Honors English students will be required to select one novel from 1835-1910 considered to be realism, regionalism, or naturalism. While no two students may select the same novels, novel discussions will take place through group activities.
These projects will span roughly four weeks. Consider each week’s task to be reading one third of your novel and writing a reflective journal entry. Fridays will be “Fiction Fridays” where students are grouped and tasked with specific discussion topics. More often than not, the object of these discussions will center on themes. Even though no two novels will be the same, themes- or underlying truths/commentary- will be similar, or at least explored in the similar ways. Each student will be responsible for keeping a record of discussions- who said what and how this broadened your understanding of themes in general and in your own novel. The fourth week of this project will consist of project development. Below are five pre-approved project options with a sixth option where you may submit your own project proposal.
Process 1.) Do some research on the novels from the list provided and rank your choices. You should have five preferred choices selected. 2.) Sign-up day! A novel sign-up sheet will be distributed. 3.) Procure your novel- we will have a brief library check-out session at the school and nearly all of these novels are available at Gutenberg.org. (It is highly recommended you print or download a PDF, for page numbers) 4.) Get to reading!
Final Project Options
The summative assessment (or the 80 from the 80/20 grading system)portion of these novel projects will be your Final Project. Below are five project options briefly described. You should look at each of these options before reading so that you may develop ideas and brainstorm as you go. If you have a really great idea that you would like to do which is not on the list, use the "Submit a Proposal" form below to do so. Proposals cannot be submitted after the end of the second week in the Novel Project. I will need time to review your proposals and, if accepted, create an analytic rubric for your work. Another option for submitting a proposal would be e-mailing it to me. Proposals must include:
Comic Book Students will create a 10-15 page comic book which retells the story using dialogue and images. Comic book must summarize all main points of the novel.
Board Game Create a board game based on the novel. Design the board game and accompanying pieces around the theme of the novel. Students will create 30 questions for the game.
Newspaper Students will research the historical events surrounding their novel and create a newspaper with articles which synthesize stories from the novel with historical events.
Rewrite the Ending Students will rewrite the ending to the novel and write an accompanying summary explaining why they made changes to the ending.
Create Your Own Scene Students will create a scene for the novel which could be easily integrated into the text and write an accompanying summary explaining why they thought this scene was necessary.
Submit a Proposal Some good ideas for other project options might include creating an art exhibit, converting a scene from prose to drama, or generating a creative presentation about your novel.