Reading Responses

Reading Responses are a way to express and expand on your ideas about
your reading. The following are guidelines you are expected to adhere to
while completing Reading Responses:
1.) Choose a book that is on your level - something you think you
might enjoy, but not Dr. Seuss! If you’re having a hard time picking out a
book, please let me know.
2.) Reading Responses must be at 400-500 words, or, in the case
of visual Reading Responses, at least 11x14”, in color, and detailed.
3.) Reading Response due dates will be posted in the classroom.
Reading Responses are not accepted late! If you are absent on the due date,
your Reading Response is due immediately upon your return to class.
4.) In the top right corner, write your name, date, class period
(as usual), as well as the number of the option you've chosen. Beginning on the
first line at the left margin, please identify your book in MLA style. Just
beneath that please write the response number (if this is the third response
you’ve written for I Am the Cheese, write #3) and the page number that you’re
on.
Options
1.) Imagine that you are a character in the book and write a journal
entry about your thoughts, experiences, and feelings.
2.) Write a letter to a character as another character.
3.) Write a letter to a character warning him or her, giving him or her
advice, or introducing yourself and explaining what you have in common.
4.) Describe what happened to one of the characters earlier in his or
her life or create a future for him or her.
5.) Write a short composition on one of the themes of the book. (For
example, if one of the themes is growing up, you might write a short essay
about growing up, using your own experiences and examples from the book.)
6.) Borrowing the plot, characters, conflict, theme, or a scene from the
book, create your own song, poem, dialogue, or story.
7.) Choose a character and create a character sketch describing his or
her appearance, personality, and behavior.
8.) Create a graphic representation of a theme, character,
relationships or events from the book.
9.) Interview one of the characters, writing both the questions and how
you think he or she would respond.
10.) Review the book. Give your opinions and cite examples. Explain
whether you would recommend it. (Don’t give away the plot!)
11.) Write about a conflict in the book. Who is involved and what’s the
problem? What could be done to resolve the conflict? How might it have been
avoided?
12.) Choose something in or about the book that you loved and
something that you hated. Explain your choices.
13.) Explain what you think will happen next. How do you think the
book will end?
14.) Write your own ending.
 15.) Who are the “good guys”? The “bad guys”? What makes them good
or bad?
16.) Create a book jacket with a summary of the story (without giving
away the ending) on the back, your review of the book in the front flap, and a
visual lead into the story on the front. Save this option for when you finish the
book!
17.) Draw a comic strip or story board for a scene in the story.
18.) Rehearse and read aloud one of your favorite parts.
19.) Compare and contrast characters.
20.) Write a newspaper article on some aspect of the story that could be
found in the local paper where the story takes place.
21.) Create a character tree with one side representing events and the
other emotion or growth.
22.) Choose a quote from a particular character and explain whether you
agree or disagree with the idea. Do you think it would be a good motto for
your life? What does this quote tell you about the character?
23.) Rewrite part of the story from a different point of view.
24.) Identify a crucial point in the story and explain how the rest of the
story would have been affected if the outcome had been different.
25.) Compare and contrast yourself to a character in the story.
26.) List examples of writing that impressed you somehow. Explain that
particular word choice's affect on you, identify the part of speech or device at
work, and write a sentence using that word or try your hand at using the device
(simile, metaphor, etc.) for each example.
27.) Write a letter to a movie producer trying to convince him or her to
make the book you're reading into a movie. Explain the plot and characters.
Recommend casting and filming locations.
28.) Write dating service ads for the characters.
29.) Research a topic brought up by your chosen book.
30.) Nominate one of the characters for political office. Explain your
choice.
31.) Write a summary of a sequel or prequel for your book.
32.) Develop another character for this story. Describe this new
character thoroughly and explain what this addition would do for the story.
33.) What is another story that could have taken place in this setting?
Detail the plot and characters for this alternate story.
34.) Create a soundtrack of at least five songs for your novel. Write one
paragraph per song explaining where the song fits into the story and why it is
appropriate.
35.) Invent your own reading response option. (Check with me before
you begin.)

Last name, First. Title of the Book. City where published: Publishing Company,
year of publication.