Writing+Activites

= Writing- Choose 1 (50 points) =

** 1. Interactive Journal- **
Graded on all 6 Traits. Create an interactive journal while reading (from your point of view). There will be 7 journal entries written in complete sentences. Below are the specific questions to focus your entries:

__Journal Entry__: After Chapters 1 and 2 How does Tim feel towards his father? How does Tim feel about the war? Is he confused about his own loyalty?

__Journal Entry__: After Chapters 3 and 4 What methods does the author use to embed historical events in the story? Why do you think Tim is so confused about the tension between his brother and his father?

__Journal Entry__: After Chapters 5 and 6 Even though Mr. Heron is a Tory, what reasons does Mr. Meeker give him for not wanting Tim to carry mail for him? Do you find anything suspicious about Mr. Heron’s behavior with the Meekers? If so, what?

Betsy is suspicious of Tim’s journey. She later revealed she saw Tim get the letter from Mr. Heron. What does she think is going on? Do you think she is right?

__Journal Entry__: After Chapters 7 through 9 On page 64, in the second paragraph, Tim examines his feeling about his brother Sam. He compares himself to Sam and makes discoveries about “younger brother/older brother” relationships. What do you think the authors wanted to accomplish with this passage?

__Journal Entry__: After Chapters 10 and 11 What would have been the result had all those involved in the fight for freedom given up when the going got tough?

__Journal Entry__: After Chapters 12 through 14 Why do you think General Putnam refused Sam’s plea for clemency? Do you agree or disagree with his reasoning? Explain

__Journal Entry__: After the Epilogue What is the purpose of the epilogue?

** 2. Narrative Writing- **
Graded on all 6 Traits. Some people take one side or another in war or other conflicts; some people find themselves caught in the middle of the conflict. Write about a time where you found yourself to be caught in the middle of a situation (conflict). Be descriptive!!! Use dialogue, vivid details, and think about how you will transition from one idea to the next. This essay must be at least 5 paragraphs. You must include an attention grabbing introduction, topic sentences for each of your paragraphs, and a satisfying conclusion. This essay will be graded on the 6 Traits of Writing.

** 3. Friendly Letter- **
Graded on all 6 Traits. Write a friendly letter to James and Christopher Collier. In it, introduce yourself, give your opinion of the story (citing specific examples), and ask any questions you may have about the novel. You must use correct Personal Letter Format. Use the following link for guidelines: http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000143.htm. This literature response should be 3 paragraphs (introduction, body, conclusion).

** 4. Book Jacket Project- (rubric) **
Design a book jacket (dust cover) with two (2) drawings (one on the front and back) as well as text on the end flaps. The text for the end flaps will contain a summary and review of the book. Your final text will need to be typed; it will also have to be formatted in a narrow column so that it fits the flaps.


 * Detailed directions are as follows: **

DRAWINGS (front and back): Your book jacket will need two (2) original drawings that relate to the book. One should be for the front and one for the back. They should not look exactly like the book’s real cover or any illustrations in the book itself, but you may use things like that for ideas.

Leave room on the back for a short “teaser” paragraph.

SUMMARY (flap): The summary of the story has three (3) parts:

Setting / Plot: The plot usually revolves around some kind of problem or challenge or goal. What were the main characters trying to do? What were some important events that happened because of that effort? How did it turn out in the end? Why did it turn out that way?
 * One paragraph for the setting (time and place) and in which you describe the plot

Main Characters: They - almost always – change in the course of the story. The events of the plot have an effect on them. If you are writing about one or more main characters, try to write about them in terms of this change. -Think about them at the start of the story and at the end -How did that character respond to the events? What was it about that character that made him or her respond that way? -How did the events change the character?
 * One paragraph in which you describe the main characters

Theme: The theme of the book is the Big Idea that the author is trying to get across. When you talk about theme, you talk about it in terms of general things. For example, a major theme in “Flowers for Algernon” was that it does not take intelligence to make a person good. The theme of a story is the idea or lesson. The plot of the story is the way that the author gets us to think about that idea. Many different stories could be written about the same theme.
 * One paragraph which talks about the theme (the general idea or message of the book).

REVIEW (flap): The review section is where you give your opinions about the book and back them up with references to the text. Usually, we respond to the story itself and to the author’s way of telling it. For example, you might want to talk about the author's style of writing. Look for strengths and weaknesses. Refer to specific parts of the story, perhaps finding a quote or two from the text, to illustrate your points. Please don't use numbers or stars or some other made-up rating system. Just give us your thoughts and show us some evidence.

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