ORB Assignments—2013-14
All ORB assignments must meet the following requirements:
 be typed and single-spaced in Times New Roman 12.
 include the full name of the book’s author and its italicized title.
 include the number and title of the assignment.
 be one well-developed paragraph including a topic sentence and a conclusion.
 be in between one-third and one-half of a page in length.
 contain properly documented quotes as supporting evidence.
Freshmen will do 6 of the 8 assignments, and juniors will do all 8.
Fiction Assignments:
#1
Setting—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss the setting—both the time and the place—of your book
and how and why you think it will or will not influence the story.
#2
Character—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss a major character or person in the book and make
predictions about what will happen to him or her over the course of the book.
#3
Quote & Response 1—do an analytical quote and response.
#4
Figurative Language—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss how the author’s use or lack of use of
figurative language—metaphor, personification, simile—affects the story and/or points the author is
making.
#5
Journal/Letter—write a journal or letter from the point of view of someone in the book other than the
protagonist; discuss that character’s perspective on the other characters in the book and what has happened
so far in the story. You must begin with 1-2 sentences indentifying the character whose identity you
are assuming and explaining who this person is in your book, and, yes, you do need to use the personal
pronoun “I” in doing this assignment. This is the only fiction assignment that does not require the inclusion
of quotes.
#6
Diction/Syntax—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss how the author’s use of diction and/or syntax
affects the book and story.
#7
Quote & Response 2—do another analytical quote and response.
conflicts show about the characters; as always, be careful not to summarize.
#8
Tone—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss the tone of the book as a whole or in specific sections of the
book and relate how and why the tone of the book or scene contributes to the book as a whole.
Non-Fiction Assignments:
#1
Setting—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss the setting—both the time and the place—of your book
and how and why you think it will or will not influence the story.
#2
Person—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss a major character or person in the book and make
predictions about what will happen to him or her over the course of the book.
#3
Quote & Response 1—do an analytical quote and response.
#4
Quote & Response 2—do another analytical quote and response.
#5
Figurative Language—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss how the author’s use or lack of use of
figurative language—metaphor, personification, simile—affects the story and/or points the author is
making.
#6
Diction/Syntax I—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss how the author’s use of diction and/or syntax
affects the book and story.
#7
Diction/Syntax 2—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss how the author’s use of diction and/or syntax
affects the book and story.
#8
Tone—in a well-developed paragraph, discuss the tone of the book as a whole or in specific sections of the
book and relate how and why the tone of the book or scene contributes to the book as a whole.