Marking Period 3 Independent Reading Project

Assignment Description:

Throughout Marking Period 3, we will be reading a second independent reading novel. This
time,instead of completing the book reviews, you will be selecting three assignments to
complete below. Please choose a book that will be able to comply with the categories for each
assignment; as such, I would highly recommend selecting fictional books for these assignments.

While you have the option of choosing one assignment from each category, you will be
responsible for submitting each assignment on the selected due date.

Each document submitted should be:

*To receive credit, all writing must be done on a Google Document where I have access to the
version history*
 Project Options:
Option 1: Editorial Article Option 2: Journal/Diary Entries Option 3: Script of a major scene

Breaking News! A major event has just Dear Diary, So many interesting things Lights, Camera, Action! Your
happened in your book, and it’s your job have happened in your story! Your job is independent reading novel has been
to report on it. to embody one of the characters from selected to become the next big
your book and write at least 4 separate Hollywood blockbuster film! Your job is
Creative You should: journal entries describing major events to write the script for one major scene of
Writing ●Write a newspaper or magazine article from your book. the book.
that describes one major event from You should: You should:
Choose 1: your independent reading novel. ● Write 4 separate diary/journal entries ● Write a dialogue that includes at least
30 points ●Include a headline and a photo. as one character from your book 2 separate characters in a conversation
●Address WHO was present at this describing major events that have taken ● Select a major event to portray
event, WHAT happened, WHEN it place ● Have at least 400 words of dialogue in
happened, WHERE it happened, and ● Each entry should be at least 100 the script
WHY it happened words. ● Include stage directions in italics
●Your article should be at least 400 ● Each entry should address WHO was ● Address WHO is in the scene, WHAT
words at the event, WHAT happened, WHEN they are discussing, WHEN this scene is
● You can use this template to set it up, it happened, WHERE it took place, and taking place in the context of the story,
if you would like! HOW your character is reacting to the WHERE this scene is taking place, and
major event, WHY they are having this conversation.

Option 1: Character Symbol Option 2: Playlist Option 3: Character Sociogram

Artistic What symbol would accurately What would the Spotify Wrapped look What are the relationships between all
Represe- represent one character from your book? like for one of the characters in your of the characters in your book? Create a
ntation: It’s up to you to make the symbol and book? Your job is to create a playlist of visual sociogram using symbols to
analyze HOW/WHY it represents your at least 10 songs that represent one represent each character and HOW they
Choose 1: chosen character. character from your book. are related to each other.
You should: You should:
30 points ● Create a physical symbol to represent You should: ● Include at least 8 major characters
your character. This can be a drawing, a ● List 10 songs that accurately represent from your chosen book
sculpture, a diagram/etc. your character ● Use icons to represent all 8 characters
● Be intentional about the colors used in ● Include the artists and the song titles ● Use lines w/ descriptions above them
the symbol. Read up on the symbolic ● Write at least a 250 word analysis to signify the relationships between your
significance of colors here. about HOW and WHY your chosen characters
● Write at least a 250 word analysis of songs represent your character, using ● Write at least a 250 word analysis
HOW and WHY your symbol represents specific examples from your text to analyzing WHY you chose the symbols
your chosen character, using specific support your response. you did for each character.
examples from your text to support your ● Here is an example
response.

Analysis Option 1: Theme Analysis Option 2: Character Analysis Option 3: Compare & Contrast
Writing
What is the major theme of your text? How does the protagonist of your book How do the themes of this book
develop over time? compare or contrast with another that
Choose 1: You should: you have read this year?
● Identify the most important You should: You should:
50 points theme/lesson taught by your text. ● Identify the protagonist/main ● Identify a text that you have read in
Remember that theme should be character of your book. class or for the first independent reading
expressed in a full sentence. ● Analyze how they change from the project
● Write a response of at least 4 beginning to the end as they encounter ● Analyze how these two texts compare
paragraphs analyzing how the theme is the major conflict in a response of at and contrast in a response of at least 4
expressed from the beginning to the end least 4 paragraphs. paragraphs.
of your book. ● Include at least 2 quotes per body ● Include at least 2 quotes per body
● Include at least 2 quotes per body paragraph to support your response. paragraph to support your response.
paragraph to support your response. You should have at least 2 quotes per
text.
 Project Rubrics:
Independent Reading Project: Creative Writing Rubric
Option
Number: ____ 5 points 3 points 1 point

Formatting Project clearly follows the Project partially follows the Project does not follow the
(x2) formatting of the chosen formatting of the chosen formatting of the chosen
assignment. assignment. assignment.

Project is at least 400 words Project is between 250-399 words Project is less than 250 words.

5 W’s (x2) Project clearly addresses the WHO, Project addresses at least 3 of the Project addresses 2 or less of the
WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN,
WHY/HOW questions. WHY/HOW questions. WHY/HOW questions.

Creativity & Project demonstrates clear Project demonstrates some Project seems rushed and lacks
Effort creativity and effort. creativity and effort. creativity and effort.

Grammar, There are no errors in grammar, There are between 1-2 errors in There are multiple errors in
Punctuation, punctuation, and mechanics. grammar, punctuation, and effort grammar, punctuation, and effort
that do not distract from meaning. that distract from the overall
and Mechanics meaning of the project.

Independent Reading Project: Artistic Representation Rubric

Artistic Project demonstrates a clear Project shows some understanding Project shows no understanding of
Creation (x2) understanding of the character(s) of the character(s), but does not the character(s), & there’s no
from the independent novel. clearly make a connection. connection drawn between the
project and the novel.

250 Word Analysis is the correct length Analysis is between 200-249 words. Analysis is less than 200 words.
Description
Analysis clearly analyzes HOW Analysis analyzes either HOW or Analysis does not draw any
(x2) and WHY the artistic project WHY the artistic project represents connections between the project
represents the chosen character(s). the chosen character(s), but is not and the characters from the novel.
fully in-depth.
Analysis shows a deep Analysis shows no understanding
understanding of characterization. Analysis shows a basic of characterization.
understanding of characterization.

Creativity & Project demonstrates clear Project demonstrates some Project seems rushed and lacks
Effort creativity and effort. creativity and effort. creativity and effort.

Grammar, There are no errors in grammar, There are between 1-2 errors in There are multiple errors in
Punctuation, punctuation, and mechanics. grammar, punctuation, and effort grammar, punctuation, & effort
that do not distract from meaning. that distract from the meaning of
and Mechanics the project.
 Option Independent Reading Project: Analysis Writing
Number: ____
10 points 7 points 5 points 3 points 1 point

Introduction - Sophisticated thesis - Thesis statement is - Thesis statement is on - Thesis is off topic -Fails to present a thesis
statement: debatable, debatable but may be too topic but is not -Connection between statement
and well formulated, focused, narrow/broad debatable; merely introduction and thesis is -Fails to name the text
Conclusion uses precise language - Transitions well restates the topic just a summary of the AND author that is to be
- Transitions between between introduction and -Connection between text that is to be analyzed analyzed in the essay
intro and thesis in a thesis with some introduction and thesis in the essay - There is no conclusion
sophisticated manner by summary lays out ideas from essay -Appears to be an
providing an insightful -Conclusion is without effective attempt at a conclusion,
view on novel recognizable and has transitions but it does nothing to
-Conclusion effectively effective closure but may -Conclusion lacks bring the topic to a close.
wraps up by creating new not provide a fresh effective closure
meaning, demonstrating insight.
how the ideas work
together.

2 Body -Shows extensive -Shows knowledge of -Shows satisfactory -Shows partial - Shows little knowledge
knowledge and curiosity novel knowledge of novel knowledge of novel of novel
Paragraphs about novel -There is plot summary -Focuses on plot not -Majority of content -Majority of content
(x2) -No plot summary - -Analysis demonstrates analysis focuses on plot with little focuses on plot with no
details are used to some original thought or -Analysis is mostly to no textual evidence textual evidence
support ideas, not to critical thinking shallow and mechanical -Analysis is almost non- -Analysis is non-existent
retell the story -Mostly maintains focus - Demonstrates very little existent -Textual/conceptual
-Focuses exclusively on -Analysis is consistent at original thought -Analysis does not analysis does not
the topic times -Some evidence exists demonstrate original demonstrate original
-Analysis is extremely -Evidence exists that but does not support thought or critical thought or critical
sophisticated, supports the writer’s writer’s ideas thinking thinking skills
demonstrating critical ideas, but needs more
thinking skills evidence
-Strong textual support is
used to develop the
writer’s ideas

Organization -Expertly displays logical -Displays some logical -Tries to display logical -Progression of ideas is -Lacks clarity and
progression of ideas progression of ideas progression of ideas in underdeveloped organization
through coherent through paragraph some parts of essay -Paper seems to follow -Paper has no structure
paragraph organization organization - Paper’s structure is, at no structural format (too -Difficult to follow the
and argument -Paper is fairly well times, awkward few body paragraphs, no writer’s thoughts
development structured with some -Evidence placement defined structure)
-All evidence is lapses in continuity takes away from -Evidence is
presented in an -Some evidence is well meaning disorganized
extremely logical manner placed, while other
-Paper is effectively evidence may be
structured awkwardly placed
-Sophisticated transition
of ideas

Formatting, -Uses quotes in a -Uses quotes with -Transitions in and out of -Quotes used, but lacks -No quotes used
sophisticated manner seamless transition quotes are weak and transition in & out of -Severe errors detracting
Grammar, & with seamless transition introducing and detract from meaning quote from meaning
Mechanics introducing and explaining quotes -Patterns of errors -Patterns of errors -Inability to apply rules
analyzing quotes -Few errors evident evident of grammar
-No errors in mechanics - Demonstrates a general -Knowledge of rules - Consistent Errors
-Demonstrates use of knowledge and demonstrated but unable -Excessive
varied sophisticated application of rules of to use them consistently monotony/same
punctuation grammar -Little variety in syntax structure/awkward
-Expertly demonstrates syntax
knowledge and
application of rules of
grammar