Literature Seminars
Directions Appropriately divide your book into three sections Do not stop in the middle of a chapter If you know of upcoming commitments – sporting events, rehearsals, etc. you can chunk the book differently For example, maybe you need to read more the first week because you know you’ll be busy later in the month.
Theme Our theme is the ‘Teen Experience’ Everyone will be reading different books that all connect to this theme As you are reading make sure to pay close attention to details related to the teen experience If you need to use sticky notes to jot down ideas, connections, questions, thoughts, opinions please do so!
Reading You must read each section of your book prior to each seminar (3 seminars) You will be given class time to read, but there is also an expectation that you are reading at home It is IMPERATIVE that you bring your book back to school every day
Seminar Each seminar will involve discussing your roles with your group members You will share your summaries, connections to the theme and any thoughts, opinions, predictions, etc. you may have A seminar will last one full period – 45 minutes Your group members will be decided by Mr. Burgess and groups will change for each seminar
Seminar Dates Seminar 1 – Thursday, May 3rd – Day 6 Seminar 2 – Friday, May 18th – Day 5 Seminar 3 – Friday, June 1st – Day 2
Roles You will need to complete 3 roles in preparation for each seminar Summarizer and Connector are mandatory each time You will have a choice for your third role It is expected that you will have ALL 3 roles completed for each seminar as you will be using them for your group discussions
Summarizer What is a summary? A shortened piece of writing sharing the essential information of each section of your book. Told in sequence, can include the main idea, supporting details and theme Think – characters, setting, problem, major events
Connector What connections can you make to better understand the text? Text to Text – reminds you of another text you’ve read Text to Self – reminds you of something you experienced Text to World – reminds you of something you heard about in the world
Choice Roles Questioner Literary Luminary Illustrator Write down questions you have about the text Literary Luminary Locate a special passage or quote – why did you pick it? Illustrator Visually design an image to highlight your understanding of the text
Choice Roles cont’d Researcher Word Wizard The Passagist Theme noter Find background information on a topic related to your book (connect it to the theme) Word Wizard Jot down words with special meaning – find the definitions and how they connect The Passagist Find a passage that foreshadows something, reveals something about the characters, or is beautifully written or difficult to understand Theme noter Write down detailed notes about themes in the text (jot down if your group agrees or disagrees)
Final Project You will have the choice of the following final projects to complete Feel free to choose ahead of time and work throughout your novel study to prepare for this final project This project will be done independently
Choices 1. Create a timeline of the ten most important events in your novel. 2. Create a comic strip based on one of the scenes from your book. 3. Write a detailed character sketch of one of the characters from the book. 4. Write a new beginning or ending of the novel. 5. Illustrate two scenes from the book that you liked.
Let’s get started… Next class… BOOK TALKS!