Directions: The portfolio in Unit 13, Lesson 1, asks you to write a literary analysis essay about the book you read for Novel study. The assignment and an essay outline are in the left-hand column below. You may choose to complete the essay, or you may do an alternative assignment. You only need to select ONE. All of the alternative assignments are listed in the right-hand column below. All assignments will be graded on the same scale, so choose the one that you like best. No matter which project you choose, submit it in the Unit 13, Lesson 1 Dropbox.
Assignment
Alternative Assignments
Essay
Write your own literary analysis essay about the novel you read. Using the questions in this lesson as prompts, draft a thesis statement. Use the outline below to help you craft your essay on a separate sheet of paper. Your essay should have an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Click the “Answer Tips” button on page 12 to view a sample essay.
Essay question: Discuss how the characters, plot, or setting affect the development of the novel’s theme (Choose 2).
Outline
1. A Catchy Title
2. Introduction: the opening paragraph. The introduction should include the following:
a. Hook, Author, Title, Main Characters, A Short Summary, Thesis
b. Hook: The beginning sentences of the introduction that catch the reader’s interest.
Ways of beginning creatively include the following:
∙ A startling fact or bit of information
∙ A meaningful quotation (from the work or another source)
∙ A rich, vivid description
∙ An analogy or metaphor
c. Introductions should identify the work of literature being discussed, name the author, and briefly present the issue that the body of your essay will more fully develop (your thesis).
Basically, introductions suggest that something interesting is occurring in a particular work of literature.
3. Body: The body of your paper should logically and fully develop and support your thesis.
a. Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea that supports your thesis statement.
b. These paragraphs include:
i. A topic sentence – a topic sentence states the main point of a paragraph: it serves as a mini-thesis for the paragraph. You might think of it as a signpost for your readers—or a headline—something that alerts them to the most important, interpretive points in your essay. It might be helpful to think of a topic sentence as working in two directions simultaneously. It relates the paragraph to the essay's thesis, and thereby acts as a
signpost for the argument of the paper as a whole, but it also defines the scope of the
paragraph itself.
ii. Context for the quote
1. Who says it? What is happening in the text when they say it?
2. This prepares the reader for the quote by introducing the speaker, setting, and/or
situation.
iii. Quote/Concrete details - a specific example from the work used to provide evidence for your topic sentence/support thesis.
iv. Commentary - your explanation and interpretation of the concrete detail. Commentary
explains how the concrete detail proves the thesis.
v. Clincher/Concluding Sentence - last sentence of the body paragraph. It concludes
the paragraph by tying the concrete details and commentary back to the major thesis.
4. Conclusion: the last paragraph where you are given one last chance to convince the reader of your argument and provide a sense of closure.
a. Summarize your argument AND extend your argument.
b. A sophisticated conclusion does not simply restate the thesis of the introduction or summarize the logic presented in the body of the essay. Your conclusion, most often, will try to suggest the broader significance of your discussion – why is it important?
In other words, suggest in your introduction that some literary phenomenon is occurring. In the body of your essay, use examples and fully developed logic to prove that the literary phenomenon takes place. Finally, in your conclusion suggest why such a phenomenon is significant.
Source: amundsenhs.org/
1)Rewrite the Novel
Do you ever wish you could change something about a novel? Maybe you didn’t like the ending or wondered what would happen if it was set in outer space. Select one of the three options below and rewrite part of your novel based on the instructions provided.
Your rewrite should be at least one page typed in a readable font like Garamond or Times New Roman, double spaced, and 12pt font.
New View
You will rewrite an important scene from your book but tell the story from the point of view of a different character than the one originally in the book. For example, if the scene is told by a narrator, you will tell it through one of the characters' eyes. The events and dialogue will remain the same, but the inner thoughts and motivations of characters will change.
Swapped Settings
You will choose a scene from your book and rewrite it with a different setting (both when and where). For example, you could put Pride and Prejudice in modern California, or Huck Finn in future space. Your newly written scene must incorporate the original characters and writing style of the book, though plot events may be altered to reflect the altered environment.
Alternate Ending
Rewrite the ending of the story. Maybe a character lives instead of dies or dies instead of lives. Maybe a character chooses the other person to love, or maybe the villain wins. Remember, you are only changing plot; the style and setting of the piece may remain the same.
2) Design the Novel’s Cover
Use Canva to design a new cover for your novel. You must create both a front and back cover.
On the front:
The title
The author
A visual representation of the main character/s
A visual representation of the plot
A visual representation of the setting
On the back:
A 3 to 5 sentence engaging plot summary that would make someone want to pick up the book and read it.
A 1 to 2 sentence discussion of the theme and how it applies to the readers own life
A 1 to 3 sentence review stating what you liked/disliked about the book and why you would/would not recommend it.
Example covers can be found on the Canva page.
Note: You may need to create an account. Many of the templates are free. I would select one of those instead Pro templates you have to pay for. Pro templates have a crown in the corner.
3) Turn a scene from the novel into a One-Act Play or Short Movie
Select an important scene from your novel and turn it into a play or movie script by converting all of the text to dialogue. This can be when the conflict is introduced, at the climax, or when the main character learns or experiences something valuable. It should be an engaging scene filled with action!
Your scene should include:
A full Plot Arc: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
A brief description of the scene.
A list and brief description of all the characters in the scene. At least one should be the main character of the novel.
A description of the setting before the play/movie begins. If someone were going to put on your play, what would they need to know to set up the stage correctly.
An identifiable theme. If you use an important scene, a theme should naturally be embedded in the scene
Use this template to help you write your scene and before you begin, check out these examples.
You may turn in your completed script or act out and record the scene with your friends or family members and turn in the movie version instead.
4) Create an Online Comic Strip
Use SmileBox, Lywi, or Pixton to create
a comic strip that:
Develops a six (or more) panel plot arc that outlines what happens in the novel.
Plot Arc: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
Visit Storyboard That! to look at a sample comic strip
Hints at the theme of the text through visual representation. For example, a heart in the corner of one of the panels could symbolize the theme of love.
Includes all the major characters.
Contains visual representation of the setting.
Visit Comic School to learn more about how to design your comic strip.
5) Novel Theme Park Project
For this project, design a theme park based upon the literary elements of a selected novel. The various aspects of the park from the layout to the rides to the characters should be inspired by the novel.
For the Theme Park Novel Project, you should create a theme park map that highlights the theme of your novel, the characters, the setting and the plot.
The map can be completed digitally or by hand, but should be well-organized, thoughtfully drawn, and colored.
Students should consider the following questions:
What are the major themes of the novel? How can these themes be represented in a theme park?
What are the major plot points of the novel? How can these be represented by the “lands” in the theme park?
Who are the major characters of the novel? How can these characters inspire theme park characters and rides?
What is the setting of the novel? How can this setting inspire the architecture of the park?
6) Write the epilogue of the story-
1 year, 10 years, or 20 years after the end.
Describe what the main character is doing, what he or she has done since the end of the novel, what he or she is like, and what his or her interests. Use the setting, plot, and themes of the novel to inform your epilogue.
Your epilogue should be at least one page typed in a readable font like Garamond or Times New Roman, double spaced, and 12pt font.
7) As a reporter, write an interview of the protagonist and another prominent character.
Ask at least 10 thought provoking questions that either one of both of the characters will answer. Thought provoking questions should be open-ended, not right-there. Then, pretend to be the characters and answer the questions. Take what happens in the novel, where it happens, and the themes of the novel into account. Answers to the questions should be at least three sentences long.
I choose to do the Alternative Assignment #2 - Design the Novel's Cover.
Front Cover:
- Title: The Great Gatsby
- Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Visual representation of main character: A mysterious silhouette of a man in a suit, looking out at a green light across the water
- Visual representation of the plot: A lavish party scene with people dancing and drinking
- Visual representation of the setting: A luxurious mansion with twinkling lights and fancy cars parked outside
Back Cover:
- Plot summary: In the glitzy world of the Roaring Twenties, Jay Gatsby, a wealthy and enigmatic man, tries to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. Through parties, wealth, and secrets, the characters navigate love and ambition, leading to a tragic ending.
- Theme discussion: The Great Gatsby explores the illusion of the American Dream and the emptiness of wealth and materialism.
- Review: "I loved the vivid descriptions and complex characters in The Great Gatsby. The tragic storyline kept me hooked until the very end. Highly recommended for those who enjoy classic literature."