TOPIC

Argumentative
Writing
Each argumentative
writing piece should
include the following
elements:

Compose a formal argumentative essay

by taking a side on the following
question:
Suddenly your choice reading book
becomes a bestseller. Write a letter to a
movie producer who is trying to turn your
book into a movie. Do you support this
idea? Why or why not? Referencing the
story, characters, conflicts, etc., explain why
you believe your book should either be
made into a film or left as is.

Compose a formal argumentative

essay by taking a side on the
following question:
Your teacher and the curriculum director
are considering adding one new book to
the curriculum, and are interested in your
input. Would you recommend your
choice reading book for this position?
Why or why not?
Your essay should

Compose a formal a
essay by taking a sid
following question:
Children learn about t
and the world around
reading. How importa
them to encounter cha
are similar to them? W
characters who are di
your experience readi
choice text(s) to inform
position.
Your essay should

A strong
thesis statement

Three
claims supporting your
thesis statement

Quoted
evidence from the text
supporting your claims

At least
one counterclaim

Writing
that follows the
standard
argumentative essay
format (five
paragraphs: one intro
paragraph, three body
paragraphs, one
conclusion paragraph)

Transiti
on words

MLA
format

Characterization

PICK A SIDE: Make it into a

movie or leave it as a book?
If you choose to make your book into a
movie
Explain why you feel this book
could be successfully translated into a
film
Suggest a filming location and
the actors to play the various roles.
Make sure you explain ALL of
your choices for location and actors.
If you choose to leave your book as
is
Explain why experiencing this
story is better left to the imagination.
Explain why actors could not
capture the essence of these characters

**You may only use books that have not yet

been turned into movies**
Character's mixtape: Create a ten song
mixed tape or CD for the main character of
the novel.
In a letter to this character, explain why you
are including each of the
ten songs on the mixed tape.

Each song should have a

paragraph of in-depth description as to
why you think he/she would like it, using
evidence you found from the themes,
symbols, motifs, and situations that the
novel explored.
**You do not have to physically have a CD
that plays music, though it always helps!

Explain why (or why not)

your choice reading book would be
appropriate for the entire ninth grade to
read using specific examples from your
text
provide a general
synopsis of your text
analyze a
character in detail
reference themes
and symbols seen throughout the
text

Answer the essential

question (What can reading teach us
about ourselves and the world around us?)
in relation to your choice reading book

Compare/contrast your
choice reading book to at least one of the
books you have been assigned to read for
school in the past.

Heros Journey: Follow the writing

process to compose an analytical essay
that traces the heros journey within your
novel.

Explain the elements of

the heros journey and how those
elements relate to the events in your
novel.

Include multiple correctly

cited examples from both the novel
and additional texts to support your
analysis.

Your essay must identify

and explain the following literary
concepts:
Theme
Symbolism
Character Traits

Answe
question: Is it more i
about characters wh
you or different from
your position.

Descr
character in detail.

Expla
similar to or different
character, and how t
not enhance your re
experience.

Interview a characte
you're interviewing a p
the book. Write your in
question and answer

Your
should relate to sp
events, character
other situations wi

You n
least 10 question a

Each
should be at least
typed.

Plot Development

Book Soundtrack: Divide a book into

sections or major scenes and then provide
a song to accompany each segment, just as
a movie soundtrack provides music to
mirror the events of the film.
You must include

An explanation for why

each song fits that section.

A cover for the soundtrack

that shows your understanding of the
text

At least EIGHT Songs with

lyrics that highlight major plot points &
themes, or the overall mood.
**You do not have to physically have a CD
that plays music, though it always helps!

Storyboard: Create a six scene

storyboard for your book. Your
storyboard should include the following
information:

Title/Author

The storyboard should

following the plot arc - Beginning
[Exposition, Conflict], Middle [Rising
Action, Climax], End [Falling Action,
Resolution]

Visual representation of
the scene (must be either colored or
shaded).

On the back, for each

scene, write 3-5 sentences explaining
why you chose the scene as one of
the most important.

Timeline: Using deta

from the text, create a
outlines ten important
the text.
Your timeline should i

A var
from throughout th
span from start to

An in
and explanation of
on your timeline

A dire
quote relating to e
your timeline

Theme

Text Map: Choose one theme found in

your Choice Reading book. Identify this
theme and map its progression throughout
the text.

Identify one theme that you

see throughout your text.

Pull out and annotate

specific passages in which you see this
theme.

Explain this themes

progression throughout the text using
quoted evidence.

Collage: Create a collage that

represents your theme.
Your collage should include:

Several color images

(from the internet, magazines, or
drawn by you) that represent
elements of your theme or events
within the text.

Specific quotes (from the

text and otherwise) that represent the
essence of your chosen theme.

A short (5-7 sentence)

blurb explaining how the collage you
created represents your chosen
theme.

Compare and Contra

one theme from your
Reading book and co
contrast its representa
that text to another te
similar theme.

Ident
theme that you are
well as which text
comparing/contras

How
author present the
throughout the tex
specific examples
to back this up.

Whic
successful at repre
theme? Why?

Vocabulary

Crossword Puzzle: Identify fifteen

vocabulary words from your text and create
a crossword puzzle that includes the
following elements:

AT LEAST fifteen words

from your text that you did not already
know the definitions of.

A puzzle that follows a

standard crossword puzzle format (see
your teacher if you are not sure what
this looks like)

A definition (or clue relating

to the definition) of each word as the
hint.

An answer key.

Short Story: Pull out fifteen vocabulary

words from your choice reading text and
write a short story using each word at
least once.
Your story should include the following
elements:

AT LEAST fifteen words

from your text that you did not already
know the definitions of.

Each word used properly

within the story.

A list of the words (along

with definitions and parts of speech)
that are used within your story.

Visualizing Vocabula
visual vocabulary card
the fifteen words that
from your choice read
Your vocabulary cards

Includ
fifteen words from
you did not alread
definitions of.

Disse
in order to recogni
root, and suffix (wh
applicable).

Includ
of the prefix, root,

Includ
of the word overal

Includ
that represents thi