Turn-in form for Independent Reading: Independent Reading Turn-in Form
Mr. Lochamy's IB English 11 students are given an opportunity to earn extra credit through independent reading (i.e., books other than those being used for any other academic credit purpose) throughout the year. Students who hope to earn a grade for Independent Reading must read at least 500 pages for the nine-week grading period during which they are looking to earn extra credit (which is an option for as many grading periods throughout the year as the student would like). Students can select any piece of NONFICTION they like (as long as it is not wildly below the reading level appropriate for them) for this assignment. Please note, though, that historical fiction is not nonfiction and should not be selected for independent reading. Students will receive a grade of 50/50 so long as they read and sufficiently document (more on that in a minute) at least 500 pages of qualifying nonfiction for the nine weeks.
One quick clarification, since this is a question that comes up pretty regularly: This assignment is intended to have students reading more than one book each nine weeks. While it’s possible (and fine) for someone to find and read a piece of nonfiction that is 500 pages long (or more), that’s not the typical experience. More often than not, students are going to need to read at least one and a half books or so during the nine weeks in order to reach the required page count.
To earn credit, students are required to log their independent reading using a Google site (titled Independent Reading) linked back to their IB Learner Portfolio. The Independent Reading site should clearly identify (through the use of separate pages on the site) which nine-week grading periods are being referenced for credit (i.e., if a student chose to complete Independent Reading for the 1st and 3rd nine weeks only, she should have a “1st Nine Weeks” page on her Independent Reading site and one titled “3rd Nine Weeks” as well.)
In order for a book to count, the student must first complete the book (or plan to complete it in the ensuing nine-week grading period) and then provide the following information (in their own words--i.e. not copied and pasted from any other source) on their Independent Reading site:
1. The title of the book
2. The author of the book
3. The total number of pages in the book
4. A brief summary of what the book is about.
5. An assessment of whether the book is good or not (i.e. what the student liked or didn't like about it)
6. An idea of a specific person to whom the book should be recommended (along with some explanation as to why that recommendation should be made)
Independent reading books can come from the school library, the public library, a home library, a friend's collection, a Little Free Library, or a bookstore (or I suppose you could find them lying on the street or whatever if you're really lucky that way); and the books should be of a reading level that is appropriate for the student's reading ability.
Not crazy about reading? Why don't you start with this book then, an interesting collection of short essays about why reading (and becoming a better reader) is so important.
Looking for recommendations? Check out this list of books available in the HHS library collection and this list of titles available as ebooks via Sora. And although this assignment typically requires reading nonfiction, students can read (and count) any of the works from this list that they’d like, and the same is true for any works written by the authors that we study in the course throughout the year (apart, of course, from the specific works we read in class–those can’t count for independent reading).
Click here for a model of what your Independent Reading site should perhaps look like.
Note: Students who have documented issues with academic integrity should expect to be barred from receiving credit for this trust-based extra credit opportunity.
Interested in an alternative to reading for this assignment? During the 4th Nine Weeks (and only during the 4th Nine Weeks), students who wish can take advantage of the Podcast Option. Click here for full details on how that works.