Unit 6: student-led book clubs

Please read the article on ‘senioritis’ & college acceptance. FIll out the Check-in Sheet & turn it in.

Identity free write: Novel-related thematic q’s: Does your environment define who you are? By changing your environment can you change your identity? Do you have to leave home to find yourself? How does reading literature and writing help you define yourself and inform your identity? How does race inform the identities you perform in your culture? How important are family, community, and a place to belong in forming your identity? How does experiencing tragedy change your identity? How important is it that the stories you tell about yourself and your identity are true? How do your memories inform your identity? How does society define or confine your identity? When does defying the expectations of society go too far? Overarching essential questions: Who am I in society? What is my identity? How does society influence the individual? How can I use my voice/identity to influence society?

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” or speed dating, novel style You will spend about 5 minutes at each table to familiarize yourself with each novel. Read through the Novel at a Glance handout, look through the book, skim a few passages, and then make notes on the following: What caught your eye immediately (first impressions), What you liked about the novel (swipe right), What you didn’t like (red flags), Initial ranking - 1, being “I’m totally ghosting you” to 5, being “I’m ready to make this exclusive”

BRING STUDENT ID TO CHECK OUT BOOK CLUB NOVELS

Establishing norms & setting a schedule Step One: write about the best group you’ve ever worked with. -Why did this group work so well? Think about the characteristics of this group. -How did the group members treat each other? -What expectations did you have for each other? Step Two: Share your reflections with your group. Discuss. -Any commonalities? - Any differences? Step Three: Establish norms. -Set 3-5 expectations that each group member must follow. -Establish how you will keep each other accountable. Step Four: Set a REASONABLE reading schedule to follow. Novels must be finished by February 14th. NORMS & SCHEDULE DUE BY END OF CLASS

Next week’s schedule for book clubs: Monday, 2/4: Reading Day Tuesday, 2/5: 1st book club meeting -prepare 3 discussion questions Focus: writing style and authorial choices Wednesday, 2/6: Writing Day -complete one of the choice journal responses (see assessment handout for prompts and specifics) Thursday, 2/7: 2nd book club meeting -prepare 3 discussion questions Focus: symbolism & motifs Friday, 2/8: Writing Day -required analytical writing piece to be assigned in-class today

Focus: Writing Style & Authorial Choices Book Club Meeting Focus: Writing Style & Authorial Choices

Questions to guide your meeting Take out your prepared questions for discussion. Here are some other questions for you to think about: How would you describe the author’s writing style? Tone? What is the impact of this on the reader? What is the narrative like? How does this impact understanding for the reader? What can you say about the author’s language and/or word choice? Does it enhance or detract from the novel?

Choice Prompt Due at the end of class Writing Day Choice Prompt Due at the end of class

Choice Prompts How and why does ___________ (an event) significantly change the course of the story? Who are the ‘good’ people in this novel? What makes them ‘good’? Who are the ‘bad’ and why? What is one conflict in the story? Which character does this conflict revolve around and how is s/he going to solve it? Would you approach this conflict in the same way? How did the author get you interested in the story? Consider the writing techniques involved as well as content. Put yourself in the setting of the story. Write me a letter telling me what this place is like and your reactions (Remember to show as well as tell). Comment on the author’s technique such as word choice or the way he tells the story. Do you like the way the author writes? Why or why not? Who else should read this book? Why? Who shouldn’t read it? Why? How is _________ (choice character) like and unlike you? Write a thoughtful review of at least three paragraphs for the book intended for readers your own age.

Focus: Symbolism and Motif Book Club Meeting Focus: Symbolism and Motif

Questions to guide your meeting Take out your prepared questions for discussion. Here are some other questions for you to think about: What are some recurring motifs that you are noticing in your novel? How does this impact your understanding as a reader? What are some symbols that you are noticing? Analyze these symbols as a team: Choose 2-3 scenes where this symbol occurs How is this symbol developed in the story? How does it contribute to a potential theme?

Focus: Literary Lenses Book Club Meeting Focus: Literary Lenses

Questions to Guide your Meeting Take out your prepared questions for discussion. Here are some other questions for you to think about: What do you notice with a Gender Studies lens? What about a Marxist lens? What can you do with a Critical Race lens? What other lenses can you apply to this text? Come up with a message using a new lens.

Choice Prompt Due at the end of class Writing Day Choice Prompt Due at the end of class

Choice Prompts How and why does ___________ (an event) significantly change the course of the story? Who are the ‘good’ people in this novel? What makes them ‘good’? Who are the ‘bad’ and why? What is one conflict in the story? Which character does this conflict revolve around and how is s/he going to solve it? Would you approach this conflict in the same way? How did the author get you interested in the story? Consider the writing techniques involved as well as content. Put yourself in the setting of the story. Write me a letter telling me what this place is like and your reactions (Remember to show as well as tell). Comment on the author’s technique such as word choice or the way he tells the story. Do you like the way the author writes? Why or why not? Who else should read this book? Why? Who shouldn’t read it? Why? How is _________ (choice character) like and unlike you? Write a thoughtful review of at least three paragraphs for the book intended for readers your own age.

Final Book Club Meeting Focus: Theme and Final Takeaways

Questions to Guide your Meeting Take out your prepared questions for discussion. Here are some other questions for you to think about: What are your final thoughts/reactions to this text? THINK: Reader’s Response→ How did you interact with this text as a reader? What thematic topics relate to this novel? Make a list with your group (>3) Choose 1 or 2 thematic topics and write a theme statement that you think characterizes this novel