Independent Novel Project

Created Jan. 24, 2024 by MEGAN COFFEY

Independent Novel Project


You will be reading one book outside of class this semester.  You may choose to check out a book from the school library or the public library, but you are responsible for managing due dates for these items.  You may also use a personal book for the project, however, it must be a book you have not read before. 

  • Plagiarism or cheating in any way will not be tolerated and will result in a grade of -0- for the entire project.  

  • You will complete the project, and give a short presentation for the novel.  

  • Points will be awarded for creative use of technology in the project and/or presentation.

  • The project and PowerPoint presentation will be due on a specified date.

  • Only one student per class period can choose any single book: there can be no duplication throughout the year.

  • You may choose from the categories below



    • Comedy

    • Science Fiction & Fantasy

    • State of the Nation

    • Crime

    • Love

    • Family & Self

    • War & Travel




Your project must be typed in 12 point font, with 1 inch margins, double spaced and note page numbers where information can be found in the text using correct MLA parenthetical citation.  Each page should be consecutively numbered using correct MLA pagination.  Please create a cover page for your project listing your name, the author and title of the book you have chosen, and the category you wish it to represent, as well as a Table of Contents (label each assignment with the corresponding page number listed).  Please be prepared for a PowerPoint presentation of your project to your classmates.  You will complete one of the assignments listed in each row below.  





Knowledge



Authors do not choose a title randomly—usually there is some significance to it.  Identify and describe the meaning of your book’s title in 100-150 words.

Describe the genre and setting (time and place) of your book in 100-150 words.  Explain its importance to the narrative.

Create a PLOT DIAGRAM for your book.  Identify all the key parts. Have 10 pieces of rising action, and 4 pieces of falling action.  



Comprehension



Write a SUMMARY of your book in 300-500 words.  Make sure to focus on the key events of the story.

Explain the MAIN CONFLICT in the book.  Give examples of how this conflict shows up in the story and how it is resolved.  300-500 words.

Copy 10 of your favorite phrases/sentences from the book and explain the significance of each quote in 300-500 words total.




Application



***CREATIVE PROJECT*** Do something creative to show your understanding of your book.  You could make a movie poster, do a music video, write an alternate ending, do a “graphic novel” depiction of a scene, create a soundtrack for your character with explanation of why each song is appropriate to the text, write original poems or songs for your character, etc.  You MUST get your idea approved by ME. The creative project needs to show off your skills and display a depth of understanding about the book/character/theme, etc. You must also create a 300-500 word explanation of what you created, why you created it, and how it is appropriate to your novel selection.  

Analysis

Write an analysis of the main character.  Describe him/her and his/her transformation.  Then, explain WHY they transformed over the course of the book.  300-500 words.

Relate the book to human experience.  In 300-500 words explain three truths about human nature and find three events from the text that relate to those truths.  

Choose another book or movie with a similar conflict, and in 300-500 words, compare/contrast the book to your new choice.  Analyze characters, plot, setting, etc.




Synthesis



Make up a TOTAL of TWENTY QUESTIONS for your novel—five true/false questions, five multiple choice, five matching, and five open-ended questions for your book.  Create an answer key on a separate piece of paper, including answers for the open-ended questions in the proper format. 

Choose a controversial issue from the text and take a stand on ONE SIDE of the issue.  Write a 300-500 word paper discussing your reasons for disagreeing or agreeing with a decision a character made in the novel regarding this issue.

Title two columns with opposite words (hate/love, peace/violence, power/

submission, honesty/deceit, etc).  Now list 5 elements from the novel (characters’ actions/ words, plot development, symbols, etc.) that fit each of the descriptive words.  Write a 300-500 word paper explaining your lists.




Evaluation




Find and include 2 professional, published reviews of the book with MLA documentation of where they were located.  In 300-500 words write your own review of the book. Would you recommend the book? Why or why not? Would you have changed any element of the story (plot, characters, setting, resolution, conflicts, point of view, etc)? 



Independent Reading Project (Minimum) Multimedia Presentation Expectations:

  • Explanation of what the book is about 

  • Personal review of the book

  • Explanation of the significance of the title

  • Presentation and explanation of creative assignment related to the book

  • The controversial issue covered within your project

  • Analysis of the main character

  • Truth about human nature covered within your project

  • Remember that points will be awarded for creative use of technology

This is a FORMAL presentation, so the quality of your presentation is important and will be graded.  This means speaking clearly, knowing your information, not reading a prepared statement, etc. Presentations should be 3-5 minutes long, so plan your time carefully, as there is a lot of information to be covered in such a short time: be succinct! 


Resources Online:

Easybib.com to help you with your review citations: http://www.easybib.com
Open Office.org provides a free suite of programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, etc: http://www.openoffice.org





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