NOVEL STUDY: LITERATURE CIRCLES
During the Novel Study Unit, you will be given time in class to read,
reflect, and write about a novel approved by your teacher.
1. Introductory Classes: Selection of Novels
The first few days of the unit will be allocated for reading each
novel available for study, after which, you will create a written
reflection on each novel read. You will then rank your 1 st, 2nd and
3rd choices, and submit your ranking and reflections to your teacher.
Your teacher will then assign books to each student based on the most
meaningful/insightful and compelling arguments made by the students. If you do not
spend much time reading, reflection, or writing about your choice in a thoughtful and
compelling way, this may not be conveyed to your teacher, and you may not get your
first choice.
2. Structure of the Unit and In-Class work periods:
Monday:
 A full-class activity will focus on the topic (characterization, setting, theme,
etc) of the week. An extension activity may be assigned
Tuesday:  Half a class will focus on the topic of the week, or on the extension activity
Half a class devoted to reading; half a class devoted to working on
the completion of one of the class assignments.
Wednesday:  Groups 1 and 2 present
 Remainder of class reads or works on completion of a class assignment
Thursday:  Groups 3 and 4 present groups present
 The remainder of the class reads or works on the completion of a class
assignment.
Friday:
Laycock
 Groups 4 and 5 groups present
 The remainder of the class reads or works on the completion of a class
assignment.
 All Written Assignments are due at the end of class on Friday!
Literature Circle Instructions
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3. Novel Unit Assignments
By the end of the Unit, you will have handed in the
following:
a. Weekly Assignments
b. Your oral presentation and organizers.
c. A Final Creative Reflection
4. How Our Literature Circles Will Work
Literature Circles are only as good as the people
involved in them. It is therefore up to YOU to make
your literature circle interesting, engaging,
thoughtful, and enjoyable.
Therefore, these are the general expectations for the
literature circle:
a) Each student must speak about what they’ve read, and their opinions on the
chapters characters, symbols, themes, plot, etc. To help you with this each student will
be given a particular focus, or role to prepare. Remember, however, this is not a
presentation, but a discussion. You will be using your prepared role as background,
not as a formal presentation
c) Each student in the discussion group must ask their fellow group members a
minimum of 2 questions and present a statement during the meeting of your
Literature Circle. Each student must also respond meaningfully to at least 2
questions posed by others. Listen to their answers and try to extend the
conversation into a meaningful dialogue.
d) Use what your group members say as a starting point for further discussing and
questions. (Examples: “I like what you said about . . . because, ” “This reminded me
of. . . ,“ “You mentioned that you related to the character’s experiences . . .how
would you have reacted . . . “, “Your point connects to a point I wanted to make
about . . . “)
e) Don’t just say yes or no! Have a discussion! Agree! Disagree! Make this
intellectual journey your own!
f) You will receive two separate marks. One will be based on your thoughtful and
enthusiastic participation in the group discussion the other will be based on your
written component.
Remember to review the requirements / focus of your particular role!
Laycock
Literature Circle Instructions
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Reading Schedule
BOLDED CHAPTERS ARE THE ONES YOU MUST HAVE READ AND PREPARED FOR YOUR LITERATURE
CIRCLE FOR THAT WEEK!
Week
1. Monday
Chrysalids
Practice in class –
time to read a
Wednesday head
2 Monday
Ch 1 – 3
Little Brother
Practice in class –
time to read a
head
Ch. 1-4
Pay it Forward
Practice in class –
time to read a
head
Pro – Ch 5
Secret Life of Bees
Practice in class –
time to read a
head
Ch. 1-2
Wednesday Ch 4 - 6
3 Monday
Ch 7-10
Ch. 5-8
Ch. 9 -12
Ch 6-10
Ch 11-16
Ch 3-5
Ch.6 -8
Wednesday Ch. 11 - 12
4 Monday
Ch 13 – 15
Ch. 13-16
Ch.17 – 20
Ch 17- 23
Ch 24 - 29
Ch.9-10
Ch. 11 – 12
Wednesday Ch.16 - END
Ch. 21- END
Ch. 29 - END
Ch 13 – END.
Calendar
22 October
23
24
25
26
Peer Editing
Role Choice
/Reading Period
Practice Lit Circle
Roles
Practice Lit Circle
Discussion
Research Day
29
30
31
1 November
2
Presentations
Setting and Point of
View
Quiz
Character Traits
Reading/Work
Period
Reading/Work
Period
Quiz
Literature Circles
Chrysalids/Secret
Life/ Pay it Forward
Literature Circles
Little Brother
5
6
7
8
Theme Activity
Symbol Activity
Reading/ Work
Period
Reading/Work
Period
Literature Circles
Chrysalids/Secret
Life/ Pay it Forward
Quiz
Quiz
12
Conflict and
Resolution Activity
Quiz
13
14
15
Resolution Activity
Work Period
Reading/WorkPeriod
Literature Circles
Chrysalids/Secret
Life/ Pay it Forward
Quiz
Mini Assignment
Due
9
Literature Circles
Little Brother
Mini Assignment
Due
16
Literature Circles
Little Brother
19
20
21
22
Mini Assignment
Due
23
Expository
Expository
Expository
Expository
Expository
Laycock
Literature Circle Instructions
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