Independent Study Assignment



Independent Study Assignment

During this semester, you will be working on an independent study, an essay based on your reading of two novels. The timeline for the assignment is laid out below:

1. Choosing the Novels: Your first task is to choose two novels, related in some clear way, that interest you, and about which you feel you can make a significant observation about common themes or characters or patterns. The books must be of a literary quality appropriate for senior academic students. Your teacher will be the final judge of whether a novel qualifies, and you must therefore make your choices known to your teacher before you begin reading.

2. First Novel Submission: Early in the process of creating your independent study essay, you will be required to submit a form indicating that you have begun to read your first novel and think about its major themes. On this form, you will identify your first novel, the author and number of pages, and you will write a theme statement, identifying a major theme. Finally, you will provide a general topic for your independent study (eg. women’s issues, the role of fate, family relationships, the effects of war, poverty, social conventions, etc.). You will attach the form to a quotation journal, made up of 2 typed pages of quotations that seem to you important to the novel, including page references. They should be taken from throughout the novel, not just a small part of it. You will choose any three of those quotations and write under it a one-sentence explanation of how it relates either to the major theme you identified, or your possible topic (note: these may be the same thing).

3. Timed Critical Response #1: April 3.

You will be given a choice of questions. Choose the one that most closely relates to the theme or characters in your first novel.

4. Interview: Your teacher will interview you formally on one occasion, and must bring to the interview a journal of quotations gleaned from your reading that you believe to be relevant. For the interview, you must come with evidence that both novels are read (quotation journal for each novel), a thesis statement, and a clear plan for the paper. This interview will be primarily a monologue, where your teacher will listen to you talk about what you have discovered about your novels, and how you intend to turn those observations into an essay.

5. Second Novel Submission: You will attach the form to a quotation journal, made up of 2 typed pages of quotations that seem to you important to the novel, including page references. They should be taken from throughout the novel, not just a small part of it. You will choose any three of those quotations and write under it a one-sentence explanation of how it relates either to the major theme you identified, or your possible topic (note: these may be the same thing).

6. Timed Critical Response #2: May 1.

You will be given a choice of questions. Choose the one that most closely relates to the theme or characters in your second novel.

7. Outline: Shortly after the second timed critical response, you will be submitting an outline that includes a thesis, four or five paragraph headings, four or five topic sentences, and a list of passages from both books that support your paragraphs and a point form explanation of the significance of each passage.

8. Timed Write: Rough Draft.

9. The Essay: The essay will have a minimum of 1200 words and a maximum of 1500 words. There will be a penalty for essays too long or too short. It must follow exactly the MLA format for style and citation and it must include a “Works Cited” page. It must be submitted on , AND a paper copy given to Ms. O’Connor. Essays submitted by this date will have comments and suggestions.

Planning Notes Independent Study

find one novel that you are interested and I will help you match it with something

– 4UI level (if you would study this in a 4U or first year university class, it's good enough)

– literature, not pulp fiction (let's talk about this)--have I heard of this author?

– Can use library, not a bad idea to buy book

– Lynda very good at search techniques and will be helpful; Novelist is very helpful

– must be approved by teacher

– go over the sample couplings of books (don't need to hand out, but discuss with them verbally the suggestions)

– need a sophisticated thesis, not simplistic (eg. Racism)

– pick something that's you—if you're an artist, pick a novel about art (eg. Politics, science fiction, etc); tell me what you like to read; what school book's have you enjoyed?

– they think children's literature... it's not as easy as they think (eg. Children's lit operates on metaphor; difficult truths are transmitted through metaphor...); you need to be a sophisticated student to tackle children's literature (eg gardens as a portal to maturity)

– the literature can traverse centuries

– Globe & Mail “top 20 novels of all time” (and lots of other sources)

– prefer to use 2 different authors, but okay if they really want to (more interesting study if you pick 2 different authors)

– racism: can't be emotional or simplistic; eg. “Racism is ultimately self-defeating because it

– no two people should have the same independent study; occasionally the first novel can be duplicated, as long as 2nd novel is different and direction of paper is very different

– talk to me about your choices, anytime; choices must be made by ________________ date

– book 1 due date is earlier; the match is later, must be approved by a certain date

– after 1st novel is read, fill out “first novel submission sheet”

– theme statement about novel and potential subject for paper

– coached very much on thesis

– unified, precise, significant

– think about the end of your novel; how do the characters end up and what causes that?

– Similarities are not enough (being comparative is not enough)

– what about the similarity?

– They're both oppressed—yeah!! This is not enough; need an idea about the similaties

– eg. war—outline as an exemplar

– LOTS OF GUIDANCE!!

– eg. war: ironic in that destructive yet creative

– a leap to more university level thesis

–

Lessons:

– creating thesis

– creating outline

– method of comparison contrast

– peer editing of the outline; I mark as well, my mark counts

– conferences – formative mark

– Instructions and Sample

Body:

– using quotations

– peer editing the body

– links for seamless writing

– transitions

– writing introductions and conclusions (maybe not necessary)

– reviewing MLA format (right before handing in final copy)

- Coverage semester 2 to observe independent study conferences

- Model of “gradual release of responsibility”; weaker students need a lot of coaching and prompting

Orwell and Language Unit Planning Notes

– Language can be a barrier or a pathway to communication

–

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Book #1:

Date: March 3 - 6

Book #2:

Date: March 3 - 6

First Novel Submission Due: April 3

Interview Date: April 4 – 11, 2014

Outline Due: May 15

May 20

Essay Due: May 27

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