Novel News:
2nd Quarter Book Report
Letters About Literature:
I can write a readers
response to an author
about a book that made a
difference in my
thinking.
Name: ________________________
Book: ________________________
Author: _______________________
Table of Contents:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Directions – Task at Hand
Brainstorm – Thoughts/Emotions
Thoughts/Emotions Chart – Due ________
Taxonomy – Due ______________
Correspond don’t Compliment
KITE – Due ___________________
Introduction Practice Due ______________
Synthesize Don’t Summarize
Final Copy Expectations
Draft of Letter due _____________________
Final Copy of Letter due __________________
Name: __________________________ Date: _________________
Directions/Task at Hand
Task: Before leaving for winter break you
have one important task. Write a letter
to an author of a book that has made you
think in a new way. Now breathe.. This
does not need to be a new book that you
have to read. Together I will help you
write a readers response to the author.
We will not just start writing the letter
today, but rather first discuss a novel
that made you think in a new way.
DUE DATES:
• You will have due dates along the way and check
offs. A draft (typed) of this letter is due before
you leave for winter break.
* Brainstorm/Taxonomy = ___________
* Kite = _____________________________
* Draft – Introduction = ________________
* Draft Typed Letter = __________________
Alphabet Taxonomy
Letters
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
Ideas – about the book, your thinking in a new way,
characters, plot, setting, etc.
Alphabet Taxonomy
Letters
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Ideas – about the book, your thinking in a new way,
characters, plot, setting, etc.
Correspond don’t Compliment
Correspond Definition: ____________________________________
______________________________________________________
Compliment Definition: ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Did the following examples below Correspond or Compliment?
Underline the compliments and highlight the correspondence.
I am writing this letter to you as a pleased reader. As I dove into your book,
Sea Jade, I felt both humbled and inspired. Sometimes I felt confused at how
an author can pack so much emotion into one small book. It's like a new world
is opened at just the flipping of a page. Speaking from a future author's point
of view, I can tell you your book was a creation. Yours was truly a wonderful
tale of adventure, excitement, and wonder that I found incredible. Good Job,
Keep Writing!
Hook
Don’t forget this is a conversation
with the author. They know all
the details about the book…they
wrote it!
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
Thesis: Emphasize what the book taught you. Please use a thesis
format discussed in class. (List, Power, And/But/Or )
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Introduction Practice: Mention the book title in your
introduction. Also required that you have an Hook and TS.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Big Ideas:
What did the
book make you
think about:
What did the
book make you
think about:
What did the
book make you
think about:
Supporting Details: think color words/excerpts from the book
Elaborate with
specific
details/examples
about your thinking.
Elaborate with
specific
details/examples
about your thinking.
Elaborate with
specific
details/examples
about your thinking.
_
_
_
_
_
_
Restate the thesis: ____________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Synthesize don’t Summarize:
Today we will discuss how you should synthesize (combine
ideas in your letter of how the author made you think) instead of
summarize (list the 5 w’s and the how). Remember the author
you are writing to, knows the book because they wrote it. A
summary is not what the task is asking of you.
•Look at the excerpt letters below and decide if they summarized
or synthesized. If they just summarized, give a
suggest of what they could add.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Final Copy Expectations:
1. No heading on final copy.
2. Start the Letter with Dear
3. Close the letter by stating either Sincerely or another
appropriate closing for your audience.
4. Under the closing line write your name and the city and state
you are from.
Example:
Ms. Kilga
Tacoma, Washington
5. Type this in size 12 to 14 font. I would select Times New
Roman, Tahoma, or Comic Sans as appropriate fonts.
6. Staple your entry form to the back page of your letter.
7. Be sure to have your parents sign the entry form or it cannot
be entered.
Remember regardless of
you entering the
contest or not the letter
for a LA assignment is
due on _____________
Brainstorm: Thoughts/Emotions
DIRECTIONS: Read the winning letter below and identify thoughts the
writer had after reading the book, Bridge to Terabithia and emotions the
book evoked.
Highlight ________________ for Thoughts
Highlight _______________ for Emotions
Dear Katherine Paterson,
It’s been five years since my great grandpa died. I remember when my mom got the
phone call telling her the horrible news. I cut out a clumsy heart to place in his coffin,
with a few loving words written in chunky, seven year old letters. I remember staring
at all the crying faces at the funeral, feeling tears sting my own eyes as I recalled my
family’s visit to him the previous year. I remember his stories he told about his
childhood and the candy he gave us. When I read Bridge to Terabithia, I cried for Leslie,
but also for great grandpa.
Though Bridge to Terabithia triggered sad memories, I loved it. I believe one of the
reasons I loved it was because I could relate to it. When I read how Jess loved drawing,
could disappear into it and relax, I felt like I was reading a description of myself. The
only difference between us was the switch from his love of drawing to my love of
reading. I can venture into a world of magical kingdoms of futuristic civilizations and
feel like I’m one of the characters. It’s my favorite way to relax, like drawing is with
Jess. Another way I felt your book related to me is how Leslie and Jess have a secret
place in the woods, the place Leslie named Terabithia. Terabithia reminds me of the
woods by my house that my siblings and I explore every summer. We have a clearing
that we call “Skunk Valley” because a lot of skunk cabbage grows there. Every summer
we find new paths and explore the swamps and marshes. Terabithia is a lot like that to
me.
The most important lesson I learned as I read Bridge to Terabithia was the power of
friendship. Friends aren’t people you stand around and gossip with. Friendship goes
farther – friendship goes to the soul. Jess and Leslie’s friendship began when Jess was
simply running races and wondering when that weird girl would leave. It was Leslie
that supplied the happiness and friendliness that stuck the friendship together.
Though Bridge to Terabithia made me miss my great grandpa, it touched my heart,
helped me accomplish what I thought could never be done, and gave me a new view
on friendship. Thank you for that.
Abby Bateman
Snoqualmie, Washington
If you want to check out more winning letters to go the links
section under my schoolwires account.
Thoughts/Emotions: My book
Title: ________________________________________________
Author: _________________________________________
For tonight’s homework, recall the title and author of a
book that you have read within the last 2-3 years that got
you thinking. Next create below a t-Chart table that states
your thoughts and emotions.
Thoughts
*
Emotions
*
Evidence
Evidence
*
*
Evidence
Evidence
*
*
Evidence
Evidence