Gina Sabo
Final Project
ISTC 541
Summer 2012
Author Study Glog
1. Your explanation as to why you choose your project and how you believe it will enhance your
teaching/student learning/workplace need.
Students continuously do an Independent Reading Project (IRP) each year in my class. They have
to choose a book, keep a reading log, and then create a final project. I thought that if students
had a specific author that they were particularly drawn to, they could also create a Glog not only
about that author, but also about the other books (including the one they read) the author
themselves wrote.
2. The appropriateness of the project for you grade level/content area
My English students are 9th graders. They are very tech savvy, and I think that the Glog would be
a great project for my students. They will still have the ability to create a “poster” but with the
ability to link other websites, highlight the major works by the author, as well as describe the
author’s life. I think that this is very appropriate for my students, because they will have the
ability to choose their author and book as long as it is approved by me, and I don’t have a ton of
posters to take home and grade!
Students focus their attention on the study of one author’s works – not just one book, but a
variety of works written by the same author – to discover what themes and/or other
commonalities might run throughout the body of one person’s writings.
Note: No two students in the same class may choose the same author in order to discover as
many authors as possible.
Project outline:
1. Choose an author and complete the following tasks. A list of suggested authors can be
presented to students or they may choose their own. A list of possibilities follows at the end of
this plan.
2. Choose and read a novel written by the author.
3. Choose and read at least two short shorts, or two children’s/picture books, or eight poems by
the same author. List shorts stories or picture book titles. Attach copies of each poem.
4. Find information about the author’s life using at least three sources. List sources used.
5. Write a 3-5 page paper that details the author’s life as well as incorporates literary style
devices common in his/her works (themes, genre, etc.) Be sure to address the common themes
among the author’s works.
6. Create a dual timeline of the author’s life that includes major events in history occurring
during his/her lifetime. Timeline must be visually interesting (e.g., colorful, incorporates
graphics/pictures, of appropriate size, neat) as well as accurate and complete.
7. Create a poster, display board, etc., about the author that will entice others to read works by
the author. Your display should be no smaller than 18” x 20” and be visually interesting. The
chosen author’s name should be prominent and several titles should be displayed. Readers should
be able to get a clear picture of what kind of stories the author tells by viewing your display.
8. Present displays and findings about the author’s life in a 5-10 minute class presentation.
9. Select a song from an artist of choice that best represents the author or one or more of the
author’s works. Play the song and explain rationale for its choice at the time of the oral
presentation.
Timeline and Assessment:
Students have a maximum of six weeks to complete this project. Rubrics for each portion of the
project should be distributed so they know what to expect. As a way to keep students on track,
checkpoint dates should be listed and met.
I assign point values to each portion of the assignment, as listed below, with a final total of 500
points possible. This can be adjusted to fit each teacher's needs.
Points Offered
Author selection 10 points Novel selection 15 points
Story/poem selection 25 points
Research sources 50 points Research paper 100 points
Timeline 75 points Poster/display 75 points
Song selection 50 points Oral presentation 100 points
Total 500 points
Possible Author Choices:
Joan Aiken
Louisa May Alcott
Maya Angelou
Avi
Eve Bunting
Beverly Cleary
Andrew Clements
Robert Cormier
Michael Crichton
Sharon Creech
Karen Cushman
Roald Dahl
Tommy dePaola
Lois Duncan
Nancy Farmer
Jack Gantos
Patrician Reilly Giff
Nikki Giovanni
John Grisham
Karen Hesse
S.E. Hinton
Alice Hoffman
Stephen King
Louis L’Amour
Madeleine L’Engle
C.S. Lewis
Lois Lowry
Sharon Bell Mathis
Walter Dean Myers
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Scott O’Dell
Katherine Paterson
Gary Paulsen
Richard Peck
Robert Newton Peck
Edgar Allen Poe
J.K. Rowling
Cynthia Rylant
Louis Sachar
Gary Soto
Jerry Spinelli
William Steig
John Steinbeck
Amy Tan
Mildred Taylor
J.R.R. Tolkien
Mark Twain
Cynthia Voigt
Alice Walker
E.B. White
Ruth White
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laurence Yep
Jane Yolan
IRP Glog Assignment
During each quarter you will read a book of your choice as part of the Independent Reading Project.
There are two parts to this project: interactive reading log and final project (glog). Your Book Choice
form will also count as 10 points.
Please note: You will also receive 10 participation points per day on "independent reading" days. If you
are not working on your project or reading on those days, then you will receive a "zero" for the day.
Grading for the Independent Reading Project:
Interactive Reading Logs
Final Project (Glog)
Book Choice Form
50 points
50 points
10 points
110 points
Choosing a book:
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You read any work of fiction or non-fiction (no magazines, comic books, etc)
All books must be approved by the teacher
If you do not like the book you chose, you may abandon it and select a new one with the instructor’s
approval
Pacing Yourself:
 You should make a plan for reading your book at a reasonable pace.
 Don’t put it off until the last two weeks of the quarter
Due Dates for the Independent Reading Project:
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Book Choice Form
____________________
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Interactive Reading Logs
____________________
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Glog
____________________
INTERACTIVE READING LOG:
You will be responsible for reflecting on your book and your reading process each time you read your
book. You will write a response based on what you read. Each interactive response should be at least 3
paragraphs in length. You can’t be wrong in your responses, as these reflect your personal reactions to
the text.
Take some risks and be honest. Use the sample prompts to help you get started with expressing your
likes/dislikes, confusion, and observations. Tell me what you think something means. Make predictions
about what might happen later. Use your personal experiences to connect with the plot, characters,
setting, etc.
Please Note: You should have at least 10 journal entries.
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Sample Interactive Prompts:
I really don't understand the part where . . .
I really like/dislike this idea because . . .
This character reminds me of somebody I know because . . .
This character reminds me of myself because . . .
I think this setting is important because . . .
This scene reminds me of a similar scene in (title of book/movie/T.V. show) because . . .
I like/dislike this writing because . . .
This part is very realistic/unrealistic because . . .
I think the relationship between ______and ______ is interesting because . . .
This section makes me think about . . .
I like/dislike (name of character) because . . .
This situation reminds me of a similar situation in my own life. What happened was . . .
If I were (name of character) at this point, I would . . .
I began to think of . . .
I love the way . . .
I can't believe . . .
I wonder why . . .
I noticed . . .
I'm not sure . . .
My favorite character is ___ . . .
I like the way the author . . .
I felt sad when . . .
I wish that . . .
I was surprised . . .
It seems like . . .
I'm not sure . . .
I want to know more about . . .
I predict . . .
Glog Expectations:
Below are the expectations for the Glog assignment for your IRP. This sheet must be turned in on the
date the Glog is due.
Book Glog Rubric
Criteria
Book talk (written portion of
presentation) hooks audience
to read the book, tells a little
to get me interested, but does
not tell the ending.
Voice: Clear and loud enough;
should be at least one minute.
Text boxes: Characters,
Conflict, Theme, Connections,
Passages, Questions,
Predictions.
Links: Generate at least 2 links
to other information
associated with your book:
author info, concepts/topics
in book, setting, time period,
how to purchase the book,
etc.
Pictures: Copy and paste 4
pictures in your glog that
relate to the topics mentioned
in your book.
Points Possible
20
Design: Creative and original;
glog is colorful and easy to
read
10
Grammar/Spelling: Glog has
been proofread for mistakes.
10
Points Earned
10
20
20
10
Name________________________________
Period________
Book Choice Form
You will be responsible for choosing a book for your Independent Reading project by
____________________________.
All of the information below must be filled out in entirety. Keep your book with you at all times,
so that you can read during class and any other free time you may have. Budget your time
wisely, leaving yourself enough time to read and complete the assignment in a timely manner.
You should read at least 45-60 minutes a day/night.
Title of novel:__________________________________
Author of novel:________________________________
Number of pages:_________
Genre:____________________
For this Independent Reading assignment, you may choose a book from any genre. Make sure
that the book is at your appropriate reading level.
Your book choice must be a minimum of 200 pages, not including pictures. The book you
choose must be something you’ve never read before. I know what books were read at the middle
school level and elementary school level.
Student Signature____________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature___________________________
For teacher use only
Turned in on time? Yes No
Book approved: Yes No
Teacher’s
initials___________