction or nonfiction) for him or her, thinking about what this character might like and also what you think he or she needs to know more about. Scan library shelves, the internet, or use the library’s computer card file. Why did you selection the nonfiction books you did? What do you hop your character will like about or get out of the fiction?

24. Community Resources for Characters

After looking in the phone book and on the internet, create a file of community resources that would help a character in a work of literature cope with an issue. If the main character has alcoholic parents, you could collect pamphlets, names of self-help groups, any agencies that address the problem. Then create a display board that showcases your findings.

25. Family History

Create the history of the family of one of the main characters in a work of literature. For instance, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, what would the life of Harry’s aunt, Mrs. Dursley, have been like? What major events affected her family? How were such things as holidays and birthdays celebrated? How did her sister (Harry’s mother) get along with her? Try to create events that help us understand why your character is the way he or she is at the point of the story.

26. Create a Character’s Room

We learn a lot about people by what they keep in their closets, what they have on their walls, what they choose to put in a room. Select a character you know well and create a living room, bedroom, kitchen, or some other room that would mean a lot to the character. Draw it or write about it, making sure to include an explanation of why you designed the room as you did.

27. CD Collection or iPod Contents

Design a CD collection (or a collection of music on a character’s iPod) for a character you know well, being sure that the collection includes music that expresses as many aspects of the character as you are aware of. Be sure to include a written explanation of why this collection is appropriate.

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