READING PROJECT Novel/Short story “_____________________________________________________” by ____________________________

The following guidelines will help you read and interpret the book as they outline some important reading tools. Use it to jot down some NOTES before you write your LOG (see below). If you are working in a group discuss your notes with your colleagues. These are your notes and they are intended to help you, not for written or oral presentation.

1. Characters . (name, age, occupation, kinship..). (appearance). (character)

1.2. Main changes in characters actions and emotions

1.3. Important events/ turning point(s)

2. Setting (place / time)

3. Narrator’s point of view Who is telling the story? (I/ he, she)Is it an omniscient perspective/ do you share a character’s thoughts/ emotions?

4. Plot (short summary )

5. Structure chronological events / flashbacksending (open / close)

6. Style and technique. The manner of expression of a particular writer, produced by choice of words, grammatical structures, use of literary devices, and all the possible parts of language use. Some general styles might include scientific, ornate, plain, emotive. Most writers have their own particular styles.

Language . similes/ metaphors/ irony/ parallelism/ synecdoche / personification / …. informal (colloquial, slang, dialect). formal (correct, standard, no slang

7. Tone. The writer’s attitude toward his readers and his subject; his mood or moral view. A writer can be formal, informal, critical, playful, ironic, and especially, optimistic or pessimistic.

8. Theme

The author’s purpose: teach/ entertain/ make us laugh/ escape from reality/ explore human character/ explore certain settings and how they affect people/ other….)

What is the author questioning? What big issue is he addressing?- Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.- Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.- Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

INTEREST POINTS: Your views / reactions / assessment

Oral presentation (45’): Date of presentation: _________________The presentation may consist of: - Brief introduction of the writer’s life and times- Expressive or dramatised reading of ‘Beautiful Passage(s)/your adaptation/follow up of the story’ AND …- … any visual representation (drawing, model, collage, …) that shows your interpretation of the story/book- Discussion of most interesting features such as style and technique or connections found in your story/book - Assessment of work done/recommendations

Reading LOG/Learning Journal (See guidelines above) Deadline: write and show your LOG/LJ as you readFor example, summaries of the plot as it evolves, your views about a character or the events, style and technique, some beautiful passages, your reflections/ connections suggested by the story…

Information about the book and author (please so not copy-paste)Your presentation e.g. rationale and visual component, and slides, and/or script, and/or any other form you chooseShort essay including Assessment/recommendations (specific criteria will be given at a later stage)

Never forget “QUOTATION MARKS”. Always mention your REFERENCES.

If you are working in a group the following roles will help organise your work and the group discussions. If you are working alone you cannot divide roles… so you will have to use these guidelines on your own. Remember that your presentation will greatly depend on how you manage to ‘find beautiful passages’, ‘illustrate the story’ and make ‘connections’. Even if you are working alone my advice is that you talk about the book you are reading to your colleagues.

Discussion Director:

Your job is to keep the group on task at all times. Coordinate division of roles and make sure tasks are divided evenly, especially as regards the Reading File. Propose a realistic schedule, organise meetings and encourage everybody to participate in group discussion. You should organise the final Reading File in such a way that all views are represented, when there is no general consensus. You are also the timekeeper.

Beautiful Passage Finder:

You are going to locate 5 passages from the novel/story that you have found particularly interesting, powerful, controversial, surprising, challenging, insightful, symbolic, humorous and/ or important to the plot or theme. Write them on a separate sheet, mentioning page numbers. You should also write 2-3 sentences of explanation following each quotation/ passage. Present these to the group and ask them to add their points of view. You can read the passages aloud, ask someone else to read or just read them silently and then discuss.

Story Illustrator:Your job is to make a visual representation of the reading on a blank sheet of paper (no lined paper), recreating a scene in the literary work, drawing symbols or making a collage that represents ideas or messages in the story, etc. BE CREATIVE! Focus on a character, a certain event, possible themes, conflicts, etc. When the Discussion Director asks you to share your illustration, allow the group to respond first to your work, explaining what they see and the connections they are making. After everyone has had a say, you tell them what your picture meant to you, where it came from, etc.

Connector:

You are going to find 5 connections between the reading and the world outside. This means connecting the reading to your own life, happenings at school or in the community, current or historical events or other people or problems that you are reminded of. You might also see connections between this literary work and other writings or films. There are basically four main connection categories: Personal, Social, Cultural and Historical.