Signpost+Assignments

Your task is to create a business card for a character in a short story of novel. Pick a profession that you feel would suit the character you chose based on his or her personality and actions. __ Directions: __ 1.   Select a character to create a business card for. Pick one that you feel exhibits the characteristics needed for a certain job or service. 2.  After learning about business card formats, create a business card for your character that includes a company name, a slogan, the character’s name and job title, address, phone number, and email. Include a small illustration as a logo. 3.  On the back side of the business card, explain why you selected this particular job or service for this character using facts and information about the character that you learned from the story. 4.  Write your name on the back of the business card. __ What to turn in: __ Business card with paragraph on the back.
 * Business Card **

Your task is to perform an award ceremony for an important figure. You’ll write a short speech and create an award to present in class. __Directions:__ 1.   Pick an important person from your novel, consider his other accomplishments, and determine an appropriate award for those accomplishments. 2.  Prepare a speech (maximum 1 minute) about the person. Tell why you chose this person and describe his or her accomplishments. Explain the reasons you chose to present this particular award to this person. 3.  Design an award for this person. For example, you could present Alexander Graham Bell a replica of a telephone. Awards can be as simple as a certificate. You may choose to actually create the award or just draw it. Either way, be creative! 4.  The award must include (in writing) the person’s name and accomplishment(s). Write your name on the back of the award. __What to turn in:__ One document that includes the award (or a picture of it) and your written speech.
 * Character Award **

** Character Chart ** Your task is to list and describe the characters in you novel in chart form. The goal is to let even someone who hadn’t read the book get to know your characters. __Directions:__ __What to turn in:__ One character chart.
 * 1) List the characters in your book.
 * 2) Create categories for the chart. Commonly used categories might include physical description, personality traits, motives, and goals.
 * 3) Feel free to include categories specific to your novel. (See examples in class).
 * 4) Your character chart may be typed or handwritten, but NEATNESS COUNTS!

** Conflict/Resolution Bifold ** Your task is to construct a bifold out of a piece of paper in order to illustrate and explain conflict and resolution in a story. Directions: 1.   Fold a sheet of computer paper in half hamburger way. 2.  Fold it in half again, hamburger way. Crease. 3.  Unfold and lay flat. 4.  Cut the paper on the vertical crease from the bottom ot the center fold. 5.  Fold in half, and position the paper so that the cut side is at the top. This creates the bifold. 6.  Write the title and author of the novel on the “outside” of the bifold. 7.  Open the bifold. On the left flap, describe one conflict from the story. 8.  Open the left flap. On the inside, write the resolution from the story. 9.  On the right flap, describe another conflict from the story. 10.  Open the right flap. On the inside, write the resolution of this conflict. What to turn in: Completed bifold.

**Letter of Introduction** You will write a letter to a friend describing and introducing a character from your book. Directions:
 * 1) Pick someone in class to whom you would like to write a letter.
 * 2) From your chosen book, pick a character that you will write a letter about. Imagine this character is a new friend.
 * 3) Begin the letter by telling your classmate that you have a new friend. You will give the character’s name and the title and author of the book where you met this character.
 * 4) Then describe the character to the person to whom you are writing. You will describe the character’s physical attributes, personality (how he or she thinks and feels), how the character behaves, and what others think of the character.
 * 5) You will want to cite specific incidents from the book to describe the character’s personality, behavior, thoughts, and feelings.
 * 6) Your letter must the correct format for a friendly letter. It may be typed or handwritten, but either way, NEATNESS COUNTS!

What to turn in: One friendly letter of introduction.

** Plot ** ** Mountain ** Your task is to use a graph to represent the plot of your novel. Directions: What to turn in: One plot mountain.
 * 1) Make a list of the important plot events in your novel.
 * 2) Decide where they should go in a graphic representation of the novel. (See below for a review of plot terms)
 * 3) Draw a plot mountain (electronically or by hand) and label the parts using events from the story.
 * 4) Remember – different stories are set up in different ways. For example, some stories have very little exposition. Some have very little falling action, since the climax occurs right near the end of the story.
 * 5) Resolutions DO NOT have to be happy.
 * 6) NEATNESS COUNTS!

Plot terms: 1. Exposition – getting to know the characters and setting 2. Conflict/problem/narrative hook – What problem do the characters have? 3. Rising action – several events leading to the climax 4. Climax/turning point – the most exciting or important part of the story 5. Falling action – events after the turning point 6. Resolution - how is the problem resolved?

Your task is to shrink the plot of your novel into a rhyming, 10-14 line poem. Directions: What to turn in: One narrative poem that tells the story of your novel.
 * Shrinklet**
 * 1) Make a list of the most important events in your novel.
 * 2) Decide on a rhyme scheme for your poem. You can write in couplets, quatrains, or any other scheme that you choose.
 * 3) Be sure that the rhyme always occurs at the end of the line.
 * 4) Be sure that anyone who reads your poem will understand the plot of your story.
 * 5) Your poem should be legible, whether it is typed or handwritten.

** Theme Envelope ** Your task is to pick one theme from a short story or novel and show how that theme is exemplified by the author. __Directions:__ 1.   Select a theme and cite specific examples of events in the story that illustrate this theme. 2.  On the outside flap of a large, letter-sized envelope, write the title and author of the novel or story. 3.  On the address side of the envelope, write the theme from the story and provide an illustration of this theme that relates to the story. 4.  Prepare two cards to place inside the envelope. On each card, describe an event that relates to the theme. These events can be personal experiences or examples that relate to the theme. 5.  On the reverse side of the card, illustrate this theme based on the written description. Place the cards in the envelope. 6.  Write your name on the blank side of the envelope. __What to turn in:__ Envelope with cards.

** Blog Post  ** Your task is to discuss your book online. ATTENTION: To be able to post to the wiki, you must be invited. In order to be invited, your teacher needs an e-mail address for you. E-mail your teacher and ask to be invited. smoore@tmisd.esc2.net gaburnett@tmisd.esc2.net Directions: Example: Sarah Moore – Enter Three Witches
 * 1) Log on to the Warriors Read wiki:  [|www.warriorsread.wikispaces.com]
 * 2) On the left navigation bar, click on the page for the current grading period.
 * 3) Click on the Discussion tab at the top of the page.
 * 4) To get credit for this assignment, you need to
 * 5) Begin a thread with your name and the title of the book.
 * 1) Respond to someone else’s post.
 * 2) Follow the Acceptable Use Policy at all times. Rudeness, profanity, or any other inappropriate post will result in disciplinary action.
 * 3) While this is an informal discussion, realize that your English teachers WILL be reading this. Consider grammar, usage, and mechanics accordingly.