Independent Book Project #1
Independent Book Project #1 will be collected on November 14! By this point, you should have already selected
a book to read for your project. It must be a book you have never read before. You may not one of the books
from our class novel studies.
For this project, you will be composing an essay of five paragraphs (6th grade only needs to write four!)
Specific guidelines below! Please, please, please come to me if you are confused or need help with your project.
You see me every day, twice a day. I’m happy to answer any and all questions!
Introduction (first paragraph)
Begin with a catchy opening statement. Go on to identify the book's title (underlined or italicized), author, and
genre (e.g. historical novel, biography, sci-fi, etc). Briefly introduce the main characters and describe the
setting, where and when the book takes place. If you wish, you may also mention other titles by the author and
any other engaging details from the author's background.
Summary (second paragraph)
Begin this paragraph with the book's main idea in a single topic sentence. Go on to present a complete but brief
summary of the book in one paragraph. This is a brief sketch of what happens in the plot: the beginning, the
middle, and the end. (7th and 8th graders should think about the major conflict, the rising action, the climax of
the story, and the resolution.) Keep it brief.
Observations (third and fourth paragraphs) (*6th grade only needs to write one!)
In each of these two paragraphs, narrow your thoughts to a significant topic. Begin each paragraph with a topic
sentence, which is a sentence that makes an observation about a particular aspect of the book: a character, an
event of the plot, an element of style, or a theme. Go on to support and expand upon your idea with specific
examples, incidents, details, and at least one relevant quote from the book (textual evidence.) Write in flowing
sentences, weaving these elements from the book into your writing, not simply listing them. (Cite the page
number for each quote used.) End each paragraph with a wrap-up sentence that ties your examples and details
together in support of your topic sentence.
Conclusion (fifth paragraph)
Begin this paragraph with your reaction to this book, your response to it as a reader. Would you recommend this
book? Why or why not? Try to express how the work has affected you or taught you in some way. End with a
thoughtful closing statement: a fitting quote or an interesting question are two good examples.
Remember…
1 – Always double space. The teacher needs room to make comments.
2 – Always underline book titles (or italicize, if you have a computer). Book titles never, never, never go in
quotation marks. Other things that are underlined are the names of newspapers, magazines, movies, operas,
record albums, etc.
3 – Don’t switch tenses in the middle of a report. Stick with either the present or the past. Too many students
switch tenses within the same sentence; e.g. “The girl fell down but Dr. Cradock comes and helps her.”
4 – Watch out for run-on sentences that just go on and on and even if your idea changes to something else that
might be in another paragraph, such as a story about Joan of Arc, you just can’t stop that sentence from
running all up and down the page, which, by the way, should always be double-spaced.
5 – Don’t write in fragments. Be sure that every sentence has a subject and a verb. In addition, a sentence will
hardly ever begin with “because” or “and.”
6 – Always proofread everything you have written. Expect to write a first draft. Then expect to read it and edit
it, cutting out unnecessary words, fixing spelling, etc. Then write the new draft and proofread it. DON’T
EXPECT YOUR FIRST DRAFT TO BE THE FINAL DRAFT – IT NEVER IS! 
CHECKLIST – Use this checklist after you’ve finished your essay. If any of the items in the checklist are
missing, add them! 
Did I remember to include…
_____ my name? (5 pts)
_____ a catchy opening statement? (5 pts)
_____ the book’s title, author, and genre? (5 pts)
_____ a brief introduction of the main character and setting? (5 pts)
_____ a summary of the book? (10 pts)
_____ a topic sentence for each paragraph? (5 pts)
_____ a paragraph (or two for 7-8 grade) describing an observation I made about a character,
part, style, or theme? (10 pts)
_____ specific textual evidence including quotation marks and page numbers? (10 pts)
_____ wrap-up sentences to conclude my paragraphs? (5 pts)
_____ a statement about my reaction to this book? (5 pts)
_____ a recommendation? (5 pts)
_____ a thoughtful closing statement? (5 pts)
Did I…
_____ double space? (5 pts)
_____ underline or italicize book titles? (5 pts)
_____ proofread for fragments and run-on sentences? (5 pts)
_____ proofread for grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation? (10 pts)