English I – Ms. Biber
2013-2014
Marking Period 1 – Independent Reading
Project
For our independent reading this marking period, you will read a short
story from our textbook. The list of story options includes:
1. “Poison” p.81-89
2. “The Interlopers” p.95-99
3. “Harrison Bergeron” p.133-139
4. “The Washwoman” p.188-191
5. “The Gift of the Magi” p203-207
6. “The Necklace” p.221-228
7. “The Cask of Amontillado” p.233-239
8. “Blues Ain’t No Mockin’ Bird” p.265-273
9. “Marigolds” p.279-287
Step 1 – Carefully read one of the stories listed above
Step 2 – Complete enough of the projects listed on the “Points” page to total
50 points
Step 3 – Submit your projects on the assigned due date. Ten points will be
deducted for each calendar day a project is late.
50 Points
After you read your story, you will complete a story project worth 50 points. How you
get those 50 points is going to be up to you. Below you will find different tasks to
complete relating to your story. Each task is assigned a starting point value. If you do
the task and do it well, you can earn those points. If you do the task, but do not put all
your effort into it you may not earn all of the points assigned to that task. The goal is to
complete enough tasks to earn 50 points and an A+ grade.
***All work must be typed and double spaced unless it is a project that involves a drawing
or sketch.***
5 Point TASKS
A. Move the setting of the story by changing the time and the place. Explain how
this would change the story. Give examples from the story. This should be at
least of ½ page typed.
B. Which of the characters would make a good friend? Explain why you would pick
them as a good friend. Give specific examples from the story. This should be at
least a ½ page typed.
C. If you could give any character in the story a present to help them in the story,
what would you give them and why? Explain using details from the story how
this would help the character. This should be at least a ½ page typed.
10 Point TASKS
A. Write a letter to the author explaining your thoughts about the story. Explain
what did you like, what did you not like and how you connected to the characters
in the story. This should be at least a ½ page typed.
B. Create a bookmark that illustrates the story. On the front – put the title and
author and draw a small picture that fits the story. On the back of the bookmark
pick 5 words that describe the story and write a short reason why you chose
each word.
C. Create a collage using magazine or Internet pictures and words that describe
your story. Fill the space well and write a brief explanation of your collage on the
back of the poster. The poster can be any size.
20 Point TASKS
A. Imagine that your story was in the form of a book. Create a front and back cover
for the story. Include all the important information about the story – a story
summary/blurb, information about the author, price, a picture, and quotes from
other imaginary people who liked the story.
B. Interview a character. Write the interview questions and the answers the
character would give in the interview. You must have at least 10 open ended
questions and answers (yes/no questions are not acceptable).
C. Create a travel poster or brochure inviting people to come visit the setting of your
story. Include some quotes from the story that talk about the setting. The poster
can be any size.
D. Write a “Dear Abbey” column for your characters. Write letters from the
characters that ask for advice based on the problems they face in the story.
Respond back with advice that you would give them to help with the problem.
You must have at least 4 letters – 2 asking for help and 2 longer letters giving
advice). Be sure you are making connections to events in the book.
E. Create a visual timeline of the events in the story. Use large paper and draw the
time line and add the events using short blurbs and pictures. You must have at
least 10 events from the story.
30 Point TASKS
A. Pretend you are a character from the story and write a diary for the character
explaining the events of the story as seen from their point of view. Include what
happens as well as how they felt during this time. You must have at least 4 diary
entries. These entries must be typed and be at least a half page long, doublespaced.
B. Research and write a 1-page report about the author of the story. Include
information about their life and other stories or books they have written. Also
include a photo of the author. This must be typed and double-spaced.
100 Points
After you read your story, you will complete a story project worth 100 points. How you
get those 100 points is going to be up to you. Below you will find different tasks to
complete relating to your story. Each task is assigned a starting point value. If you do
the task and do it well, you can earn those points. If you do the task, but do not put all
your effort into it you may not earn all of the points assigned to that task. The goal is to
complete enough tasks to earn 100 points and an A+ grade.
5 Point TASKS
D. If you could change places with one of the characters in the story, which one
would it be? Why would you pick this character? Use specific examples and
details from the story and write a short explanation.
E. Move the setting of the story by changing the time and the place. Explain how
this would change the story. Give examples from the story.
F. Write a poem that tells about a piece of the story: the plot, a character, the
setting, or the conflict. Write a brief explanation of the poem and what it means
to the story.
G. Which of the characters would make a good friend? Explain why you would pick
them as a good friend. Give specific examples from the story.
H. If you could give any character in the story a present to help them in the story,
what would you give them and why? Explain using details from the story how
this would help the character.
10 Point TASKS
D. Write a letter to the author explaining your thoughts about the story. Explain
what did you like, what did you not like and how you connected to the characters
in the story.
E. Create a new character to add to the story. Describe this new character and tell
what role they would play in the story in full detail giving examples from the story
where they would be added or where they would make an impact.
F. Create a bookmark that illustrates the story. On the back of the bookmark pick 5
words that describe the story and write a short reason for each word. Make sure
the title and author are on the book ark.
G. Create a collage using magazine or internet pictures and words that describe
your story. Fill the space well and write a brief explanation of your collage on the
back of the poster.
20 Point TASKS
F. Imagine that your story was in the form of a book. Create a front and back cover
for the story. Include all the important information about the story – a story
summary/blurb, information about the author, price, a picture, and quotes from
other people who liked the story.
G. Interview a character. Write the interview questions and the answers the
character would give in the interview. You must have at least 15 open ended
questions and answers (yes/no questions are not acceptable).
H. Create a travel poster or brochure inviting people to come visit the setting of your
story. Include some quotes from the story that talk about the setting.
I. Write a “Dear Abbey” column for your characters. Write letters from the
characters that ask for advice based on the problems they face in the story.
Respond back with advice that you would give them to help with the problem.
You must have at least 4 letters – 2 asking for help and 2 longer ones giving
advice). Be sure you are making connections to events in the book.
30 Point TASKS
A. Summarize the plot of the story by creating a cartoon version of the story. Use at
least 10 frames to tell the story. Use color and words.
B. Design the front page of a newspaper with headlines and a story about what
happened in your story. There must be at least one picture on the front page.
Look at other newspapers for creative ideas for the layout and story.
C. Create a visual timeline of the events in the story. Use large paper and draw the
time line and add the events using short blurbs and pictures. You must have at
least 20 events from the story.
40 Point TASKS
C. Pretend you are a character from the story and write a diary for the character
explaining the events of the story as seen from their point of view. Include what
happens as well as how they felt during this time. You must have at least 8 diary
entries. These entries must be at least 2 paragraphs long.
D. Research and write a 1-2 page report about the author of the story. Include
information about their life and other stories or books they have written. Also
include a photo of the author.
E. Create a “puppet show” version of your story. First write a 2-3 minute dialogue
between key characters re-telling the story. You may have a narrator if
necessary. Then create paper puppets (draw pictures of the characters in color
on white printer paper and glue coffee stirrers or popsicle sticks to the back of the
pictures so you can use them as puppets).