Best Sellers/ Odd Thomas
What’s in the News?
Individuals:
You may choose to complete the newspaper
independently as opposed to with a partner, but
you will still have to write all six articles. I
highly encourage you to work with a partner to
enhance the skill of peer editing.
Targets:
 I can share, in written form, views on characterization, themes, and plot within the text.
 I can recognize Koontz’s style is unique, contributing to his success as a best-selling author.
 I can recognize elements of author’s craft, identifying specific techniques intentionally used by the author.
 I can emulate author’s style in creative writing pieces.
Create a newspaper that is entirely dedicated to the occurrences within the text. The newspaper
should be creative and demonstrate your knowledge of the plot, characters, and themes.
Requirements:
o Compilation must resemble a newspaper (writing style, layout, pictures, captions, etc.)—do not
simply staple together your articles. Consider using Publisher or Word with text boxes.
o Newspaper must have a creative name that is clearly labeled on the front page (i.e. Odd Times)
o A total of SIX stories must be written (two major stories and four minor stories)
o Cover story—this should be one of the lengthiest articles located on the front of your newspaper.
— In an attention-grabbing, captivating style similar to Dean Koontz, summarize the who, what,
when, where, why, and how of one event from the novel wherein Odd confronts conflict and/or
crime. What kind of bias or lack thereof will your article contain?
Consider Odd’s actions. What could he have done differently? How would the conclusion
Partnerships:
differ if Odd hesitated to react, etc.?
Underneath the
title of each
o Advice Column (Odd Advice)—inspired by a longtime advisor to Americans in
story, include
journalism, “Dear Abby,” have two letters in this section: one letter is addressed to a wise
your name.
expert, explaining a dilemma alluding to the novel that he or she needs advice on; the return
One person
letter then appears next to it, giving the curious person in conflict some advice. For
must write the
cover story,
example, someone might address a letter to “Dear Chief,” asking him how to handle his most
one character
recent ghosts, signed “Overly Odd.” The letters should be creative while still staying true to
death story, and
the text. This is the other major article that will require more length and description since it
one prediction
requires two letters: one is defining a problem and the other is offering a solution.
story; the other
partner will
o A minimum of 2 articles that report on character or ghost deaths
compose the
o 2 articles that predict what happened to 2 different characters or ghosts after
advice column
the novel ended—this allows you to predict the futures of characters. Have fun with
letters, one
character death
these.
story, and one
prediction
story. After
writing the
articles,
thoughtfully
edit your peer’s
work, knowing
you willoboth
receive the
same grade.
o All six articles must have the following:
 A catchy headline
 A minimum of one picture with a caption beneath it

A quote from an interview, an authority figure, an eye-witness account, etc.; these
can be made up—they do not actually have to appear in the novel
o Must display effort and creativity
Odd
Newspaper Project
Rubric
Name(s): ________________________________________________
CONTENT:
REQUIREMENTS:
GRADE:
Cover Story
○ One of the two longest articles (written by partner 1)
○ Article demonstrates accurate knowledge of the story through the use of details
○ All of the major words in the catchy headline are capitalized
○ At least one picture capturing the tragedy appears on the cover
○ The picture has an appropriate caption, explaining what is happening
○ At least one person is quoted within the article
○ Strong grammar & mechanics, and written with Koontz-like style—edited
○ One of the two longest articles (written by partner 2)
○ Has two letters in this section: one asks for advice and one gives advice
○ Letters allude to a problem that occurs in the text where someone really should
have looked for some counseling; this should be textually accurate and detailed
○ All of the major words in the catchy headline are capitalized
○ Contains a picture supposedly sent with the letter asking for advice—be creative
○ The picture has an appropriate caption, explaining its significance
○ At least one person is quoted within one of the letters
○ Strong grammar & mechanics, and written with Koontz-like style—edited
○ Written by partner 1
○ Tells about a character or ghost death, accurately explaining the cause of death,
going over how the family & community are affected, etc.; textually accurate and
detailed while also making inferences on the aftermath
○ All of the major words in the catchy headline are capitalized
○ Contains at least one picture of the victim
○ The picture has an appropriate caption
○ At least one person is quoted within the article
○ Strong grammar & mechanics, and written with Koontz-like style—edited
○ Written by partner 2
○ Tells about a different character or ghost death , accurately explaining the cause
of death, going over how the family and community are affected, etc.; textually
accurate and detailed while also making inferences on the aftermath
○ All of the major words in the catchy headline are capitalized
○ Contains at least one picture of the victim
○ The picture has an appropriate caption
○ At least one person is quoted within the article
○ Strong grammar & mechanics, and written with Koontz-like style—edited
○ Written by partner 1
○ Creatively, and in a detailed manner, writes about the future of one or more of
the characters
○ All of the major words in the catchy headline are capitalized
○ Contains at least one picture of the character
○ The picture has an appropriate caption
○ At least one person is quoted within the article
○ Strong grammar & mechanics, and written with Koontz-like style—edited
○Written by partner 2
○ Creatively, and in a detailed manner, writes about the future of a different
character/group of characters
○ All of the major words in the catchy headline are capitalized
○ Contains at least one picture of the character
○ The picture has an appropriate caption
○ At least one person is quoted within the article
○ Strong grammar and mechanics, and written with style—demonstrates editing
○ Resembles a newspaper in layout, and has a creative, decorative name
○ Neat, organized, displays effort and creativity
______/15
Advice Column
Obituary #1
(character death story)
Obituary #2
(character death story)
Prediction #1
Prediction #2
Aesthetic
Appeal
______/15
______/10
______/10
______/10
______/10
______/10
TOTAL: ________/80 POINTS