Term Reading Project

INDEPENDENT READING PROJECT

PDF Version: TERM THREE INDEPENDENT READING PROJECT

A. PURPOSE: to become a more joyful, skillful and knowledgeable reader

B. PROCEDURE:

  1. Read books.
  2. Every week, hand in a record of your weekly reading, including any book responses or analyses you have written.
  3. Every week, follow the suggestions given by your teacher.
  4. Be persistent! Be the kind of person today that you want to be in the future.

 

C. EVALUATION:

A DEVELOPING READER

    • at least 6 book responses
    • at least 2 indigenous books
    • at least 20 books in total

A PROFICIENT READER 
–  at least 12 excellent book responses
– at least 8 books at grade 6+ reading level
– at least 2 indigenous books
– at least 40 books in total

A READER EXTENDING HER/HIS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
 –  4 excellent book analyses
–  8 excellent book responses
– at least 10 books at grade 6+ reading level
– at least 2 indigenous books
–  at least 40 books in total

BOOK RESPONSES

Before you hand in your response, check the criteria:

  1. tells enough about the book ____
  2. uses vivid words ____
  3. uses correct English___
  4. is neatly presented _____

Choose any of these formats…

Respond to Fiction:

Title by Author (publisher, copyright date) is the story of [main character] who [describe the setting]. Life changes for [Main character], [describe the character], when [tell what happens to cause a problem].  And now [s/he] must figure out what to do. [Explain what happens, and add your thoughts.]

I recently read a great book called Title by Author (publisher, copyright date). The main character, [name], lives in [describe the setting]. Life changes for [Main character], [describe the character], when [tell what happens to cause a problem].  And now [s/he] must figure out what to do. [Explain what happens.]  This novel is one of the most [an emotive adjective] stories I’ve read in a long time. I recommend it for [tell who would enjoy it].

There are many novels about [a topic].  There are many novels about [name another topic]. But Title by Author (publisher, copyright date) is unique. It [tell one unique feature of the story]. It is also [tell another unique feature of the story].  But what stands out to me the most is [tell what makes the story most special to you].  I recommend this novel for [age] to [age] year old looking for a [adjective] and [adjective] story about [topic].

 Title by Author (publisher, copyright date) is like a song that is memorable because of its tune. There is a rhythm to the writing that made me want to keep reading and reading. [Quote some examples of flowing sentences; don’t forget to include page numbers.] Alliteration made the writing keep flowing. [Quote some examples and give the page numbers.] Similes and metaphors added emphasis. [Quote some examples and give the page numbers.] I enjoyed the story of [briefly summarize the plot]. But what I enjoyed the most was the style of writing. Anyone who enjoys language will be sure to enjoy this novel for [age] to [age] year olds.

Have you ever felt [an emotion]? Have you ever felt [another emotion]. Then you’ll know how the main character feels in the novel Title by Author (publisher, copyright date). [Main character] is [repeat first emotion].  [Describe the cause of that emotion].  [S/he] is also [repeat second emotion].  [Describe the cause of that emotion]. What should [s/he] do?  What will [s/he] do? Read this [emotive adjective] novel to find out.

Respond to Information:

Did you know that GIVE AN INTERESTING FACT? Did you know that GIVE ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT? TITLE by AUTHOR (publisher, date) tells all sorts of AN EMOTIVE ADJECTIVE SUCH ‘FASCINATING’ facts about TELL THE TOPIC OF THE BOOK.  I learned that TELL A FACT and TELL ANOTHER FACT. I discovered that TELL A FACT and TELL ANOTHER FACT.  TITLE is a AN EMOTIVE WORD SUCH AS ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ book about TELL THE TOPIC AGAIN.

You can learn a lot about life from books.  I learned some useful information from TITLE by AUTHOR (PUBLISHER, DATE). TELL A USEFUL FACT. TELL ANOTHER USEFUL FACT. TELL YET ANOTHER USEFUL FACT.  Most importantly, I learned that TELL YOUR MOST MEMORABLE USEFUL FACT. Books are a great way to expand your general knowledge, to help you carry along facts that can help you in life.  And this book is great one to read if you want to learn SUMMARIZE THE MAIN TOPIC; E.G. HOW TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY.

You can learn a lot about life from reading. I learned some useful information online at a site called TITLE. TELL A USEFUL FACT. TELL ANOTHER USEFUL FACT. TELL YET ANOTHER USEFUL FACT. I discovered that TELL AN INTERESTING PIECE OF INFORMATION. It reminded me of TELL YOUR CONNECTION TO THE FACTS. In the future, TELL HOW YOU MIGHT TRY SOMETHING NEW IN THE FUTURE.  Who knows what will happen?  I can’t wait to find out!

An example: Did you know that a microscope uses sunlight to see objects on the slide? Did you know that microscopes used to be small enough to be held by one hand? The Microscope and a Hidden World to Explore by Irene S. Pyszkowski (Whitman Publishing Company 1963) tells all sorts of eye opening facts about microscopes. I learned that microscopes were invented in 1637 and that with modern day microscopes you can see the makeup of cells. I discovered that there are two types of cells (plant & animal) and that for thousands of years the invisible world of cells was just that, invisible. The Microscope and a Hidden World to explore is an incredible book about microscopes! (Sean)

 

A BOOK ANALYSIS

A. Citation/Bibiliographic Entry:

B. Reliability (50 – 100 words):

C. Category (100 – 200 words):

 ____ Cultural Concepts

 ____ Interlocking Episodes

 ____ Cumulative Pattern

 ____ Chronological Pattern

 ____ Main Character

 ____ Informational Pattern

____ Repetitive Pattern

____ Rhythm-Rhyme Pattern

____ Problem-solving Pattern (most novels):

__ person versus nature                             __ person versus society

__ person versus person                            __ person versus supernatural

 __ person versus self

D. Short Annotation (1 – 3 sentences):

E. Point of View (3 sentences as evidence):

____ 1st person

____ 2nd person

____ 3rd person

F. Tense (3 sentences as evidence):

 ____ present

 ____ past

G. Literary Excellence (at least 20 examples from at least 4 categories as evidence):

Sounds of Words

 ____ alliteration – repeating the beginning consonant sounds in words

 ____ assonance – repeating similar sounds, especially vowel sounds

____ consonance – repeating similar consonant sounds

Choice of Words

____ hyperbole – exaggerating for effect; e.g. tons of money

 ____ irony – saying the opposite of what is meant

 ____ metaphor – comparing things not alike through implication

____ personification – giving human qualities to nonhuman things

 ____ simile – comparing things not alike by using the word ‘like’ or ‘as’

 ____ vocabulary – using precise nouns and verbs to describe scenes/emotions Arrangement of Words

____ length of sentences – differing lengths to create a mood

____ repetition – repeating sounds, words or phrases for effect

____ appositives – inserting a phrase between a set of commas or dashes

H. Connection (200 – 400 words): ____ text to self ____ text to text _____ text to world

An example:

Citation: Trottier, Maxine. Migrant. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2011.

An Analysis by Maya

Reliability:

I could count on this picture book to be entertaining because I have heard of Groundwood Books, the publisher, before and it has a good reputation. The book has also won the Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award by the New York Times and was a Governor General’s Literary Award (Illustration) Finalist.

 Category:

Migrant shows a main character pattern. It focuses on the story of a young girl, Anna, whose family is always moving between Mexico and Northern Canada. She wonders what it would be like to stay in one place instead of travelling every season. The story tells what this German-speaking child sees and feels about this foreign country. Using a ton of metaphors and similes, the author, Maxine Trottier, compares Anna’s life to different animals and what their lives are like. Anna has trouble staying busy while her family works because she is too young to do anything.

 Annotation:

Anna, a little girl whose family travels from Mexico to Canada, feels like a bird who is constantly flying back and forth, north to south, when the seasons change, She wonders what it world be like to stay in one place. This imaginative picture book, beautifully illustrated, is recommended for readers 4 to 14-years-old.

 Point of View: 3rd Person

  • There are times when Anna feels like a bird.” p. 4
  • “There are moments when she feels like a rabbit.” p. 8
  • “Anna is too young to work.” p. 14

 Tense: Present

  • “Anna is too young to work.” p. 14
  • “But fall is here, and the geese are flying away.” p. 36 

 Literary Excellence:

Metaphor:

  • “Her family is a flock of geese beating its way there and back again.” pg. 4
  • “A bee. That’s what she is during the day.” pg. 11
  • “At night Anna is a kitten sharing a bed with her sisters…” pg. 15

Simile: 

  • “In the other room her brothers are like puppies…” p. 18
  • “… as though a thousand crickets are all singing a different song.” p. 26
  • “…their words as spicy as the hottest chilis…” p. 22
  • “… or as slow and rich as dark molasses.” p. 22
  • “…Anna feels like a bird.” p. 4

Alliteration: 

  • “…blanket that barely covers…” p. 16
  • “…sisters by your side…” p. 1

Appositive:

  • “A kitten is a good thing to be, a safe thing, curled there…” p. 15
  • “…puppies, growling and nipping in their sleep, fighting over…” p. 18

Repetition:

  • “…dip and rise, dip and rise…” p. 15

Connection:

My connection to Migrant by Maxine Trottier is text to world.  Previously in our Social Studies class, we learned about early human migration. Approximately two million years ago, people started migrating from Africa into Asia and then eventually to the tip of North America and the rest of the world. The main character, Anna, is a young girl who comes from a family of migrant workers from Mexico. According to Trottier, “Low German-speaking Mennonites from Mexico are a unique group of migrants who moved from Canada to Mexico in the 1920s and became an important part of the farming community there.

What is interesting is that I have learned that in our town there are still some local companies that will hire migrant workers for each season. For example, an aerospace facility and some farms have hired seasonal workers to increase their labour force. Unlike Anna, many migrant workers in today’s world are able to apply for permanent residency and create a new life in our country.

In the case of Anna’s family, they travel back and forth from Mexico to Canada, and do not have the living and working conditions usually reserved for residents. This constant lack of stability for Anna has therefore created a lack of a proper childhood — at least one that looks like the one I had — and this book both beautifully illustrates and communicates the hardships of a child of a migrant worker in so few words. 

 

 

 

 

 

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