Independent Novel Study

ASSIGNMENT 1: Reading Plan

  Learning Target: (Curricular Competencies)

  • Apply appropriate strategies in a variety of contexts to comprehend written, oral, visual, and multimodal texts, to guide inquiry, and to extend thinking

  • Read for enjoyment and to achieve personal goals



Task:

This is a pre-reading activity and should be completed BEFORE you begin reading your novel.  It is designed to begin a process of thought that will help you to better understand your novel.  It will also help you to make stronger predictions about the text as you read.  First create a reading plan and then answer some questions to begin to examine your novel.

A.  Create a Reading Plan

Once you have chosen your book, you need to create a Reading Plan:

  1. Divide your book into FOUR sections (look at the chapters and ensure that the sections are approximately the same size.
  2. Your Reading Plan should include the following:
    • Your Full Name, Your book title, and Author
    • Total Page Numbers in your book
    • Book Sections: 4 Sections by page number AND chapter.
    • Date you want to start and Date you want to finish.  Try to plan with realistic expectations.
    • Dates you want each section completed, and the number of pages you need to read each day.

Below is an example of a Reading Plan.

Independent Novel Study Reading Plan

Basic Info
My Name: John Smith 
Book: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Total Pages: 370

Sections
Section 1: Ch 1-7; pages 1-91
Section 2: Ch 8-15; pages 93-178
Section 3: Ch 15-21; pages 179 - 284
Section 4: Ch 22 - 27; pages 285 - 370

Reading Plan Feb. 5, 2018 - June 1, 2018
Section 1: Due March 5; 46 pages per day
Section 2: Due April 5; 43 pages per day
Section 3: Due May 1; 53 pages per day
Section 4: Due May 25; 43 pages per day

B.  Examine Your Novel

Respond to the following questions in complete sentences as you being the initial examination of your novel.

1.  Describe the front cover of your novel.  Try to include as much detail as possible, so that someone without access to this book could visualize the cover.

2.  Read the back cover.  Based on your examination of both covers, what do you KNOW about this novel?  This should not be an assumption or prediction.  Simply put into your own words what you have learned from the book's covers.

3.  Make a prediction about the story's plot?  What will happen?  What leads you to this conclusion?  What is the genre of the storyline?

4.  What do you know about this author?  Have you read this author before?  Research an interesting fact about the author.

5.  Why did you choose this novel?  

Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment.  

Learning Target:  Exemplary (6/6) - Exemplary comprehension of the task and clear accomplishment of the objective.  Student makes a thorough attempt to examine the novel and plan for reading.  Ideas are well supported and responses demonstrate maturity of thought and writing. All activities are complete. Student has effectively prepared to read this novel. 

Written Expression:  Exemplary (6/6):  Sentence structure and vocabulary are varied, skillfully written, and carefully chosen.  Work has been proofread and there are few or no errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Content contributes to the central idea and makes insightful connections with logical organization.

Submission:  

Use the "5.1 ASSIGNMENT: Reading Plan" link on the main page of this section of the course to upload your assignment to your teacher for marking.