Independent Reading Project #1
You will be asked to respond to the text you’ve chosen for independent reading three
times and in three different ways.
The first piece, which should cover at least the first 3rd of the book, will be an
expository piece in which you describe and explain, with style, energy and
precision, the book’s plot and central conflict(s) as you currently understand them. This
piece should be between 400 and 500 words long and it must be typed. It is due at the
beginning of class on. 11/5 or 11/6.
analytical
Your next assignment will be
in nature, asking you to focus on some
seemingly small but significant aspect from the first two-thirds of the book (an element
of the language or organization, a character or an image or a thing that seems to have
metaphoric value, etc.) and to explain what it does and how it works, within the novel.
Again the piece should be between 400 and 500 words and your typed version should
be submitted to me at the beginning of class on 11/14 or 11/15.
The final piece of this portfolio will be either
argumentative or
narrative in nature, and you will be expected to have finished the book before
you write it. The argument option here asks you to discuss how and why the narrator of
the book you have just read is more believable, likeable, realistic, sympathetic, or just
plain “cool” than Hazel Grace Lancaster, the narrator of John Green’s The Fault in Our
Stars. If you prefer, you can offer an argument about what’s great, or not so great,
about the book you read, or novels with adolescent narrators in general. If you prefer a
narrative approach, you may write a new ending or a “missing chapter” to the novel
you’ve just read, one which adds necessary backstory, fills in difficult gaps, retells a
favorite scene or moment from a different narrative perspective, or changes/extends
the end of the book, etc. If you prefer, write a story in which you imagine the narrator
of your book meeting and interacting with Hazel from TFIOS. In any case, this piece is
due at the beginning of class on 11/22 or 25.
The pieces are all meant to be no less than one full typed page and not more than two
(unless you’re feeling really inspired). There’s no penalty for turning in assignments
early; in fact, if you turn them in at least three days before they’re do I’ll count them as
drafts and read/return them to you with comments in time to complete your “final”
editions.
Good luck, have fun, and see me early and often with questions.
Name:__________________
Process Paper # 1
A process paper is a short written piece (1 full side of a page, typed, Times New Roman, 1.5 or
double spaced, size 10 or 12 font) with very specific requirements. Usually, a process paper
will ask the writer to concentrate on a clearly defined subject and to focus on specific
elements of mechanics or composition. The most successful papers will demonstrate
insight into the subject and facility with the skills specified on the assignment sheet.
Process papers will generally be worth 20 points.
Focus – Content - EXPOSITION
Please provide a concise but meaningful
summary/description of the plot (action)
and central conflict(s) of the first part
(roughly the first third) your independent
reading book. Your piece should include
two meaningful quotations that will help
your audience to understand your ideas
and to “get a feel for” the book’s tone and
narrator.
Teacher Comments
Focus – Composition – The Big 6
Your paper should reflect your
understanding and “mastery” of these six
mechanical rules:
1. Begin New Paragraphs at appropriate
times - to indicate new speakers and
new ideas
2. Avoid Run On Sentences
3. Avoid Sentence Fragment
4. Punctuate Titles Correctly
5. Include Titles and Authors (and often
Genres) in your first reference to texts
you are mentioning/discussing.
6. Punctuate quotations correctly.
Teacher Comments
**Extra Credit if you print out your paper on the back of this sheet!!!
Name:__________________
Process Paper # 2
A process paper is a short written piece (1 full side of a page, typed, Times New Roman, 1.5 or
double spaced, size 10 or 12 font) with very specific requirements. Usually, a process paper
will ask the writer to concentrate on a clearly defined subject and to focus on specific
elements of mechanics or composition. The most successful papers will demonstrate
insight into the subject and facility with the skills specified on the assignment sheet.
Process papers will generally be worth 20 points.
Focus – Content - Analysis
Please provide a concise but meaningful
discussion of one specific aspect of your
independent reading book that seems
particularly interesting (or important,
impressive, confusing, annoying, brilliant,
etc.) and explain how this element works
or what it does within the novel. Your
piece should include two meaningful
quotations that will help your audience to
understand your ideas and to “get a feel
for” the book’s tone and narrator.
Teacher Comments
Focus – Composition – The Big 6
Your paper should reflect your
understanding and “mastery” of these six
mechanical rules:
1. Begin New Paragraphs at appropriate
times - to indicate new speakers and
new ideas
2. Avoid Run On Sentences
3. Avoid Sentence Fragment
4. Punctuate Titles Correctly
5. Include Titles and Authors (and often
Genres) in your first reference to texts
you are mentioning/discussing.
6. Punctuate quotations correctly.
Teacher Comments
**Extra Credit if you print out your paper on the back of this sheet!!!
Name:__________________
Process Paper # 3
A process paper is a short written piece (1 full side of a page, typed, Times New Roman, 1.5 or double
spaced, size 10 or 12 font) with very specific requirements. Usually, a process paper will ask the writer to
concentrate on a clearly defined subject and to focus on specific elements of mechanics or composition.
The most successful papers will demonstrate insight into the subject and facility with the skills specified on
the assignment sheet. Process papers will generally be worth 20 points.
Teacher Comments
Focus – Content - ARGUMENT
Discuss how and why the narrator of the
book you have just read is more believable
(or likeable, realistic, sympathetic, just
plain “cool,” etc.) than Hazel Grace
Lancaster, the narrator of John Green’s
The Fault in Our Stars. If you prefer, you
can offer an argument about what’s great,
or not so great, about the book you read,
or novels with adolescent narrators in
general.
OR
Focus – Content – NARRATIVE
Write a new ending or a “missing chapter”
to the novel you’ve just read, one which
adds necessary backstory, fills in difficult
gaps, retells a favorite scene or moment
from a different narrative perspective, or
changes/extends the end of the book, etc.
If you prefer, write a story in which you
imagine the narrator of your book meeting
and interacting with Hazel from The
Fault in Our Stars.
Teacher Comments
Focus – Composition – The Big 6
Your paper should reflect your
understanding and “mastery” of these six
mechanical rules:
1. Begin New Paragraphs at appropriate
times - to indicate new speakers and
new ideas
2. Avoid Run On Sentences
3. Avoid Sentence Fragment
4. Punctuate Titles Correctly
5. Include Titles and Authors (and often
Genres) in your first reference to texts
you are mentioning/discussing.
6. Punctuate quotations correctly.
**Extra Credit if you print out your paper on the back of this sheet!!!