Literary Genre Introduction Unit Mrs. Kercher 7 th Gifted

Genre Science FictionMystery FantasyHistorical Fiction Realistic FictionDrama NonfictionBiography AutobiographyAdventure HumorFableHorror Fairy TalesTall Tales What kind of story or book is it?

Fiction Fiction – Fake stories I just want you to know that these stories/books are not true or real. They are made up for your entertainment!

Science Fiction Science Fiction – A made up story that blends facts & fiction with futuristic technology.

Adventure Adventure – An action-packed plot which the hero or heroine takes on a quest and faces a series of physical and sometimes dangerous challenges.

Mystery Mystery – These piece together information to solve a crime using clues, witnesses, etc. Who done it?

Fantasy Fantasy – A writing that has story elements that are not realistic (dreamlike). EX: talking animals and characters with magical powers

Realistic Fiction Realistic – Stories made up that could really happen now.

Historical Fiction Historical – Stories made up that take place in a particular time period in the past.

Mythology Mythology – Stories from Ancient Times that entertained and explained natural phenomena.

Tall Tales Tall Tales - Early American writing that uses bigness and boldness. This genre uses humor and imagination to tell outlandish and exaggerated tales.

Horror Horror – Stories that frighten the reader using blood and guts, suspense, and fear.

Fable Fable – A short story usually with nameless animals as the characters that teaches a lesson.

Fairy Tales Fairy Tales - A story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins).

Humor Humor – A writing which makes the reader laugh using jokes, oxymorons, etc.

Poetry Poetry – Verse written to inspire thoughts and feelings, often using rhyme and rhythm.

Nonfiction Nonfiction – A writing that tell facts about a topic (true information).

Autobiography Autobiography – A factual story written about one’s own life.

Biography Biography – A factual story about a person’s life written by someone else. 50 Cent Johnny Carson Rosa Parks Martin Luther King

Quarterly Book Reports You will be required to complete eight book reports, two each quarter. One will be a written summarization and the other will be a presentation of a novel with project requirements. Due dates: Will be discussed in class and are subject to change based on weather.

Written Summary Book Reports Requirements: – Cover Page – name, date, class period (2 pts.) – Completed story map (20 pts.) – Typed Summary (68 pts.) 12 Times Roman Numeral font double spaced one / two pages follows the BHMS writing rubric requirements (focus, content, organization, style, and conventions) – 90 points each

Novel Projects You may select one of the following novels for each quarter: MP 1 – – Gilgamesh A Man’s First Story by Bryson – Nation by Pratchet – Maroo of the Winter Caves by Turnbull – The Boy of the Painted Cave by Denzel – The Kin by Dickinson MP 2 – The Young Inferno by Agard – The Thieves of Ostia by Lawrence – The Pirates of Pompeii by Lawrence – The Assassins of Rome by Lawrence – The Gladiators of Capua by Lawrence MP 3 – The Edge of the Sword by Tingle – Catherine, Called Birdy by Cushman – The Midwife’s Apprentice by Cushman – There Will Be Wolves by Bradford MP 4 – Shakespeare’s Scribe by Blackwood – Shakespeare’s Daughter by Hassinger – Ophelia by Klein – Leonardo’s Shadow by Grey – The Medici Seal by Breslin

Novel Project Requirements You are required to design a project around the novel and story elements used by the author. You will be graded on the following areas: visual, oral presentation, and novel understanding. Projects must be approved by the teacher. You may select: power points, videos, posters, timelines, collage, mobile, ad campaign, etc. I will provide you with a list of ideas you can select from if needed.

Visual Ask yourself the following questions while planning and creating your visual: – Can the audience clearly see it? – Is it organized and neatly displayed? – Did I use correct language conventions? – Does it relate to the novel I read?

Oral Presentation Ask yourself the following questions while planning and creating your presentation: – Do I know how I will begin and end the presentation? – Am I using aspects that will involve the audience and keep their attention? – Do I need to use note cards? – What supplies do I need to take to class? – Is my presentation within the timeframe of 5 -7 minutes?

Novel Understanding Ask yourself the following questions while planning and creating your presentation: – Did I incorporate key literary elements about the novel? – What did I like? Why? – What didn’t I like? Why? – Are there connections to previous information learned in class or outside of class that the novel relates to?

Novel Presentation Rubric – 90 points Areas Assessed6 pts.4 pts.2 pts.0 pts. Visual (4 pts.) Excellent visual; easy for audience to see; neatly organized; attention to layout and design; no errors with language conventions; related directly to novel; no areas need improvement Good visual; the audience could see most areas; organization is good; layout and design is good; some errors with language conventions is apparent; connection to novel is good; some areas need improvement Visual is okay; the audience has difficulty seeing it; the organization, detail and layout is cluttered making it hard to understand; many errors with language conventions apparent, a minimal connection to the novel; many areas need improvement No visual used Oral Presentation -planning / practice (1 pts.) -timeframe (2 pts.) -public speaking skills (2pts.) -audience involvement (1pts.) - well planned and practiced - met timeframe (5-7) - used appropriate public speaking skills (voice, body language, eye contact) - involved the audience and check for their understanding - some things were planned and practiced - timeframe fell within five minutes - used good public speaking skills (voice, body language, eye contact); some need improvement - tried to involve the audience - many areas need more planning and practice - timeframe fell within three minutes - used public speaking skills (voice, body language, eye contact); need a lot of improvement and practice - did not even attempt to involve the audience Did not present Novel Understanding (5 pts.) Very thorough understanding of the novel presented to the class with insight to key literary elements and connections to outside learning Good understanding of the novel presented to the class; key literary elements were explained but not connected to learning beyond novel Minimal understanding of the novel presented to the class; very few literary elements were referred to; connections to outside learning was not apparent No understanding of novel

Bibliography Children’s Literature Genres, essons_rev/m4-collections/lesson2cl_genre.html essons_rev/m4-collections/lesson2cl_genre.html Genre Study: A Collaborative Approach, view.asp?id=270 view.asp?id=270 Dictionary.com, Wordsmyth,