Looking for Alibrandi
Melina Marchetta
Activity One :
What are three things you will never to say to your kids when and if you are a parent? Give
reasons.
What do you think are the best and worst things about being:
Best
Female
Male
Young
Old
Activity two:
Worst
In your journal:
Josephine Alibrandi at seventeen is at a turning point in her life, a year where she discovers a lot
about her family, her friends and herself.
1. Record your first impressions of Josie.
2. How does she see herself? What ‘hang-ups’ does she have? How do others see her?
Note the events and people that shape her development. Record chapter and page
numbers for later reference.
3. Record your reactions to and empathy for the situations she faces, such as family
expectations, school expectations, peer group pressure, compromising values , snobbery.
At the end of the unit you should have at least 10 entries.
Group Activity:
In a group of five or six create a study guide for other students studying the text.
Each member of your group will be responsible for a part of the project and every piece of
work must be handed in for your group to achieve completion.
Marking Criteria:
Student Study Guide: Extended Text: (In groups)
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with
Excellence
Show understanding of
Show a convincing
Shows insightful
theme, character and plot
understanding of theme,
understanding of theme,
within an extended text
character and plot within
plot and character within
and provide supporting
an extended text and
an extended text and
evidence in the form of a
provide supporting
provide supporting
study guide.
evidence in the form of a
evidence in the form of a
study guide.
study guide.
Show an understanding
Show an understanding of
Show an understanding of
of an unfamiliar book
an unfamiliar book cover,
an unfamiliar book cover,
cover, identifying ideas,
through an explanation of
through explanation and
style and language
ideas, style and language
appreciation of ideas, style
features.
features.
and language features.
Your group will need to complete:
-
A static image analysis
-
A predictions sheet
-
Storyboards
-
Character analysis (main
character plus 3)
-
Character mind map/ Essay
structure plan for a character
-
Themes mind map/ Essay
structure plan for themes x3
-
Key Quotes sheet
-
A book cover
-
Assessment Forms
Resource sheets for this work will be
handed out in class and should be filed in
the study guide folder provided.
Due Date:
Job descriptions
Roles:
Responsibilities:
Name:
Manager:
Encourages everyone to participate and ensures
that each members opinions are respected and
recorded appropriately.
Monitors group noise levels.
Leads
the
discussion
with
key
questions
prepared beforehand.
Responsible for checking all activities are
completed.
Plotter/ Illustrator:
Illustrates key parts of the novel to provide a
pictorial account of the action within the novel. (1
per chapter- this can be a cartoon strip or a
series of static images.)
Records the plot in a storyboard.
Researcher(s):
Records group discussion including questions
asked and the key points of discussion.
Finds key quotes which illustrate aspects of the
text
Checks that all ‘facts’ noted in their work is fact
and can be backed up with evidence from the
text.
Organiser:
Organises any materials the group may need. Is
the only student in the group that can ask the
teacher a question (therefore has to know what
is going on so they can ask the teacher the
correct question and obtain the correct answer)
or ask for materials.
Ensures that the workspace is left tidy.
Organises what is being read and when and
who needs to provide work for assessment.
Summariser:
Provides
summaries
members of the group.
of
the
chapters
for
Reading Requirements:
Title:
Author:
By group agreement the following are the pages we will read by each lesson:
Lesson 2:
(date) page
Lesson 3:
(date) page
Lesson 4:
(date) page
Lesson 5:
(date) page
Lesson 6:
(date) page
Lesson 7:
(date) page
Lesson 8:
(date) page
Lesson 9:
(date) page
Lesson 10:
(date) page
Lesson 11:
(date) page
Lesson 12:
(date) page
Book Cover Analysis:
If you do not have enough room on this sheet draw a table on refill and complete.
Purpose:
What is the
purpose of the
image? Is the
image successful?
Why? Why not?
Audience:
Who is the
intended
audience?
Language:
Are any language
devices used? Is
the language
choice effective?
Image:
What does the
image show?
What does the
image mean?
Does the image
tell us anything
about the story
inside the book?
Colours:
Are any colours
used? Are the
colours chosen to
evoke an emotion
or reaction?
Symbols:
Are any symbols
used? Do the
symbols appeal to
a specific
audience? How?
Line:
Are there any lines
used in the image
that direct the
viewer’s eye to
another aspect of
the image?
Texture:
Are contrasting
textures used?
Smooth or rough
textures? How do
they appeal to the
viewer?
Font:
What font is used?
Is the font small or
large? What
colour is the font?
Does the font add
to the overall
success of the
image? How?
Placement:
How is the image
laid out? Where
are the main
aspects of the
image placed?
Predictions:
What we know:
Chapter 1:
Chapter 8:
Chapter 15:
Chapter 22:
Chapter 29:
What we predict will happen:
Storyboards:
Character Analysis:
List five things about the main character they can be descriptions, mannerisms, dialogue. Each
point should be supported by evidence from the text including a referenced quote.
Character Analysis:
List five things about any character, character other than the main character, they can be
descriptions, mannerisms, dialogue. Each point should be supported by evidence from the text
including a referenced quote. (You will need to draw this out yourselves or photocopy it.)
Character Mind Map:
Choose one of the questions below. Use this question to guide your mind map and
essay plan
Describe an important relationship in the text. Explain why the relationship was important.
OR/ Describe a challenge faced by a character in the text. Explain how the character dealt with
the challenge.
OR/ Describe an important incident in the text. Explain how it affected an important character.
You will find an essay guide at the back of this booklet.
Theme Mind map:
different theme per mind map.
You will need to complete three mind maps- one
Theme:
Choose one of the questions below. Use this question to guide your mind map and
essay plan .
Choose one important theme or issue and explore it in depth, drawing on other
sources, texts, experiences to inform your response.
Describe an important conflict in the text. Explain how this conflict helped you understand an
idea [or ideas] in the text.
OR/ Family has a strong influence on our lives. It affects the way we view ourselves and those
around us. How has family influenced Josephine and what impact does it have?
OR/ How have the texts you have studied this year effectively shaped your understanding of the
meaning of ‘change’
Key Quotes:
Write your key chapter quotes
Justify why this quote summarises
here and reference them.
the chapter.
Create an alternative book cover
Assessment Sheet
(Each member of the group is to complete one individually)
Are you happy with your study guide? Why?
Did you work as an effective member of your group? How?
Do you feel that you could have contributed more? What?
Is there a part of the study guide you are particularly happy with? Why?
Do you feel there is anything you need to work on in other similar projects?
Writing an Essay:
Introduction:
Opening sentences, orientating readers
to the subject
Thesis or proposition
Link
First support statement
Sentences developing support statement
Explanation, evidence, illustration
Body Paragraphs:
Link
Second support statement
Sentences developing support statement
Explanation, evidence, illustration
Link
Third support statement
Sentences developing support statement
Explanation, evidence, illustration
Link
Conclusion:
Concluding Statement
The introduction of an essay provides background information that orients the reader to
the subject of the paper. The introduction begins with a broad statement about the
subject. It then guides the reader to the thesis by touching on key ideas and finally
narrows to a specific statement of the thesis.
The thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. It is a statement that summarises
the point of the essay.
The body of an essay presents blocks of evidence, the sequence of arguments, that
support and develop the thesis statement. Each main supporting point is dealt with in a
separate paragraph. Each of these paragraphs contains a specific topic sentence which
supports the thesis statement and advances the overall argument of the paper. Each
paragraph is developed fully with specific evidence- examples, illustrations, facts and
explanations.
The conclusion of an essay restates the main points of the paper. It often begins with
reworded statement of the thesis and should finish leaving the reader with the satisfied
feeling of having come full circle.
Self-Assessment Sheet
Each member must complete this sheet and glue this into your assessment
journal.
Are you happy with your research? Why?
Do you feel that you finished the assignment to the best of your ability?
Is there anything you feel could have been improved? What? How could it have been
improved?
Do you feel your presentation was successful? Why? What do you think could be worked
on for future presentations?