Note: You can download a copy of this assignment at the bottom of the page.

Individual Novel Study

For this novel study you will choose your own novel to read. You may choose from one of the classroom books, a library book, or a novel of your own. In all cases Mr. Cairns must approve the novel. Approval is based on appropriate content and reading level. The unit will finish by Thanksgiving. You will be given some class time to read, however, reading at home is expected. Over the course of the unit there are four assignments to be handed in. The first three will all follow the same format. There are three sections to each assignment.

For All Assignments

At the top of the page all of the following must appear: Assignment #, Title of your novel, your first and last name.

Assignments 1 to 3

• Section 1: A short paragraph describing what you have read so far in the novel will make up the first part of the assignment.
• Section 2: From the list of terms below, you will choose four of the terms and find an examples from within your novel that illustrates each of these terms. You may choose any four for each of the assignments, but by the end of the third assignment you must have complete all of the terms listed below.
• Be specific with your answers and use examples from your novel to show your understanding of the term you are describing.
• Section 3: You will create and answer your own question. Use the bulletin board in our room to help in the creation of a question, then answer your question fully.

• Assignment 1: An Understanding question.

• Assignment 2: An Applying question.

• Assignment 3: An Analyzing question.

Assignment 4

For the final assignment you will create one Evaluating question and one Creating question to answer. These two questions should be more extensive and cover the novel as a whole.

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning

Remember

Define, identify, list, name, recall, recognize, record, relate, repeat, underline

Understand

Choose, cite, demonstrate, describe, determine, differentiate, discriminate, discuss, explain, express, in own words, identify, interpret, locate, report, restate, recognize, review, select, tell, translate, respond, practice, simulates

Apply

Apply, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, generalize, illustrate, interpret, operate, operationalize, practice, relate, schedule, shop, use, utilize, initiate

Analyze

Appraise, calculate, categorize, compare, conclude, contrast, correlate, criticize, deduce, debate, determined, develop, differentiate, distinguish, estimate, evaluate, examine, experiment, infer, inspect, predict, question, relate, solve, diagnose

Evaluate

Appraise, assess, choose, compare, critique, estimate, evaluate, judge, measure, rate, revise, score, select, validate, value, test

Create

Design, construct, plan, produce, invent, device, make, program, film, animate, blog, mix, remix, publish, videocast, podcast, direct, produce

Novel Study Terms

Compare and Contrast *

To Compare is to show the ways in which things are alike. To Contrast is to show the ways in which things are different.

Fact and Opinion *

A Fact is a statement that has been or can be proved to be true. An Opinion is a statement that is believed but can not be proven.

Cause and Effect *

The Effect is what happened as a result of something. The Cause is the reason for what happened. Example: He enjoyed challenging nature, so he took up mountain climbing.

Effect: he took up mountain climbing Cause: he enjoyed challenging nature

* When answering these questions please list a number of examples from your novel to support your answer.

Point of View

This is the voice the author takes to tell the story. What voice does your author use?

• First Person - the author is a character in the story an tells it from his/her point of view.

(Example: I've never been as frightened as I was last Saturday night.)

• Third Person Objective - the author is not a character in the story an is able to report actions and describe events but is not able to tell what characters are thinking. This point of view is most used in newspaper stories.

(Example: On her first jump last Saturday, Mary's parachute did not open right away.)

• Third Person Omniscient - the author is not a character in the story but is able to look into the characters' minds and report what they are thinking.

(Example: Mary panicked when her parachute did not open immediately.)

• Decide which Point of View is used in your novel (There is only one in most novels.) List examples to support your answer.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The Protagonist is the leading character or hero in the story. The Antagonist is an opponent, the enemy of the protagonist.

List who you believe fills each role in your novel. Support your answer with examples.

Conflict

Every story includes at least one of the four main types of conflict:

a) Person vs. Person b) Person vs. Nature

c) Person vs. Society d) Person vs. Himself

Find examples of a number of different types of conflict from your novel. Explain each.

Figurative Language *

This is any language that is used creatively to evoke vivid images and fresh insights. The writer or speaker describes something through the use of unusual comparisons, for effect, interest, and to make things clearer. The result of using this technique is the creation of interesting images.

Foreshadowing *

Giving an indication or warning of what is to come so that the reader can anticipate the mood or action.

Flashback *

This is an interruption in a story to permit the author to relate an event from the past.

* It is best that you find a specific example from your novel to demonstrate the novel term, however, if you can not, you must create an example that shows that you understand the novel term. Create an example that ‘could’ have been a part of the story you are reading.

Inference

An Inference is an educated guess based on facts or premises. In the Inference process, reasoning is used to come up with a single judgement based on the available evidence.

• Please make an Inference about events that you have not yet read about, based on evidence you have read about.

Climax

The Climax of the story is the turning point, the moment at which the conflict is resolved.

• Find the climax of the novel, describe it, and support why you believe this is the climax. You will best be able to find the climax by determining what the main problem is that the protagonist seeks to solve.

Theme

The subject or topic of artistic representation. It is an idea about life expressed by an author or artist in a literary or artistic work.

(Examples: Courage, Betrayal, Determination, Loyalty)

• Choose a theme and describe how you believe it applies to your novel.

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Please note that quality of the work you submit is a large part of the marks you receive. Your work should be neat (either neatly hand written or typed) and organized.

Remember to put your name on your work!

Due Dates:

• Assignment #1 – Thursday, September 12th, 2019
• Assignment #2 – Thursday, September 19th, 2019
• Assignment #3 – Thursday, September 26th, 201
• Assignment #4 – Wednesday, October 3rd, 2019

Suggested Novels

Here are some suggested novels for teens. They are suggested by one of our parents who works at the London Public Library in this specific area.

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The Best Dance Moves in the World-- Ever! : 100 new and classic moves and how to bust them

Pagett, Matt

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/05/2008

ISBN-13: 9780811863032

ISBN-10: 0811863034

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780811863032

An illustrated, step-by-step guide to one hundred new and classic dance moves features detailed instructions for the Robot, Running Man, Hustle, Funky Chicken, Moonwalk, Cabbage Patch, Smurf, and many other dances, accompanied by tips on suitable music and special advice for each dance.

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Darkwood

M. E. Breen

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/12/2009

ISBN-13: 9781599902593

ISBN-10: 1599902591

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9781599902593

Thirteen-year-old Annie lives with her horrible aunt and uncle in Howland, a strange and foreboding place where no one has seen the moon for hundreds of years and where vicious, wolf-like kinderstalk prowl the forests in search of children to devour. Upon learning that her uncle plans to sell her as a slave, Annie runs away and embarks on a series of breathtaking adventures that ultimately lead her to the royal palace, where some long-held secrets are revealed. If you like slightly scary, action-packed fantasy novels with vividly imagined settings, you'll be entranced by Darkwood.

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Dull Boy

Sarah Cross

Publisher: Dutton Books

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/14/2009

ISBN-13: 9780525421337

ISBN-10: 0525421335

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780525421337

Too bad 15-year-old Avery Pirzwick's newly developed super-powers didn't come with an "off" button. Unable to control his extraordinary strength, he's suddenly become quite destructive...but he hasn't yet told anyone that he can fly or why he keeps breaking things, so his exasperated parents send him to an alternative school. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman named Cherchette Morozov has guessed his secret and says that she wants to help him. But Avery's new school friends (all of whom have their own secret powers) suspect that Cherchette is up to no good. Snarkily (and hilariously) narrated by Avery, Dull Boy is a fun, wild read.

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Faith, Hope, and Ivy June

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/09/2009

ISBN-13: 9780385905886

ISBN-10: 0385905882

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780385905886

Ivy June Mosley lives with her grandparents in a poverty-stricken Kentucky mining community; her family doesn't have a telephone or indoor plumbing. Catherine Combs lives in a fancy house in Lexington, Kentucky, attends a private school for girls, and has her own cell phone. As part of a new exchange program in the state, Ivy June and Catherine will each visit the other's home for two weeks and write about their experiences. Can two girls from such different worlds ever hope to understand each other? Readers who like realistic family stories with great characters will love Faith, Hope, and Ivy June.

First Chapter

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Theo Gray's Mad Science : Experiments you can do at home--but probably shouldn't

Gray, Theodore W.

Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/25/2009

ISBN-13: 9781579127916

ISBN-10: 1579127916

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9781579127916

Gray's writing is fresh, hip, and makes the science exciting and easy to understand. Not only are the experiments visually arresting, each one explains a fascinating principle of elemental science in a unique and irresistibly compelling way."Mad Science" is the perfect book for anyone--of any age, who is fascinated by all things electrical, chemical, or explosive, and who loves a vicarious thrill.

Table of Contents

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When You Reach Me

Rebecca Stead

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/14/2009

ISBN-13: 9780385737425

ISBN-10: 0385737424

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780385737425

Twelve-year-old Miranda and her best friend Sal are walking down the street when a random kid comes up and punches Sal in the gut. It isn't long after this incident that Sal suddenly stops speaking to Miranda, and Miranda receives a mysterious and very unsettling note from someone who seems to know what happens in her future. Meanwhile, Miranda's mom is practicing for her upcoming appearance on the game show The $20,000 Pyramid, and Miranda is determined to help her win. Set in late-1970s New York City, When You Reach Me is a memorable friendship story wrapped in an intriguing mystery that fans of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time (Miranda's favorite book) will especially enjoy.

First Chapter

Family Matters

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Al Capone Does My Shirts

Choldenko, Gennifer

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/01/2004

ISBN-13: 9780399238611

ISBN-10: 0399238611

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780399238611

A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister Natalie.

Table of Contents

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Marley : A Dog Like No Other

Grogan, John

Publisher: Collins

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/01/2007

ISBN-13: 9780061240331

ISBN-10: 0061240338

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780061240331

Marley, a lovable Labrador retriever, is always getting himself into trouble. Some may say he is the world's worst dog. But those who know and love Marley understand that nothing can stop his loyalty, exuberance, and passion-not even the Grogans' screen door! How this big, rambunctious dog becomes the heart of the Grogan family is the story of Marley.

First Chapter

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Maximum Ride : The Angel Experiment

Patterson, James

Publisher: Warner Vision Books

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/01/2006

ISBN-13: 9780446617796

ISBN-10: 0446617792

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780446617796

Maximum, the Gasman, Nudge, Iggy, and Fang--genetically-engineered children who are part human, part bird--must rescue their sister Angel when she is kidnapped by Erasers, brutal wolf-like creatures, leading them to New York City where their lives are forever changed.

First Chapter

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Milkweed : A Novel

Spinelli, Jerry

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/01/2003

ISBN-13: 9780375813740

ISBN-10: 0375813748

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780375813740

The hardship and cruelty of life in the ghettos of Warsaw during the Nazi occupation of World War II is captured through the eyes of a young Jewish orphan who must use all his wits and courage to survive unimaginable events and circumstances.

First Chapter

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The Road to Paris

Nikki Grimes

Publisher: G.P. Putnam

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/05/2006

ISBN-13: 9780399245374

ISBN-10: 0399245375

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780399245374

Eight-year-old Paris Richmond and her brother Malcolm have run away from a bad foster home and are headed to their grandmother's house (it's the only place they have left to go). Devastatingly, their grandmother hands them back over to Family Services, who find a new home for Paris but not for Malcolm. Life in her new neighborhood is scary for Paris, not only does she miss her brother, she's the only bi-racial kid around. But while her troubles are far from over, Paris relies on her faith in God and is on the road to being okay. If you liked the strong brother-and-sister relationship in Jacqueline Woodson's Locomotion, you'll enjoy this moving and memorable story.

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Second Fiddle: Or, How to Tell a Blackbird from a Sausage

Siobhán Parkinson

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/03/2007

ISBN-13: 9781596431225

ISBN-10: 1596431229

http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9781596431225

Twelve-year-old aspiring writer Mags Clarke has just moved to rural Ballybeg, Ireland, with her mother. While exploring the woods near her new home one day, Mags hears music, follows it, and finds a girl named Gillian playing the violin. Before long, Mags is obsessed with helping Gillian track down her missing father to ask for plane fare to London, where she wants to audition to attend a prestigious music school. Mags (who talks directly to readers) claims that this is not a story in which "an awful lot of dreadful things happen to the same one or two people," but the friends' quest isn't all smooth sailing. Quirky characters and humorous narration make this touching story a winner.

Contact your librarian for more great books!