Independent Reading Project
1. Write an expository essay comparing and contrasting two independent
reading books that you have read this year. Be sure to share your overall
feeling of the two books, discuss the similarities & differences of the plots
and comment on your likes and dislikes of the authors’ writing styles.
Due-Tuesday, March 27(Presentations will be made in class on 3/27 & 3/28)
2. Research and write a paper on a topic (Abuse, Drugs, Racism, Crimes, Professional
athlete, bullying, peer pressure, etc.) introduced in one of the books you wrote the
expository essay on.
Due-Monday, April 9(Presentations will be made on 4/9 & 4/10)
3. Complete one of the following Creative Expression projects:
a. Make a mural showing scenes from the book with captions to show
us what the picture is about. For each caption there must be a
paragraph indicating: who, why, when, how, what, and how.
b. PUT TOGETHER A CAST FOR THE FILM VERSION OF A BOOK. Imagine
the director-producer wants a casting director to make
recommendations. Decide who would be the actors and actresses.
Include photos and a 3 paragraph caption for each star. The
captions must include a short biography of the stars personal and
career life. There must also be a paragraph explaining why each is
"perfect" for the part of the character you have selected.
c. Make a child's version of the book. What elements of the story will
you leave out? How will you simplify the story? Be sure to decide in
advance what age you are writing for.
d. DESIGN a graphic novel version of the book. Use comic strips to
retell the main events in the story.
e. Create a web site with a summary of the book and chapter synopsis
f. WRITE THE DIARY A MAIN CHARACTER MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN.
Imagine you are the person in your book. Write a diary for each
chapter of the book.
g. WRITE a tall tale, fable, and myth based on an event from the story.
Due-Thursday, April 26(Presentations will be made in class on 4/26 & 4/27)
Project
25 Points Requirement
Grading
Expository
Essay
Points
earned:
________
5 paragraph (intro, 3 body, conclusion)
The body paragraphs include the following:
-share your overall feeling of the two books
-discuss the similarities & differences of the plots
- comment on your likes and dislikes of the authors’ writing styles
Holistic Rubric
Research
Paper
Points
earned:
________
Graphic Organizer/ Note sheet must include the following:
-Overall Topic
-3 Subtopics
-a minimum of 2 supporting details for each subtopic with reference as
to where the information came from (internet, book, encyclopedia, etc.)
-miscellaneous information
OSU
0= 25
S= 20
U=15
5 paragraph (intro, 3 body, conclusion)
The body paragraphs are relevant subtopics
Holistic Rubric
-10 scenes from book
-10 captions
-each caption includes: who the characters were that was present in the
scene, what they were doing, when the scene took place, why it was an
important scene in the story, and how you or the characters felt at that
point
-photos of a celebrity to represent each character in the book
-a 3 paragraph caption for each star/celebrity (The captions must
include a short biography of the stars personal and career life. There
must also be a paragraph explaining why each is "perfect" for the part
of the character you have selected.)
-Write a story based on one of the books you read independently this
year.
-Include the same characters, setting and plot (focus on one event)
-Create pictures (draw, download, take pictures)to go along with the
story
-A minimum of one picture and paragraph must be on every page of the
book and the book must have a minimum of 10 pages.
-Write a story based on one of the books you read independently this
year.
-Include the same characters, setting and plot (focus on one or more
event)
-Create comic strips to tell the story
-A 5 pages.
Include:
- a summary of book
- chapter summaries
As the protagonist, create a diary by writing a journal entry for each
chapter of the book.
OSU
0= 25
S= 20
U=15
Graphic
Organizer &
Note sheet
Research
Paper
Mural
CAST FOR
THE FILM
Children
Book
Graphic
Novel
Create a
Website
Write a
Diary
Tall-tale,
Fable & Myth
Points
earned:
________
Pick one event or scene in the book to write a
Tall-tale, fable and myth about. Each genre of writing has its own rule
and you must stay within the genre requirements.
Grade 6 =25
Grade 5 =20
Grade 4= 15
Grade 3= 10
Grade 2= 5
Grade 1=0
“O” indicates that
everything required
was done.
“S” indicates that 8099% of what is
required was done.
“U” indicates that less
than 80 of what is
required was done.
Name:____________________________________________
Research Graphic Organizer/ Note Sheet
Topic or Question:
Miscellaneous/General information (Facts, opinions, quotes, statistics, questions)
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
1.
1.
1.
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
2.
2.
2.
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
3.
3.
3.
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
4.
4.
4.
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Resource: Author, Title, Page; website, date
Name:____________________________________________
Expository Essay Graphic Organizer
Topic or Question:
Miscellaneous/General information (Facts, opinions, quotes, statistics, questions)
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.