Independent Reading: Topic of Interest

Ms. Chapman/Trimester 1 2010 Period 1 and 4

OverviewFrom your topic interest note card, choose one topic to read about. You will have an opportunity to research the books about your topic in the library. Select one book on that topic from the library to check out. Note the title of both books on your note card so you can check the second one out when you finish this one. You will need to read two books about your topic this trimester. These books may be fiction or non-fiction. The books must not be two of the same type, such as two biographies on the same person. Fill out the works cited sheet for both books and keep them with the note card. Choosing books: for example, one student chose soccer as his topic. He chose to read a novel (fiction) about a character who plays soccer and a biography (non-fiction) on Pelé.

IMPORTANT: You will need to bring your book to class every Tuesday and Thursday. Points will be given each day (10 pts. per week/100 pts for the trimester). Your Reader’s Notebook will be turned in at the end of the trimester (100 pts.).

RequirementThis assignment asks each of you to:

Read two books on a topic you are interested ino The books may be fiction or non-fictiono Choose books appropriate to your age and reading level. Each book

should be a full-length, well-written, serious book.o Fill out the works cited form for each book. You will need this for the

essay at the end.o Make entries in your Reader’s Notebook each week.

StepsEach of you must:

1. Read two books this trimester.2. Bring your book every Tuesday and Thursday.3. Make entries in your Reader’s Notebook each week.4. Come to class at the end of the trimester having finished both books and write an

essay about your topic.5. Give a three minute presentation about the topic you studied and discuss why it

is important or why you are interested in it. Use specific examples from your Reader’s Notebook.

Source: Burke, Jim. What’s the Bid Idea? Question-Driven Units to Motivate Reading, Writing, and Thinking. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2010.

Topic of Interest Essay

OverviewThe Topic of Interest assignment asked you to choose two books that allow you to study a topic that interests you. My hope is that you learned something about your topic and why it is of interest to you. Now it’s time to write!

GoalsThis in-class essay has several goals. Specifically, you should:

Establish a focus for your paper. What is important about your topic (thesis statement)? (20 pts.)

Organize your ideas effectively to communicate them. What points do you want to make about your topic (body)? (20 pts.)

In the body of the essay, develop your points by providing examples and quotations from your Reader’s Notebook then explain how these relate to your main focus-thesis statement. (20 pts.)

Show that you read and understood the books you chose. (20 pts.) Include the Works Cited information from the forms you filled out on each

book. (20 pts.) 100 points total

DirectionsUse the following guidelines to prepare and write your essay in class (500-700 words):

Write and Introduction that tells us:o Who or what topic you read about

o Refer to the titles and authors of the books you read.

o Why you read about this topic

o Why is this topic important (not just to you, but to others)

Identify the points you want to make about this topic.o Establish a clear and effective focus in each paragraph.

o Example: The character, Tony, in the novel and Pelé both had to

overcome an obstacle. They both grew up very poor.o Provide examples from your Reader’s Notebook.

o Explain how these examples relate to your main idea-thesis

statement. Discuss the importance of this topic. For example, discuss how the

characters or people overcome obstacles to succeed. Write a concluding paragraph in which you identify and discuss the

lessons you learned from reading about this topic and how they might relate to your own life now or in the future.

Source: Burke, Jim. What’s the Bid Idea? Question-Driven Units to Motivate Reading, Writing, and Thinking. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2010.

Topic of Interest Presentation

OverviewThe Topic of Interest assignment asked you to choose two books that allow you to study a topic that interests you. My hope is that you learned something about your topic and why it is of interest to you and others. Now it’s time to present!

Requirement This assignment asks each of you to:

o Give a three-four minute presentation on your topic. (25 pts.)o This presentation is formal and should be well-organized. (25 pts.)o You may use a visual, but it is optionalo You may use up to five note cards to guide your speecho Use formal speaking strategies (25 pts.)

Use correct grammar and standard English (no slang) Use good voice projection You should make eye contact with your audience Do not read the whole speech from the note cards

o 75 points total

StepsIntroduce your topic, refer to the titles and authors of the books you read, explain why you chose this topic, and explain why it is important to you and to others-thesis statement.

Identify the points you want to make about the topic and provide examples for each point from your Reader’s Notebook and note the source. Explain how these points relate to your main idea-thesis statement.

Conclude your presentation by discussing what you learned from reading these two books and how they relate to your life now or in the future: maybe they inspired you because you strive to play in the World Cup.

Total project grading (375 pts.):

In-class reading on Tuesday and Thursday 100

Reader’s Notebook 100

Essay 100

Presentation 75

Source: Burke, Jim. What’s the Bid Idea? Question-Driven Units to Motivate Reading, Writing, and Thinking. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2010.

Standards (ELA 8th Grade)

2.0 Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informational Materials) Students read and understand grade-level-appropriate material. They describe and connect the essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives of the text by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. The selections in Recommended Literature, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials to be read by students. In addition, students read one million words annually on their own, including a good representation of narrative and expository text (e.g., classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, online information). Structural

2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)

2.2 Write responses to literature: a. Exhibit careful reading and insight in their interpretations. b. Connect the student’s own responses to the writer’s techniques and to specific textual references. c. Draw supported inferences about the effects of a literary work on its audience. d. Support judgments through references to the text, other works, other authors, or to personal knowledge.

1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate to this grade level.

2.0 Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics) Students deliver well-organized formal presentations employing traditional rhetorical strategies (e.g., narration, exposition, persuasion, description). Student speaking demonstrates a command of standard American English and the organizational and delivery strategies outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 1.0.

2.2 Deliver oral responses to literature: a. Interpret a reading and provide insight. b. Connect the students’ own responses to the writer’s techniques and to specific textual references. c. Draw supported inferences about the effects of a literary work on its audience. d. Support judgments through references to the text, other works, other authors, or personal knowledge.

Source: Burke, Jim. What’s the Bid Idea? Question-Driven Units to Motivate Reading, Writing, and Thinking. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2010.