8th Grade RELA Independent Reading Project
Each student is expected to read one novel bimonthly, independent of the standard class assignments. The student will have ample time to read the novel and then complete the task assigned. Luckily, there are options within each component of the assignment that hopefully each student can connect with. Please keep in mind, the list is subject to change slightly per student interest request throughout the school year. Below are the possible novels that can be read and you will select one from each list:
September-October / November-December / January-February / March-April / May-June1.The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
2. Bad Blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment by James H. Jones
3. Stung by Bethany Wiggins / 1. Eight Grade Bights by Heather Brewer
2. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
3. Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri / 1. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. Forge By Laurie Halse Anderson
3. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
4. Narrative in the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass / 1. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
2. The Giver by Lois Lowry
3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck / 1. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
2. The Man Who was Poe by Avi
3. How to Connect with Others (Near and Far) to Create Social Change by Barbara Lewis
You will read the novel for a two month periodand complete the tasks below for each novel by the due date provided. Due Dates: 1. October 26, 2016 2. December 21, 2016 3.February 28, 2017 4.April 28, 2017 5. June 7, 2017
Tasks:
You must complete one visual, one written, and one performance based task per novel. Try not to use the same option more than once.
Visual
Please choose one of the following options:
Create a picture book based on your novel. Use either photograph, magazine pictures, drawings/etc., to represent things that happened in your novel. Put them together in booklet form with a front andback cover. Portray at least 10 main scenes/events in the novel and use a written caption with eachpicture to explain what is happening. Picture book should tell the whole story (ending & all).
Create a movie poster to go with a book you read. Select current actors and actresses to play major characters. On the back of the poster (or a separate sheet of paper), explain why you chose those particular actors and actresses for the parts.
Create a collage on the themes/ideas presented in your book. Give it a title, such as “A Search for Identity,” “Growing Up”/etc. Remember, the theme is the main idea, often the lesson, that theauthor wants you to think when reading the book. (Poster-sized)
Create a diorama that shows a scene from your book. (A diorama is a scene in a box—it should be 3-D.)
Sketch scenes from the novel. Do at least three (unless otherwise approved).
Draw a cartoon strip showing the main parts of the story. This should have at least five frames.
Create and construct a mobile showing different characters or scenes from the book.
Create a puzzle book based on your novel. Include such things as crosswords, search-a-words, cryptograms, word scrambles, riddles, etc. Must include at least five different puzzles (with an answer key!) and have a cover.
If your book involves travel from one setting to another, create a travel brochure depicting the places the main character(s) went.
Create a board game based on your book. Design and build the board, as well as any playing pieces, cards, spinners or dice, or other objects needed to play. Type a set of instructions for how to play and win the game.
Writing Assignment(Use MLA format only)
With any of the writing items, you must print and highlight two articles from scholarly sources(academic journal articles using databases like JSTOR or Google Scholar) and a minimum of two articles from scholarly sources on the culture associated with the work—may incorporate pictures, artwork, video, or music on the culture. Include bibliographical information, including the URL for online.
Please choose one of the following options:
Write a magazine or newspaper-type review (critiquing and discussing) on your novel. Examine reviews of other books in magazines/newspapers to give ideas on form/etc. (Must be at least
300 words typed and contain a works cited page.)
Write a letter to the author of the book you read that explains your views of the novel. You might want to explain what the book taught you, why the book was particularly special to you, what you liked/didn’t like about it, suggest ideas for a sequel/etc. Use specific examples from the book to explain what you mean. *For extra credit, if your author is living, find his/her address and bring the letter to school to be mailed to the actual author. (At least 300 words, typed, business letter format.)
Write a comparison/contrast essay comparing your novel to either a movie version of the novel or another book by the same author. It should be at least 350 words, typed; five-paragraph form, and contain a works cited page.)
Research the author’s life to find out what may have influenced him/her to write about the topics in the ways in which he/she did. Write a report describing your findings. Make sure to include a bibliography of sources you used for this report. (At least 350 words typed and contain a works cited page.)
Didn’t like the ending of your novel? Write a new one! (Or write an epilogue: explain what happened to all of the main characters AFTER this novel is over.) Ending or prologue must still be based on events leading up to the original ending in the real story. (At least 350 words typed and contain a works cited page.)
Turn your novel into a short play. Write the screenplay (script) complete with stage directions and recommend actors and actresses to play each main part.
Design and build a web page or site (or PowerPoint) about your book; include a synopsis (don’t give the ending away!), introductions to main characters, and other information and graphics/images to “sell” your book (e.g., convince others to read it).
Make a newspaper about your book; include feature stories for the front page (with headlines), opinion articles from the “editor,” display advertisements, classified ads, and other categories that are relevant to your story (obituaries, sports articles, entertainment calendars, etc.).
Performance-Based
Please choose one of the following options:
Create a TV commercial advertising your book. Perform your commercial using any necessaryprops/etc. Commercial should be at least 60 seconds long. Remember—it’s a commercial—you’retrying to get the audience to go out and buy/read the book—don’t give away the ending! (You willturn in a script with your project.)
With another “actor,” perform an interview with the writer of the book. You will turn in a script withquestions to be asked and answers to be given.
“Tell” the story of your book, as a storyteller would. You will turn in a written version ofapproximately what you will say. Use props and gestures when telling the story.
Do a PBS/History Channel-type documentary on a character or theme from your book.
With other “actors,” act out either an important scene from the book or a SHORTENED version ofthe entire story. You will turn in a script with your project. Use props and costumes whenappropriate.
Perform a dramatic monologue. “Be” a character from your novel and use your voice and costume tocreate the illusion to the audience that you are that character. Speak in first person and reviewsome of the most interesting experiences that happened to “you” in the novel.
Write and perform a song (music and lyrics/etc.) that tells the story of the novel and sing it for the class.
Recite and write a narrative poem that tells the entire story of the novel or a collection of shorter poems(numbers will vary—see Mrs. Taylor) that deal with the issues/themes/etc. that the novel deals withand recite it in front of the class.
Recite and write poems about each of the main characters in the book (speak with me if you select this item).
Create puppets (paper bags/socks/etc.) and dramatize a significant scene from the book you’ve read.
You must turn in a script with this project.
Give a book talk--a short speech that gets the audience interested in reading your book. It's almostlike a commercial for the book that gets them hooked on hearing the rest. Read an excerpt from thebook that will help to “sell” your book to the audience. Tell only enough about the book to get theirinterest--don't ruin the story for them. Use props and visual aids to create interest.
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