Mrs. OConnell's 7th grade English

If you are reading a LITERARY NONFICTION BOOK, or one that is true (nonfiction) yet reads like a fiction novel, use the FICTION guidelines.

If you are reading an INFORMATIVE NONFICTION BOOK, or one that is for informational purposes, use these guidelines:

INFORMATIVE NONFICTION – Your summary should tell about the subject you read about and its

 author.  You should include the following basics of nonfiction, and your summary will be scored (up to

 100 points) as follows:

            60 points (10 ea.) = tell what these 6 elements are in the informational book:

                        Topic               Author info                  Author’s purpose

                        Format             Main idea(s)                Message

10 points = write the summary in 10 sentences or less

10 points = vary the sentence structure, i.e. do not start all with “The ____ in the book is ..”

10 points = vary the order of elements in your summary, i.e. do not follow above order

10 points = decorated / collage of words and/or pictures related to the book

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The attached guidelines were handed out in class on Tuesday, 10/11/11  

1ST QUARTER BOOK REPORT PROJECT

**EXTRA CREDIT FOR WORK DONE BEFORE DEADLINE AND PRESENTATION COMPLETED BY 10/28 – SEE ME!!!**

Summary – DRAFT due within 1 week of finishing the novel or by 10/28

                     FINAL due at time of your presentation, stapled with your reviewed 1st draft.

Your summary should tell the basics about the story.  A good way to be sure you include the important basics and not too many details is to use the elements to guide you.  If you include the elements, you should have a complete summary.  Your summary will be scored (up to 100 points) as follows:

60 points (10 ea.) = tell what the 6 elements are in the novel :

                                   Setting                         Characters                              Conflict
                                   Climax                         Resolution                               Theme

10 points = write the summary in 10 sentences or less

10 points = vary the sentence structure, i.e. do not start all with “The ____ of the novel is ..”

10 points = vary the order of elements in your summary, i.e. do not follow above order

10 points = decorated / collage of words and/or pictures related to the novel

2 Tidbits – DRAFT due by 10/21
               FINAL due at time of your presentation
A tidbit is a specific comment you make about how something you pick out from the story is interesting, along with an explanation of why/how it was interesting to you.  You need 1 tidbit related to the way the book is written (literary aspect) and 1 tidbit related to you (personal aspect).
              
Literary tidbit examples                                                        Personal tidbit examples                                    

the perspective(s) the author wrote in                              Something that surprised you                            

how the setting relates to the plot                               Something you wondered about as you read
the vivid description of something                                    Something that grabbed your attention
the unresolved ending                                                      Something repeated throughout the story
the voice of the writer                                                       Something you think wasn’t right
a particular character                                                       Something you discussed with your teacher and got approval to use

Review/Recommendation – DRAFT writing together in class on Monday, 10/24
                                                                  FINAL due at time of your presentation.

Oral Presentation – WEEK OF 10/31 (exact date given 10/19)

You will present your summary, tidbits and review/recommendation and will be graded on your oral presentation skills:

            Confident walk                                    Positive stance

            Greeting the audience                        Slow, loud, clear voice

            Expression/engagement                     Eye contact

            Ability to answer questions from your audience about the novel

**rehearsal time during lunch any day (get a pass from me) OR after school on Oct. 19, 20, 26, or 27

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The 1st quarter book report project will be an oral presentation.  You will need to give a short summary of the elements, a tidbit (something you found interesting and why), and a review/recommendation.  We will work on rehearsing the oral presentation skills over the course of the next 5 weeks, and we will have in-class time to work on the content of the presentation.  You will need to pass in a written version of your presentation on your due date.  More specific information will follow in 2 weeks; presentations will begin week of 10/31 and will end 11/7.

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Start reading!!!  As of today, you have 5 weeks to read your 1st quarter book report book.  Each week you will complete the “check-in” form part for that week, telling me what you’ve read since the last “check-in.”  You can make predictions, ask questions, or make comments on the elements of the story (characters, setting, exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, theme).  Each week your writing should reflect the progress you’ve made in reading.

Each week you will set a goal for the next week.  The goal should be attainable and consider the number of pages in the book (reading 1/5 each week is smart), your schedule for the week, as well as your past successes and failures with setting goals. 

You will receive a performance grade for each “check-in.”

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Get a book for your 1st quarter book report.  It can be any genre, but should be something at or above your reading level (no Captain Underpants!) and most of all, something you WANT TO READ!!!  The BOOK is due in class on Monday, Sept. 26th.

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