Name _____________________
Seventh Grade Communication Arts
Active Reading Journal
Contents
Vocabulary.................................................3
Constructed Response Questions..........4
Conflict......................................................9
Illustrator...................................................11
Climax........................................................14
Theme........................................................15
Characterization........................................16
Setting........................................................18
Point of View (P.O.V.)................................19
2
Vocabulary
LIST 1
Adherence – obedience to a rule
Apprehensive – nervous
Chastisement – a punishment
Disposition – a person’s temperament
Ironic – meaning the opposite of what is literally said
Navigational - directional
Nurturer – caregiver
Palpable – easily felt; obvious
Meticulous – Very careful, precise
Prominent – important
LIST 2
Admonition – gentle or friendly criticism
John took it personally whenever he received admonition from anyone.
Alcove – a small, recessed section of a room; a nook
The breakfast room was found in an alcove just off of the kitchen.
Capacity – capability; aptitude
Her capacity for memorizing vocabulary is enormous.
Conspicuous – attracting attention
The Receiver of Memory wore a conspicuous looking beard.
Deftly – skillfully
He deftly maneuvered through the maze.
Diminish – to make less; dwindle
The injury diminished his chances for success.
Fretful – irritable
George Bergeron would have been fretful about his son George, had the noises in his
head stopped for five minutes.
Torrent – a huge outpouring; rush
A torrent of complaints came out of the basketball player’s mouth.
Wry – cleverly humorous
Sally could always make others feel dumb with her wry wit
3
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 1 and 2
1.
From whose point of view is the story told?
2.
What have you learned about the society in which Jonas lives?
ex: c
ontr
olled
4.
The Giver’s 5.
Society
6.
2.
3.
3.
Compare and contrast Jonas’ family and your family:
Different
Similar
4.
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
How do people feel about “release” in the book’s society for the following groups?
Release for Adults:
Release for the Old:
Release for Newchildren:
5.
Identify the following items from the book. What are they, or what do they mean?
Newchildren
Ceremony of One
Ceremony of Nine
Comfort Object
4
____/10
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 3-4
Name: _____________________
1. Make a prediction: What do you think Jonas’ assignment will be? (1 pt)
2. Describe the job of Birthmother: (1 pt)
3. How was Jonas disciplined for taking an apple home? (1 pt)
4. What might be two reasons to prefer the use of bicycles instead of automobiles in Jonas’ community? (2 pts)
A)
B)
5. Character Web: What are some things that we know about Jonas that make him unique? (5 pts)
1.
3.
ex: pale eyes
Jonas
4.
5.
2.
5
____/9
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 5 - 7
Name: _____________________
1. With no police, how does this Utopian society maintain order? (1 pt)
2. What seems to be the purpose of the volunteer hours? (1 pt)
3. What is the “nakedness” rule, and is it the same for everyone? (1 pt)
4. What is the morning ritual? (1 pt)
5. Think of some similes to describe the characters and events in the book: (5 pts)
A. Jonas is like ____________________________________________________________________
B. Asher is like ____________________________________________________________________
C. The Ceremony of Twelve is like ________________________________________________
D. A family unit is like ______________________________________________________________
E. The Speakers are like ___________________________________________________________
6
____/8
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 8-9
Name: _____________________
1. What qualities does the Chief Elder explain Jonas will need? (5 pts)
A. _____________________________
B. _____________________________
C. _____________________________
D. _____________________________
E. ______________________________
2. Make a prediction: How will Jonas’ life change as he trains to be the Receiver of Memory? (1 pt)
3. What happened to the previous Receiver who failed to complete the training? (1 pt)
4. How are Jonas’ instructions for his Receiver training different from the other Twelves’ instructions? (1 pt)
7
____/8
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 10-11
Name: _____________________
1. What does Jonas notice about the Receiver of Memory’s dwelling? What is similar, and what is
different? (2 pts)
Similar
Jonas’ and the Receiver’s
dwellings
Different
1.
1.
2.
2.
2. Why is it important for a Receiver to save memories for the community? (2 pts)
3. Why does The Receiver have many books, but no one else has more than three (dictionary, community
volume, Book of Rules)? (2 pts)
4. How are The Giver’s burdens lessened in working with Jonas? (1 pts)
5. Why did the Community eliminate sunshine and hills? (1 pts)
8
Name: _____________________
____/10
Conflict
Identify two major conflicts facing the protagonist, Jonas, and predict the outcomes.
Conflict 1:
Character
vs __________________________
(character, society, nature, self)
__________________ vs _____________________
character name
character/group/entity name
Prediction: __________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Conflict 2:
Character
vs __________________________
(character, society, nature, self)
__________________ vs _____________________
character name
character/group/entity name
Prediction: __________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
9
____/10
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 12-13
Name: _____________________
1. What is Jonas seeing in Fiona’s hair and the apple and the sled? (1 pt)
2. How is Jonas’ points of view different from the rest of the community? (6 pts)
Character
the concept of
“ordinary”
the concept of “color”
the idea of “choice”
Jonas
Rest of the
Community
10
____/10
Illustrator
Name: _____________________
Illustrate characters and/or key scenes from the book. Be sure to include a written description
of the characters or scene you have drawn.
Description:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
11
____/7
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 14-16
Name: _____________________
1. How does Jonas react when The Giver shares the painful sledding memory? (1 pt)
2. How does Jonas comfort Gabriel at night? (1 pt)
3. On page 120, why does The Giver say, “Forgive me”? (2 pts)
4. How does Jonas learn about love? (2 pts)
5. Why are grandparents a new idea for Jonas? (1 pt)
12
____/11
Constructed Response Questions
Chapters 17-19
Name: _____________________
1. Describe the story of Rosemary. (2 pts)
2. In Chapter 17, what ruins Jonas’ unscheduled holiday? (2 pts)
3. Why does Jonas decide to stop taking his daily pills? (1 pt)
4. What happened to the memories transferred to Rosemary? How were the training rules changed as a
result? (2 pts)
5. On page 142, what memories does The Giver tell Jonas that he transferred to Rosemary? (2 pts)
6. Reread the last two paragraphs of the novel and tell in your own words how the story ends. (2 pts)
13
____/10
Climax
Name: _____________________
Identify the novel’s climax. Discuss at least three key events leading up to this point and why you
believe this moment to be the climax.
Novel’s climax:
Key Event 1:
Key Event 2:
Ket Event 3:
14
____/10
Theme
Name: _____________________
Identify three possible themes of The Giver. DIscuss each theme using an example
from the novel.
Theme 1: ___________________
Example(s): ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Theme 2: ___________________
Example(s): ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Theme 3: ___________________
Example(s): ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
15
The Giver: Characterization
Characterization: Authors develop characterization by describing aspects of the character
including: physical appearance, personality, speech, behaviors/actions, thoughts, feelings, and
interactions with other characters.
Basically, characterization is everything an author writes that makes the character seem real
and come to life.
Complete the following two assignments that explore characterization:
Personality Traits
List three personality traits of a main character. Does the author use those words, or are you
inferring by the character’s actions? Give three examples of each trait to support your
inferences.
Personality Trait Literal description
or Inferred
Examples
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
16
Aspects of Characterization
Create an analysis of Jonas. Using at least two examples from the book, complete the character trait
table for Jonas:
appearance
conflicts
wants/desires/ambitions
relationships
Jonas
Supporting Detail #1
Appearance 1:
appearance Detail:
conflicts
Supporting Detail #2
Appearance 2:
Detail:
Conflict 1:
Conflict 2:
Detail:
Detail:
1:
2.
wants,
desires, Detail:
ambitions
Relationship 1:
relationships Detail:
Detail:
Relationship 2:
Detail:
17
The Giver: Setting
Setting: Determine how the setting reflects the plot and impacts characters. For
instance, in a story or play that takes place in a war-torn country, the plot might center
around a family struggling to survive in a dangerous place. Or, a story that takes place
in the south during the1950s is going to reflect specific attitudes and social situations
that will differ from other time periods.
Consider several aspects of setting: time, place, climate (both weather and political),
and culture. Give two examples of each aspect to support how setting affects plot.
Example: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Middle School
Setting Aspect
/
Trying to fit in /
How plot is
affected
Everyone avoided the “cheese touch”
Examples from novel
1.
Time/Year
2
____________
1.
Place
2.
____________
1.
Climate
(weather,
politics, family
dynamics)
____________
2.
1.
Culture
2.
____________
18
The Giver: Point of View
Point of View: Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters
or narrators. Choose TWO characters from your novel, and compare their points of view about
TWO different situations.
Literature provides a lens through which readers look at the world. Point of view is the way the author
allows you to "see" and "hear" what's going on. Skillful authors can fix their readers' attention on exactly
the detail, opinion, or emotion the author wants to emphasize as character’s express their point of view.
Analysis 1
Character name Character/Event/ The character’s The author expresses the character’s view
Situation that is
view point
point as he/she writes: (Copy the words from
being “viewed”
about
the novel).
this is _____
Ex: Greg
negative
Dressing Alike
Ex: Rowley
positive
_________________
Character 1
_________________
Character 2
Analysis 2
Character
name
Character/Event/
Situation that is
being “viewed”
The character’s
The author expresses the character’s view
view point about point as he/she writes: (Copy the words from
this is _____
the novel).
_____________
Character 1
_____________
Character 2
19