English 11R Independent Book - Reading Project
The Independent Reading Project is a chance for you to truly ENJOY your reading. Explore
honestly and thoroughly, keep on top of due dates and you’re guaranteed to do well on this
project. Let me make this clear—the project itself will not simply be finding and reading a
book, though that is certainly one of your tasks. You will have to complete all of the
individual parts of the project in order to get maximum credit. Here in the order you will
turn them in are those parts:
1. Project Proposal: In a one (1) page typed statement, tell me what book you are
reading, the author of your book, why you are interested in this book/subject, and a
sneak preview of what your actual final project might look like. You will be
provided with a sample book proposal to use as a model. This proposal is NOT a
schematic or a legal contract; you can change your mind about your book or what
your project will ultimately be as you make your way through the book. I just need
to know that you are thinking about the process and that you have some ideas.
This component is worth 15% of the total project grade and is due Friday, 2/15.
2. Vocabulary Lists / Dialogic Journals: For whatever book you read, you will be
responsible for keeping a running list of at LEAST twenty (20) new vocabulary
words that you’ve encountered while reading your book. The list first needs to be
written down and the new terms defined; finally, you need to submit a neat,
typewritten version of the list. You CAN feature more than 20 words in your list
though there needs to be at LEAST that number as a bare minimum. Also, you need
to complete the equivalent of five (5) days worth of Dialogic Journals for your book
(that means fifteen—15—total entries; they need to be in order and spread
throughout your book). Journals CAN be handwritten though typed is preferable.
Neatness is critical here and due dates will be staggered throughout your reading of
the book.
Combined, these components of your project are worth 15% of your total grade.
3. Book Talk: Each student will be responsible for a brief (5 minute) overview of
his/her book. The student will deliver a short speech about his/her book and lead a
brief class discussion during which he/she shares the key elements and/or highlights
of his book with peers. Presenters do not need to stand in front of the class to deliver
their book talks, though they may choose to do so. Paperwork for this activity will be
distributed 1-2 weeks in advance of Book Talks.
This component is worth 20% of your total project grade.
4. Final Project: The possibilities here are endless. Should you come up with an
original idea you like better than any I list below, GO FOR IT! Originality IS
rewarded. Should you choose the original route, just remember to let me know what
you’re thinking of doing. Presentation of these projects to the class will conclude
your projects.
This component is worth a WHOPPING 50% of your total project grade.
Final Project Ideas: Now what are some potential project ideas? Here are a few
(all of these HAVE been submitted at one point in the history of this assignment):

Teach the class something about your book using monologues (solo speeches),
dialogues (speeches/conversations involving two people), recipes, memos (letters
or correspondence between characters), role playing, acting a dramatic scene, or a
scrapbook

Use music, art prints, maps (is your book about a journey? Map that journey for
your peers!), games (invent a board game or simple computer game the class can
play), a video presentation or short movie, an imaginary radio show where you
interview a main character from your book

Use newspaper articles or format, photos, pantomime, sculpture, puppets, or
diorama (a scale model scene from your book like those featured in Night at the
Museum) to present some idea or characters from your book

Create a picture book for children (this works ONLY for appropriate content) or
design a brief graphic novel of a key scene in the plot of your novel—you don’t
NEED to create pictures for the entire book!

Explain a process—how to make, do or build something. Build a model of
something and explain it or have the class build or make something while you tell
us how

You might also take a more conventional route and do a brief literary/research
paper on your book. Should you choose this option, you NEED to consult with
me about extra sources, possible topics and the like. (NOTE: Almost NO
students choose this option. They hate writing. Go figure.)

Use a computer multimedia program (Microsoft PowerPoint or Windows Movie
Maker, for example) to create a faux-movie trailer or sneak preview of a film
adaptation of your book. PowerPoint slideshows about the author of the book—
which typically have VERY little to do with actual content of the book—are NOT
allowed.

SUPER IMPORTANT WARNING: NO CHEESY POSTERS that simply restate
the plot of the book and feature a few pictures of characters from the book are
allowed. NONE. Don’t even ask. Students typically slap one of these together in
about 5-minutes and it shows; such “projects” don’t require ANY effort (come
one—you’ve been reading your book for a MONTH and you can only complete a
crappy poster?!?!), originality and/or creativity—and they’re BORING for your
peers.
Finding a Book for your Project: What kind of book should you read? Where do
you FIND this magical book? What kinds of books are available? I cannot answer ALL
of these questions for you, though I can get you started on the right path.
What to read? Start with your interests or hobbies. I know most of you DO have things
you are passionate about (sports, music, history, computers, friends/relationships, mechanics,
celebrities, skateboarding, serial killers, etc.) and there is no shortage of novels/books dealing
with this range of topics. Subject searches at online booksellers (i.e. Amazon.com/books)
will serve you well here. Also keep in mind the kind of reading level with which you’re
comfortable. Don’t read a complex 800-page espionage novel if that’s WAY beyond your
abilities.
You CAN read NON-fiction works (true books like Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young
Girl, Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, David McCullough’s John Adams, or Frank McCourt’s
memoir Angela’s Ashes are good examples of acceptable non-fiction works). Though I’d
prefer you read FICTION books with conventional plots, many non-fiction titles do have
actual stories that are similar to their fictional counterparts. Should you read a NON-fiction
work, you will need to get my approval before using that title for your project. Also, I can
and will recommend things I think might connect well with your personality and/or interests.
NOTE: Most “How-To” books (How to rebuild a carburetor, How to Knit a Quilt,
Microsoft Windows for Dummies, How to Be a More Sensitive Spouse, How to Make Tasty
Thai Food, How to Kill a Rat with an Oboe, etc.), certain kinds of genre fiction (romance
novels, children’s literature) and children’s picture books cannot be used for your book
project. As the saying goes, don’t even ask. Graphic novels are allowed, though ONLY if
the content/style is high school-appropriate (i.e. Art Spiegelman’s Maus; Marjane Satrapi’s
Persepolis; Jason Lutes’ Jar of Fools). Most manga/series graphic novels are NOT workable
so if you have one in mind, I’ll have to OK it first. Also, works with ‘adult’ content may
require parental permission. By ‘adult’ content, I mean strong/vulgar language, adult
situations/sexuality, and excessive violence. I reserve the right to veto any book choice that I
feel is of questionable merit/propriety. Even if I’ve NOT read it, I WILL familiarize myself
with your title to ensure it is school-appropriate. A good rule of thumb—if your folks
wouldn’t allow you to read it, you shouldn’t ask me to approve of it. End of story.
Where to find books? There are some bookstores in this area. One can buy new books
and special order books at the wonderful independent River’s End Bookstore here in
downtown Oswego. A used bookstore (Time & Again Books) can be found here in town at
the intersection of Rte. 481 and Utica Street. Also, a small used bookstore called Backstreet
Books is on Route 481 as you enter the village of Fulton, NY.
Online booksellers are PLENTIFUL. The best resource here is clearly Amazon.com; if
you visit http://www.amazon.com/books, you can do subject, title and author searches and
tailor your book choice to your personality and interests. Barnes and Noble also has a fine
online site; their URL is http://www.barnesandnoble.com. If you want to look for hard-tofind used books, I’ve found the best source to be http://www.bookfinder.com. I’ve NEVER
been able to stump this search engine.
Libraries, including your own here at OHS, are also a good place to look. If we don’t
have a title on the shelves, your librarians are capable of helping you find your title through
inter-library loan. Also, plenty of books are on-hand in various English classrooms here at
OHS. I have plenty of books I’m willing to lend from my own personal collection (including
a stock of second and third copies) as long as the books are treated with respect. One can
borrow books from any room as long as they are properly checked out.
Finally, pass this project, you’ll likely pass the 3rd marking period.
It’s that simple.