INDEPENDENT READING ASSIGNMENT
English 11
Book commitment date:
3/4/11
Literature Log Due Dates:
Log 1: 3/18
Log 2: 3/30
Log 3: 4/15
Second Semester
For this semester you must read a significant American book. For assessment, you will be asked to do
three log entries. (Do the first entry after reading about a third of your book and the second towards
the end. The third must be completed after you are finished reading.)
You may choose from the list provided (see page 2) or, with teacher approval, select another
appropriate title.
Literature Logs 1 and 2 topics:

What discovery did you make on your own while reading this book? This could concern a matter
of style, character, point of view, setting, or it might be something about an idea the book
raises.

What specifically did you find enjoyable, disturbing, important, moving, puzzling, or ridiculous?

What would you tell someone who is wondering about whether or not to read this book?

If you were to teach this book to a class of juniors, what would you consider the most important
things they should learn?

Would you include this book in a “canon” of American literature?
**Use a different topic for each entry**
Literature Log 3 topics:
You may choose another one of the topics listed above (worth 20 points) or response to one of the
following questions to earn up to 10 extra points:
 Continue the story for a page or two. You may rewrite the ending or extend it for a chapter.
 Conduct an imaginary interview between a reporter for a specific publication or television
program and a character in the novel.
 Write an episode from another character's perspective.
 Focus on one minor character in the novel and present an overview of this character.