Swear To Howdy
by Wendelin Van Draanen
I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I do! You will read this book in class with your literature circle group. You have
been assigned book # __________ and YOU are responsible for making sure this book is returned to the book bin at the end of
every class. You may take this book home on your assigned day. You will be given time in class to read and complete some of
the class work and some of the work will need to be completed at home. It is your responsibility to make sure it gets done and
turned in in a timely manner. I will not “assign” Swear to Howdy homework. It has been officially assigned to you as of now!

Specific Swear to Howdy requirements:
 This book WILL count as one of your 5 narratives. You will journal just like you would any other book. Make sure your
post-its are reflective of your thinking/feeling as you read and are supported with evidence from the text. Make sure
you secure your post-it notes as you read. Do not keep them in the book as you share this book with students from
other classes. You will work in collaborative literature circles. This means you will make decisions as a group. You will
decide on a daily page assignment, when to complete quizzes and/or tests, when to have discussions, etc.
 You will participate in group discussion over what you have read. This is the time to discuss what you do/do not like
about the plot, character development, ask questions, make predications and anything else that pertains to the novel.
Be sure to use your post its to guide your discussion. On days that you choose to discuss what you have read you must
invite me to the discussion. However, do not wait on me to begin your discussion. When you are ready to discuss, you
must get a copy of the group participation assessment sheet from the proper folder. One member of the group should
tell me they are ready to discuss and then immediately go back to the group and begin the discussion. Be ready prior
to getting me for discussion. Once you receive your graded participation assessment form back, tape it in your reader’s
notebook. You will also use this form to grade each other. Come to class each day prepared to read, discuss and work
as a group.
 Take two quizzes over the text. These quizzes will contain multiple choice and open ended questions. You may use
your book, jots and group members to help answer the questions. You and only you are responsible for your answers.
The quiz should be taped or written in your reader’s notebook. Once your group is ready, go get the quizzes from the
proper folder, take the quiz and secure it in your journal. Write the answers to the quiz on your journal paper ~ the
quizzes are too small for you to try to write your answers on them. You will take a quiz after chapters: 5 and 10.
 You will create 5 colored Illustrations representing conflicts from the text. Your illustrations must contain one or two
sentences describing the scene, represent a significant conflict, be a full page, colored, neat, and creative. After you
have completed your 5th illustration, get a copy of the illustration rubric and paste it into the next clean page of your
reader’s notebook.
 You will create two character trait maps. Draw two dynamic characters from the book. Include the name of the
character on the top of your page and list their traits and cite multiple evidence examples from the text. List the page #
you find the evidence from. When you have completed this get a copy of the character trait rubric and tape it into
your reader’s notebook on the next clean page. Be sure to write the Characters name in the appropriate box on the
rubric.
 Identify a theme for the novel and write a response in your journal. The journal should be labeled Swear to Howdy
Theme and be dated. Discuss this with your group and cite evidence from the text in your response. This should be at
least one journal page in length.
Mrs. Jones
Student Name:
SWEAR TO HOWDY UNIT ASSESSMENT:
Discussion Points:
_____ / 25
Illustrations Points:
_____ / 45
Character Trait Map Points:
_____ / 18
Quiz chaps. 1-5 Points
_____ / 10
Quiz chaps. 5-10 Points
_____ / 10
Them points
_____/17
Test Points
_____ / 25
__________ / 150
NAME ______________________________
Comments / documentation for scores 3
or less.
Shows good listening skills by being
respectful of the speaker
Demonstrates understanding of the text
Actively engages in group conversations
0 – Never
1 – Barely
2 – Sometimes
3 – Frequently
4 – Usually
5 - Always
Works on Group goals
Grading Key
Comes to class prepared to work (pencil,
reader’s notebook, etc.)
GROUP PARTICIPATION TEACHER/STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Dates of
Discussion:
TOTAL
POINTS
SWEAR TO HOWDY ILLUSTRATION RUBRIC
GRADE SCALE:
Excellent – 3
Good Job – 2
Ok –1
Try Harder next time - 0
Illustrations represent significant conflicts from the
text
Illustration Illustration Illustration Illustration Illustration
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
The illustrations contain one or two sentence
description.
The illustration takes up the entire page, is neat,
colorful and creative.
COMMENTS:
TOTAL:
TOTAL:
TOTAL:
TOTAL:
TOTAL:
TOTAL SCORE:
/ 45
SWEAR TO HOWDY CHARACTER TRAIT MAP RUBRIC
GRADE SCALE:
Excellent –3
Good Job – 2
Ok –1
Try Harder next time -01
Two dynamic characters were identified from
the story and drawn neatly. Character names
were included at the top of each page.
Character 1
Character traits are identified with multiple text
evidence from the book.
The illustration takes up the entire page, is neat,
colorful and creative.
COMMENTS:
TOTAL:
Character 2