Sophomore I: Finding Home Unit
INDEPENDENT READING = INDEPENDENT EXPLORING!
Directions: For your independent reading experience, pick from the following
blogging choices. Challenge yourself by picking a different option every week. Every
option must have a visual complement. A post will be due every Friday. By May 13th,
you should have a total of FOUR posts (your interest inventory counts as one).
BLOGGER CHOICE #1: Essential Thematic Questions
DIRECTIONS: Based on your reading of the book thus far, interpret how the book illustrates or
connects one of the following essential questions. In one paragraph (5-7 sentences), describe in detail how a
character, event, or other story element in your book connects to one of these essential questions. This is a free
response.
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What is a cultural identity?
How does one’s cultural experience(s) contribute to an understanding of self?
How does the examination of other cultures widen our perspective and/or inform who we are?
In what situations do individuals question authority?
What does it mean to “break the cycle”? Why might a character choose to “break the cycle”?
How does one maintain a sense of self if personal values are threatened?
Is it human nature to be good or evil?
How does society affect the role an individual takes?
Are leaders born or made?
How does one’s setting influence one’s identity?
BLOGGER CHOICE #2: Literary Device
DIRECTIONS: Think about how the writer of your book makes characters or ideas more vivid for you!
Record at least THREE examples of literary devices such as imagery-evoking diction, imperative or
interrogative sentences, or different types of figurative language. First, quote-weave the direct quote and use
MLA citation. Then, interpret the effect of this evidence using one of the following sentence starters.
Example Evidence: When Montag burns books in the beginning of the book, the narrator describes, “he flicked the
igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black” (Bradbury
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Example Analysis: The words “red”, “yellow”, and “black” help the reader visualize the colors of the bright fire that
burns against the dark sky.
* Look for imagery-evoking diction.
The words _________ help the reader feel…
The words _________ help the reader smell…
The words _________ help the reader touch…
The words _________ help the reader taste…
The words _________ help the reader hear…
The words _________ help the reader visualize….
* Look for imperative sentences: commands can demonstrate demands or power.
* The simile is a comparison between ___ and ____, which helps the reader understand _______.
* The metaphor is comparison between _____ and ______, which helps the reader understand.
* _______ is being personified as ________, which helps the reader understand ________.
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Sophomore I: Finding Home Unit
BLOGGER CHOICE #3: Connections
DIRECTIONS: In a paragraph, respond to the following question:
What connections can you make to the events of the text to your background knowledge (i.e. life
experiences, previous books we have studied in class, movies, pop culture).
BLOGGER CHOICE #4: Musical Extension
DIRECTIONS: In a paragraph, respond to the following question:
Make a sound track of at least five songs for your book. Choose songs that exemplify a
character, theme, or incident from the book. List each choice, the year of the song, the
associated band. Then, describe your choice in at least TWO sentences per song.
BLOGGER CHOICE #5: Cinematic Extension
DIRECTIONS: In a paragraph, respond to the following question:
If this text was to be turned into a movie, who would be the actors? Where would it take place?
Describe the genre of the movie and the intended audience.
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