Book Project Presentation
Note: Please add these slides to the author research
Powerpoint that you have already begun.
7th Grade Language Arts
Your Goals and Instructions:
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To report your knowledge and understanding
of various literary aspects of your book.
To create a PowerPoint presentation to share
this information.
Following these instructions, you will see an
example based on the short story “Seventh
Grade” by Gary Soto.
More Information:
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You do not necessarily need to include the
exact slides that I did in the example, but
your effort and content should be equivalent.
Feel free to comment on literary elements of
your book if you have already started
reading, including: characterization, setting,
author’s style, etc.
Save your presentation in your server
documents so that you may continue working
on it next week.
Make sure you have the following slides
from Part 1 of this assignment:
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Setting
Historical Context (if it applies to your book)
Cultural Context (if it applies to your book)
Unfamiliar Vocabulary Words used in the
book and their definitions
Any “made up” or special vocabulary that is
relevant to your book, for example, the
reaping in The Hunger Games, or the
Spanish words used in “Seventh Grade”
Setting of the story
“Seventh Grade”
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“Seventh Grade” takes place in a school
in Fresno, California, which is the fifth
largest city in the state.
Fresno, which means ash tree in Spanish
is located in the center of the San Joaquin
Valley in Central California.
There is no particular time era mentioned in the
story, which leads the reader to assume that it takes
place at the time it was written, in the 1980’s.
The story takes place on the first day of school.
Historical Context
of “Seventh Grade”
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This story likely took place in the 1980’s
Clues: computer cards, crackling loud speaker, GQ
Historical and Cultural Highlights of the 1980’s:
the Cold War, conflict in the Middle East, space shuttle
Challenger tragedy, E.T., Flashdance, Michael Jackson,
Madonna, the cola wars (Coke vs. Pepsi), the preppie
look, punk, neon, spandex, leg warmers, computer
technology still new and evolving.
This is a screen from an Atari video game.
We thought this was very cool in the 80’s!
Cultural Context
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The main characters are
are Mexican-American.
The characters attended a Catholic school as
children “…since they were in catechism
classes at Saint Theresa’s…” pg. 1
The characters are probably not wealthy.
According to the text, the boys picked grapes
in order to buy their fall clothes.
Vocabulary Words from
“Seventh Grade”
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elective: optional course or subject
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conviction: belief
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sheepishly: in a shy or
embarrased way
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Sibera: a region in northern Asia
known for its harsh winters
Vocabulary, Continued…
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portly: large, heavy, rounded
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ferocity: having great force
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linger: to stay; to remain
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scowl: an expression of anger; frown
Spanish Words Used in the Story
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raza or “race” refers to people of MexicanAmerican, particularly MexicanNative American descent
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saludo de vato: Spanish gestures of
greetings between friends
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ese: man
French Language Used in the Story
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Bonjour: “Hello” or “Good Day”
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Très bien. Parlez-vous français? “Very well.
Do you speak French?”
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Le bateau est sur l’eau:
“The boat is on the water.”
Part 2
This
is the actual
beginning of the NEW
slides for part two.
Characters in “Seventh Grade” by
Gary Soto
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Protagonist: Victor Rodriguez
Antagonist: The main conflict in the story is
person vs. self, so I would conclude that
Victor is also the antagonist in the story. He
seems to be working against himself.
Supporting Characters:
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Michael Torres, Victor’s best friend
Theresa, Victor’s crush
Mr. Bueller, Victor’s French teacher
Characteristics of the Protagonist
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Victor is a seventh-grade, Mexican-American
boy from California. He can be described as
a little shy and awkward, self-conscious, yet
very determined to do what it takes to
accomplish his goal.
Include a picture to help us visualize your
character.
First Main Event
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Use complete sentences to fully describe this
part of the story.
Include a picture that helps us to visualize
this event.
Second Main Event
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Use complete sentences to fully describe this
part of the story.
Include a picture that helps us to visualize
this event.
Third Main Event
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Use complete sentences to fully describe this
part of the story.
Include a picture that helps us to visualize
this event.
Fourth Main Event
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Use complete sentences to fully describe this
part of the story.
Include a picture that helps us to visualize
this event.
Resolution- End of the Book
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Use complete sentences to fully describe this
part of the story.
Include a picture that helps us to visualize
this event.
Evaluation
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Use complete sentences to answer the
following questions:
1. Did you like the book?
2. Explain why you either did or did not like the
book.
3. Would you recommend the book?
4. Explain why you would or would not
recommend the book.
Favorite Part of the Book
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What was your favorite part of the book and
why?