English Language Arts 20-1 Literature Circles

Why Read Novels? We have magazines. We have magazines. We have comics. We have comics. We have television. We have television. We have Coles Notes. We have Coles Notes. We have audio. We have audio. We have film. We have film. WE ARE BUSY!!!! WE ARE BUSY!!!!

Timeline The Literature Circles Unit will take 15 classes (approximately). The Literature Circles Unit will take 15 classes (approximately). In a Lit Circle class, you will either be in a discussion group, or working on your personal responses or literary exploration activities. In a Lit Circle class, you will either be in a discussion group, or working on your personal responses or literary exploration activities. The responsibility will be yours to use your time in class wisely and to be an independent learner. The responsibility will be yours to use your time in class wisely and to be an independent learner.

Nuts and Bolts Discussion Groups (with me) Discussion Groups (with me) Personal Response Journals Personal Response Journals Comprehension Activities Comprehension Activities Celebration (suggestions….?) Celebration (suggestions….?)

Response Journals Use a variety of prose forms in your responses (minimum of five): Use a variety of prose forms in your responses (minimum of five): Diary entry Diary entry Newspaper article Newspaper article Speech Speech Letter Letter Interior Monologue Interior Monologue Mini-essay Mini-essay Short Story Short Story Script Script Completion marks (5 required responses) Completion marks (5 required responses) Choose 1 to hand in for marks Choose 1 to hand in for marks

Discussion Groups Groups will be no larger than six members. Groups will be no larger than six members. Students will be prepared with a passage from the novel to discuss with the group. Students will be prepared with a passage from the novel to discuss with the group. Teacher anecdotal records as well as student self-evaluation. Teacher anecdotal records as well as student self-evaluation.

Literary Analysis Activities Students must complete the following: Students must complete the following: Reader’s Guide (Theme) Students must also complete 1 of the following 3: Travel Brochure (Setting) Character Monologue/Psych Report (Character) Venn Diagram (Style)

Plagiarism Plagiarism is taking the work or ideas of others and passing them off as your own. Plagiarism is taking the work or ideas of others and passing them off as your own. It is a form a theft and does not improve your learning. It is a form a theft and does not improve your learning. Consequences will be parental meeting and a zero on the assignment. Consequences will be parental meeting and a zero on the assignment.

Novels Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Lord of the Flies William Golding Lord of the Flies William Golding Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café Fannie Flagg Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café Fannie Flagg The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg Mrs. Threadgoode tells the story of her life and two women- An irrepressibly daredevlish tomboy Idgie and her friend Ruth- who ran a little place in Whistle Stop Alabama. A tale that will involve all kinds of love, laughter, and even an occasional murder that weaves together races, generations, and classes.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding After a plane crashes on a deserted island, a group of young boys struggle to create a social order. It quickly disintegrates into chaos and an intense battle over dominance which results in murder. Loss of innocence is a major theme. Of course “The Simpsons” did an episode.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Each story in the novel is a fascinating vignette, and together they weave the reader through a world where the Moon Lady can grant any wish, where a child, promised in marriage at two and delivered at 12, can, with cunning, free herself; where a rich man’s concubine secures her daughter’s future by killing herself and where a woman can live on, knowing she has lost her entire life.

Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom Eddie, a grizzled war veteran, dies in a tragic accident on his 83 rd birthday. He awakens in the afterlife where he learns that heaven is a place where his earthly life is explained to him by 5 people who were in it. Each one a person who changed his path forever. Eddie, a grizzled war veteran, dies in a tragic accident on his 83 rd birthday. He awakens in the afterlife where he learns that heaven is a place where his earthly life is explained to him by 5 people who were in it. Each one a person who changed his path forever.

Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck An unlikely pair of men form a bond and as they travel and work together to survive. Their plan is to own their own land and a shack they can call their own. As they hustle work where they can, the fulfillment of a dream seems within their grasp. Until disaster strikes.

To Do: Choose the novel you would like to read Choose the novel you would like to read Write 5 personal responses to it/ hand one in Write 5 personal responses to it/ hand one in Write a reader’s guide for it Write a reader’s guide for it Write 1 of the 3 other culminating activities Write 1 of the 3 other culminating activities Join the literature circle discussion groups and receive marks for the intelligent conversations we will be having about your books Join the literature circle discussion groups and receive marks for the intelligent conversations we will be having about your books