Some Expectations:
• Continue to develop your skills in observation of the illustrations in picture books
• All picture book reflections should include comments about the art, style, medium,
design and how they connect to the literary elements of plot, theme, tone, voice and
writing style
• Consider the standards for evaluating the genre of the novels you read as well as the
plot, theme, tone, voice and writing style-you may have to use the children’s literature
textbooks in the CRC
• Use the reflections you submit as opportunities to develop your skills as a writer. Find
resources for improving you writing style and technical abilities. Use the studies in
various genre as an opportunity to expand your own reading horizons
• Use the journal entries to record your personal reader-responses to literature. Your
thoughts about the books you share with your future students will in large part
determine their willingness to broaden their own reading experiences.
4/14
Have Read Fantasy
*bring to class short description of three scenes
*discussion of setting
*map exercise
* Literary Theory of any Novel Due
Have read Science Fiction
4/16
Have read Horror
*Topic: Discussion of selection vs censorship
*Fantasy -Setting response due
4/21
Topic: Literature Across the Curriculum-Nonfiction
*Science Fiction Creative Writing Response Due
4/23
Topic: Biography and Autobiography
*Horror/Censorship response due
*Thematic Poster Board Project Due-Literature Across the Curriculum
3 picture books connected by theme related to Poster Board Project Due
*all responses should include author, title, illustrator, copyright date and publisher
*all picture book responses should include information about include style,
medium and design
*nonfiction responses should use evaluative guides for nonfiction
• Brainstorm Book Titles for Poster Board Presentation
• Investigate a Topic
• Develop a plan to effectively present your idea in a lesson
using the books in a transdisciplinary way
• Use Oaktag or large poster paper to attractively present a
basic lesson using 3 thematically related trade books that
cross-genre or disciplines
To Review:
When you reflect on Picture Story Books and Picture Books that
are Thematically Related, Picture Book Biographies, Poetry
anthologies or any book in which illustrations are significant:
• An evaluation of art and text and an appreciation of how they work together to create
meaning, mood, tone are required
Visual Elements-the art-style, medium, design
Text-ask yourself “what is this story about?” “how is this story told?”
what is the structure, the sound, rhythm, rhyme and quality of the language?
think about predictability and pacing
Style of writing-Persuasive, Expository, Descriptive, Narrative
Tone of writing-formal/informal, humorous/serious, personal/objective
When Evaluating Text Consider:
Plot
The series of events that tell a story
• Who tells the story?
• Narrative order-is the story told chronologically or in flash backs?
• Conflict-what challenge does the character face that keeps the story
moving. Is the protagonist in conflict with another Character?
Nature? Society? Self?
Text-ask yourself
“what is this story about? (theme)”
“how is this story told?”
what is the structure, the sound, rhythm, rhyme and quality of the language?
think about predictability and pacing
Style of writing-Persuasive, Expository, Descriptive, Narrative
Tone of writing-formal/informal, humorous/serious,
personal/objective
Characterization
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Who are the main characters??
Are the main characters believable?
Are they well developed… ‘well rounded’?
Do they grow and change over time… ‘dynamic’?
What is their appearance?
What actions do they take that add insight into their thoughts and
motives?
Point of View
The vantage point from which the story is told
• First Person
• Omniscient
Guidelines for Evaluating Modern Fantasy
Pleasure
• Will children and young adults enjoy reading this book?
• Does the book tell a good story?
Appropriateness
Is this the right book for the context?
Will it appeal to this individual or group?
Will it provide a pleasurable and/or educational experience?
Are the topics or language too difficult/simple/banal so that reading becomes
frustrating?
Are stereotypes avoided?
• Is the story well written and engaging?
• Does the work contain an authenticity of voice and setting?
• Do style, character development, plot, theme, tone, point of view,
mood, pace, and design enhance the storyline?
• Is the plot original? Are there elements of folklore and myth, scientific
principles, or terrifying possibilities integrated into the narrative?
• What are the fantastic elements?
• How does the author make the story believable? Does the narrative
encourage the reader to suspend belief?
• Is the speculative world consistent and logical within the world
created?
• How does the story compare with other speculative fiction by the
same author? Other fiction with a similar theme?
• How has the book been received by reviewers (professional as well as
young people)? Do you agree with these reviews?
One of the biggest question that presents itself with fantasy is
how does an author take this obviously made up world and draw
the reader in? Why would readers be interested in engaging with
storylines that are not "real"?
Think of the fantasy novel you have read for this week. How does
the narrative engage the reader?
• What made your fantasy novel "believable" (or not) for you?
• Who might the implied reader be for your novel?
• How would you approach using the novel in English/Language
Arts class?
Setting
Establishes the time, place, social environment –it
creates the atmosphere and mood for the events of the
story
• What is the effect on the story of using this particular
location?
• Is the setting an allusion to something else?
• How do the characters respond to their environments?
• Does the setting change at all?
Consider this image-think of all the words that you would use to describe this dwelling
How about now?
Write a descriptive sentence about this dwelling.
What makes it different than the previous image?
And now-continue to think to words that would describe these dwellings.
Again-what makes it different than the previous images?
How does it make you feel-why?
Describe this landscape in contrast to the next image
Now how do you feel about these dwelling compared to the previous slide?
You have described three key settings from one of
the following novels in your journal to prepare for
today’s class
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The Alchemist by Michael Scott
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Breadcrumbs by Anne Urs
The Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
Think about how these three settings fit into the
larger world of you fantasy book-think about how
the plot flows in terms of a map of your fantasy
land
Many maps of fantasy lands have been created
Carry out a mapping activity:
Fantasy more than any other genre often includes maps of the fictional worlds in the front of
the novel. When maps aren't included they tend to appear on fan sites along with fanfiction,
fan art... Why do you suppose maps are significant when we are talking about speculative
worlds?
Form groups based on the novels read for this week.
You are creating an actual map of the fantasy world. Start by comparing the settings each
of you visualized for today's class. Are there other significant settings, locales that should be
included. Plot these locations on a map. Add details... you might think about:
1. Compass - which way is north?
2. Scale - how far are things away from each other?
3. Legend - can you tell a city from a village?
4. Landforms - forests, mountains and rivers.
5. Paths - roads or walkways. What routes do your characters take?
from http://hubpages.com/hub/Drawing-a-Fantasy-Map-for-Your-Novel-or-Short-Story
Once you have the map created discuss how you can explain the hero/protagonist's journey
through this world.
Assignments for Next Week:
4/21 Science fiction: creative writing response due
Write creatively within the fictional world of the science fiction novel. Write a new
ending to the book, an extension, a letter or diary entry from one of the
characters to another.
4/23 Horror: censorship response due
*Is the horror genre limited to blood, gore and violence? Consider books with
supernatural themes, or frightening or disturbing content. Why might they be
controversial?
*Food for thought: Is selecting and choosing appropriate books for a certain age the
same thing as censorship? Whose opinion do you
consider when choosing the right books for your classroom?
*Is there a difference between a banned book and a censored book?
*response due: censorship- many parents object- explore censorship-reasons
parents object (family values , religion , political views , minority rights.
Explore the cultural implications of genre censorship
4/23
4/28
4/30
5/5
5/7
5/12
5/14
CensorshipHave Read 2 Picture Books from CRF text sets
3 Nonfiction responses due
3 Life story responses due
Blog Post for International Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Classroom Inquiry Project Due
1 Digital Picture Book
Poetry Anthology Response Due
Completed Binder due
Reader Autobiography due