The Scarlet Letter Book Review Project Mr.

Eisner / English 11/ H—Fall Semester

Objective: Working in groups of 2 or 3, you will write and record (using your phones or computers) a 5-6-minute book review of The
Scarlet Letter. Your review should answer the basic question: to what extent did you enjoy reading this book and would you
recommend it to others? (As this project is more of a video conversation and not an individual essay), not all members need agree on
their opinion.) Your response(s) to this question should be grounded in direct textual references (evidence) from the novel in both the
form of summaries and quotes from specific sections (you should have at least 5 direct quotes from the text; failure to provide quotes
will earn you no more than a C on this project). The review should be held in the form of a conversation between you and your partner(s)
with each partner getting equal on-screen speaking time (yes, you all must appear in the film at all times which means you may need to
get your little brother to record for you.)

Some things you may wish to discuss in your critique:

 The plot including character conflicts, pacing, character development, what details are included in the story and the ones that
are left out (i.e., why didn’t we get to see the scene where Hester and Dimmesdale made a baby!?!).
 Themes and subject matter
 The language (including Hawthorne’s archaic diction and long sentences)
 The novel’s length or organization
 The moral

Unlike an academic essay, this project allows more room for creative expression and statement of your opinion. Don’t be afraid to take a
strong stance on the question and express your feelings about any of the above categories, BUT make sure that you provide plenty of
evidence in the form of summary and direct quotations, and no, no profanity (be more articulate, thanks).

Process: First, you will brainstorm ideas with your partner(s), and then draft a script of 2-3 pages of dialogue that looks like this:

John: This is one of the juiciest, most provoking books of our era.
Leslie: John, I totally agree. This novel is full of intrigue, exploit, and sexual innuendo.
John: Yes, the book is predicated on the untold fact that a beautiful, married woman had intercourse with her pastor…in the church!

The script will be due on the day of your presentation, printed and nicely formatted (see rubric).

Creative Options:
 As this is a video recording, it is important that you spend time on the production values, meaning that it is important that the
audience can both see and hear the review without straining. Make sure you have good lighting and good sound, and definitely
do not record near a street or amongst other people. You should find a quiet spot and give yourself plenty of time to do retakes
as you will not get it right the first time and won’t get a high score on the project if you only do a single take).
 You may also go above and beyond in terms of how you will present the recording. Perhaps you are some commoners from the
1850s who have just read Hawthorne’s book and are hanging out at a café discussing your thoughts. Perhaps you are modern
day Americans who just finished reading the book for a high school class and you place your review in the context of our current
society. I don’t know. Go figure.
 Feel free to not only express your opinion, but do so in a creative manner using digital technique, etc.

Suggested Outline:

I. Background on the book: title, date, genre, about the author, critical reception, general summary
II. Clearly state opinion / star rating / thumbs up, thumbs down, etc.
III. First main point, evidence and analysis
IV. Second main point, evidence and analysis
V. Third main point, evidence and analysis
VI. Wrap up your review, reiterate your opinion, what would you have done different, what do you wish would have
happened, final thoughts, final feelings, would you recommend for reading or recommend to steer clear, who would you
recommend this to, etc.
Scoring Rubric:
10 (Advanced) 9 (Highly 8 (Proficient) 7 (Adequate) 6 (Inadequate)
Effective)
Element 1: Clarity of Opinion Very clear opinion Mostly clear Opinion may not Opinion may be Unclear opinion.
(thesis): How clear is your stated opinion with be particularly somewhat Hard to follow.
response to the prompt? throughout. minor lapses in clear or may unclear or contain
consistency. contain some several lapses in
lapses in consistency.
consistency.
Element 2: Evidence: To what Highly sufficient Mostly sufficient Sufficient Evidence may be Evidence is only
extent is this opinion supported evidence is a evidence is a evidence is a mostly summary summary and
by evidence from the text (both combination of combination of combination of and may may minimally
direct quotes and summary— quotes and quotes and quotes and minimally reference specific
for direct quotes include the summaries. summaries. summaries, reference specific points in the text.
page number in your script)? though quotes points in the text.
may be lacking.
Element 3: Analysis: To what Analysis is Analysis is Analysis is Analysis is basic Analysis is
extent does the review connect thorough and thorough and somewhat and lacks insight. inadequate and
the evidence back to the thesis insightful and insightful and thorough and Does not always indicates a weak
by providing clear and clearly connects mostly connects may be lacking in connect back to understanding of
insightful commentary that to thesis. back to thesis. insight. May not thesis. Indicates a the text.
explains the opinion? Indicates a strong Indicates a strong clearly connect basic
understanding of understanding of back to thesis. understanding of
the text. the text. Indicates a good the text.
understanding of
the text.
Element 4: Filming: To what The recording is The recording is The recording The recording has The recording has
extent is the recording audible easily seen and mostly easily seen may have a few multiple issues in numerous or
and visible? (No bloopers, heard. and heard. issues in audio audio and video. major issues in
minimize “silent” time.) and video. audio and video.

Element 5: Overall Creativity The overall The overall The overall The overall The overall
and Engagement: To what product is highly product is mostly product is product is product is not
extent is the script and creative and creative and somewhat minimally creative and lacks
recording creatively producing engaging. engaging. creative and creative and in engagement.
and engaging for the audience engaging. engaging. May be described
to watch, or is it boring? as “slow” or
“boring”.
Element 6: Script: Is this script Yes, meets ----------------------- Script may be 1.5 Script may be 1.5 Script may be 1
2-3 pages and is it formatted in requirement. pages. pages or fewer. page or less.
MLA style (with correct
grammar and spelling, font
size, spacing and margins, and
headers).

Element 7: Time: Does the Yes, meets ------------------------ Recording may be Recording may be Recording may be
recording fall in between the 5- requirement. under 5 minutes. 4.5 minutes or 4 minutes or less.
6 minute time requirement? less.
Y/N

__________/80 x 3 = __________/ 240 points

Member 1: ____________________ Member 2: _____________________ Member 3 (optional): ____________________