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Independent Reading – Plot and Literary Elements Project

Independent Reading – Plot and Literary Elements Project
Final Project Due: Friday, February 10, 2023

Hopefully, you have spent the last few weeks enjoying one or more books as your independent reading. At this point, you

(1).docx
will focus on one of your fiction or narrative non-fiction novels to complete this project and show your understanding of plot
structure and literary elements. You will have a few different choices for sharing your information, so you can choose what appeals
to you the most. The requirements for the assignment are listed below. If you have suggestions or ideas of your own as to how to
present your information, please feel free to contact me to share your ideas! I love when students are creative and think outside of
Download Independent Reading – Plot and Literary Elements Project (1).docx (32.8 KB)
the box!

Requirements for all projects. There are 6 distinct requirements

8 Plot Map
Students will create a Plot Map of their story. This is different from the book teaser summary in that all elements of the plot’s
structure must be explained. You may use the Plot Map Example as a guide, but you will create your own on paper or as part of your
project. The Plot Map must explain 1) what happens in the exposition, 2) what the inciting incident is, 3) at least 3-6 important
events in the rising action, 4) the peripeteia/climax of the story, 5) the events in the falling action, and 6) the
denouement/resolution. Each part of the plot map should be explained in no fewer than 3 sentences.

Book Teaser
Students must write an original “book jacket” summary of their book. This must mention the genre of the book (if there is more
than one obvious genre, that is ok-mention both). The teaser must be a summary that focuses on the main ideas of the book but
leaves out the final resolution. Think about the “teasers” that you read on the back of books. This should be at least 8 sentences
long, but it should not be too lengthy. Again, think of the back of a fiction novel. Give some basic info, entice a potential reader, and
leave a bit of a cliffhanger. (Enough information must be included for me to be certain that you read and understood the basic plot
of the book. Also, this should be completely original – do not seek out summaries of the book online and copy or reword them. The
ideas and words must be yours. We show integrity in ALL of our assignments.)

Character Analysis
Students should choose one major, dynamic character in the book (preferably, the protagonist). Write a paragraph that explains this
character and his/her internal and external character traits. Students must use at least 2 quoted examples of text evidence and page
numbers to support the explanation of the character traits. Also, explain what makes this character dynamic, that is, how and why
does the character grow or change throughout the story.

Theme
Students must identify one major theme in their book. In a paragraph, the student should write their theme statement and explain
why this is an evident theme in the book. Use examples of things that happened in the story that would make a reader infer that this
is an important theme in the book.

Conflict
Students must identify one of the major conflicts in the book (character vs. character, character v. self, etc.). In a paragraph, explain
what the conflict is and how you know it is a major conflict in the book. You will need to give more than one example from the book
that shows how this is the major conflict. Text evidence and page numbers would be beneficial, but they are not necessary for this
section. Just be sure you have a thorough explanation of events that lead you to believe this is a major conflict.

Book Cover
Students must design and create an ORIGINAL book cover for the book. It must contain the title and the author’s name. It should not
resemble the actual cover (or a cover that was used for a previous publication of the book). It does not need to be an artistic
masterpiece but should showcase something important or meaningful in the book. Think about the books that you have read and
their covers. What do they look like? Why would an artist choose to represent the book through that cover design? Now, think of
how you can create your own, original cover. Your cover MUST be originally created – no photoshop or copy/pasting digital images.
You CAN use digital software or apps to create your cover, but no graphics or photos from the internet should be used. You may use
your OWN photos that YOU take in creative ways, but your cover cannot just simply be just one picture that you took of something.
A written explanation of how the cover art represents the book is also required.