Independent Reading Project FOUR

Parents -- this is the hand out I will be giving kids in class today. We'll be filling in the dates, and I'll come back and update the dates in a few days. Just wanted to get this out there or you, even though it isn't at 100 % complete....

Independent Reading Project for Marking Period 4 -- FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION

Characteristics of Fantasy:
• Imaginary, highly detailed societies that are mostly outside of the realm of possibility
• Visually descriptive writing
• May include a struggle of Good versus Evil
• Magical, mythological, unusual, or supernatural creatures and races of beings
• Hero (often an underdog) goes on a Quest to save someone, something, or entire world
• Magical, mythological, unusual, or supernatural objects / foods / transportation / tools / powers
• Talking animals or talking objects
Characteristics of Science Fiction:
• Futuristic society that is often idealistic (may comment on our current society’s ills)
• Involves detailed descriptions of technology and scientific advances (cool gadgets!)
• Daily tools of the society are above and beyond our current tools, but believable
• Often involves a “good versus evil” plot line
• Often involves people “playing God” or shows the results of “playing God”
• Time travel or travel to other worlds
• Themes may relate to manipulation, power, and control
• Hero may go on a quest, mission, voyage, or journey to “save the world”

Your Quest (what you need to do to get a good grade):1. Pick a fantasy or sci-fi novel of your choice, at your reading level and of at least 200 pages.

2. When half through, or by Feb 12 at the latest, write a letter to Mrs. Wald about your book. Your letter must be at least 350 words, and may be hand-written, typed, or emailed to awald@arsu.org. Be sure to include: SUMMARY (see class notes!) and EVALUATION of the novel. About half of the letter should be summary, and the other half should be evaluation – your thoughts, opinions, predictions, and specific examples of the characteristics of the genre.


3. When finished, or by March 3 at the latest, write another letter to Mrs. Wald about your book. Your letter must be at least 350 words, and may be hand-written, typed, or emailed to awald@arsu.org. Be sure to include: SUMMARY (see class notes!) and a FINAL EVALUATION of the novel. About half of the letter should be summary, and the other half should be evaluation – your thoughts, opinions, reactions, and specific examples of the characteristics of the genre.

4. When finished, or by March 10 at the latest, create a THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECT REPRESENTING THE BOOK. This is NOT a diorama of a scene from the book. It is a symbolic representation of the book as a whole. For example, you could make a cube and decorate all six sides. Criteria:
 It is 3-dimensional
 It is colorful or at least done in ink – not pencil
 It is neatly put together (words, illustrations, cutting, gluing)
 It includes an original, written summary of the novel (see notes!)
 It shows and describes main character(s)
 It shows and describes the “world” of the book
 It names the genre and gives at least three specific examples of the characteristics of the genre as found in the book (quotes and page numbers)
 It makes sense on its own (ie: people should “get it” if you aren’t there to explain it to them)