Culminating Unit: Independent Novel Study
In order to simultaneously prepare you for college and allow you a chance to have a say
in your education, you are going to read a novel of your choice. In addition to the
reading, you will complete five double-entry journal responses and a two part project.
This entire unit (the reading of the book, the journal, and the two part project) will be
done on your own outside of class. For this reason, self-discipline and time
management skills will be imperative to your success.
Project Elements:
1. Double Entry Journals
2. Exhibit Projects
50 pts.
100 pts.
Important Dates:
1. Double Entry Journals due December 22, 2010
2. First Exhibit Project due January 5, 2011
3. Second Exhibit Project due January 14, 2011
Part One: Double Entry Journals (50 pts.)
Directions: As you read your independent novel, you will maintain a copy of this log
with a record of quotes and meaningful connections.
 You must have a total of five entries for your book (10 points per entry)
 Choose five quotes evenly distributed throughout the book
 Each quote from the novel must be 2-4 sentences in length
 For each quote, choose one of the analysis options
 The completed double entry journal must be typed and submitted to
turnitin.com. You may format it as a two column chart or type the quote and
under it type your response.
 You must have at least one entry for each of the analysis options and you must
write at least three of the entries by answering the “Insights” option
Analysis Option #1: Exploring the Personal Response
1. Quote (note the page number): Select text that seems to hint at bigger
meanings and/or resonates with you as an individual.
2. Insights: What bigger idea does the author try to reveal through this quote?
How does this quote fit into the bigger context of the chapter or the work? OR
Connections: Where else do you see this idea? Consider literature, music,
history, and other areas of cultural literacy (one paragraph).
Analysis Option #2: Clarifying the Text
1. Quote (note the page number): Select text that requires clarification.
2. Insights: Puzzle through the quote – look at the connotation and denotation
of the words. Use these individual meanings to synthesize your response into a
cohesive interpretation OR Connections: What other experiences are similar and
can help shed light on this quote? (one paragraph)
Analysis Option #3: Analyzing the Text
1. Quote (note the page number): Select a quote that seems to be layered with
detail and nuance.
2. Insights: Pull apart the quote and think about what choices the author makes
(diction, syntax, and figurative language) to communicate his/her idea OR
Connections: Compare/contrast the author’s style to another author you have
read during your high school career (one paragraph).
Double Entry Journal Rubric
Meaningful Quote Selection
_____/10
Quotes are at least 2-4 sentences long. Quotes are evenly distributed throughout
the novel. The quotes are conducive to analysis.
Content/Critical Thinking/Insight
_____/30
The interpretation of the quotes is not oversimplified as made evident by
generalizations or overlooking key points. The analyses are not plot summaries.
Clearly explains and analyzes the text according to the various analytical
purposes.
Spelling, Grammar, and Presentation
_____/10
This includes spelling, grammar, writing about literature in the present tense,
writing in the active voice, avoiding contractions and personal pronouns, and
having an organized format.
Part Two: Exhibit Projects
For this portion of the unit, you must choose TWO of the projects listed below. They
must be from different categories. Each project will be worth 50 points. As always, if
you would like to propose your own project of equal difficulty and effort, feel free to see
me before the end of the week.
Artistic Connections
1. Musical Score: Divide the book into the following sections of plot: exposition, rising
action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. After you have done this, select a piece of
music that you think captures the feel or tone of each section. Burn these five songs to a
CD and write a paragraph-long rationale for each song.
2. Visual Art: Choose a symbol, theme, or character from your novel and create a piece
of visual art that reflects the development of the symbol, theme, or character throughout
the novel.
3. Dramatic Monologues: Create two or three monologues for a character(s) from the
novel. Go beyond the text and add what you think the character is thinking/feeling at
that moment and why. Choose scenes that are central to the conflict and that are spread
throughout the book (one from each of the beginning, middle, and end).
4. Art: Find three pieces of art related to either the book itself or the themes that are
present in the novel. Then, for each piece of art, write a paragraph in which you explore
the connections to the novel and your response to the interpretation of either the book
or the theme.
Literary Analysis
1. Conflict Timeline: Choose one of the following types of conflicts: man vs. himself,
man vs. man, man vs. society, or man vs. nature. Make a timeline that charts the history
of the “battles” that took place throughout the novel for this type of conflict. For each
“battle,” indicate who wins and write a one-two paragraph analysis of the final outcome
of this conflict.
2. Current Events: Select three current news or feature stories from television or news
magazines that you think relates to your novel. For each current event/story, write a
paragraph explanation of how it connects to the novel.
3. Literary Genre – Most authors/novels end up being categorized according to a
specific genre, era, or style. Research your novel’s and/or its author’s common
categorization. Create a PowerPoint presentation on that genre, era, or style. Include
an analysis of a passage from your novel that demonstrates its inclusion in the specific
genre, era, or style. You must present this option to the class.
4. Film Analysis: Watch a film inspired by your novel and either (1) compare/contrast
the works in a two page piece or (2) discuss your response to the film adaptation in
terms of liberties taken with the text and differences in interpretation in a two page
piece.
Creative Writing
1. Style Mimic: In a short 1-2 page essay, analyze the style of the novel: break down the
author’s use of tone, diction, dialogue, literary/poetic devices, description, etc. OR
Write a narrative essay done in the same style as the novel.
2. Children’s Book: The option here is simple. Create a children’s book in which you
honor both the plot and the characterization of your novel. You must include both
words and illustrations.
3. Poetry: Write three poems in response to the novel. The poems may directly refer to
events or characters, but MUST contain an interpretation of, or response to, a theme of
the novel. You may write a found poem that incorporates words and/or phrases from
the novel. However, you may write only ONE found poem.
4. Book review: Research common reception to your novel at the time that it was
published. Write a book review as if you are from the era in which the book was
published. Your review should reflect the common criticism of the time. Your review
should be at least a page and a half.
5. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: Tom Stoppard wrote a play by this title. It
was a rewrite of Hamlet told from R and G’s perspective. Choose a scene from your
novel and write a two page piece from the perspective of a character with no real role in
the story and demonstrate what they see and think from their perspective.
6. Parody: Similar to the assignment you did for Miller’s Tale, write a two page parody
in which you mimic and/or ridicule the style or genre of your novel.
7. Epilogue: Write a two page epilogue in the style of your novel in which you explain
what happens after the novel leaves off.