Independent Reading Project
According to a 2007 survey, academic disqualification was the second largest reason why students dropped out of college, (see the chart "Why College Students Drop Out" below). While academic disqualification can be caused by various factors, such as financial and emotional stress, a student's own academic capability is one factor that is within a student's control to some extent. A student's dedication in taking the necessary steps to improve his/her academic skills will reap long-term rewards. While college will challenge a student's skills and understanding of the world around them, a strong academic background in reading and writing will provide a foundation for continued learning.
The Independent Reading Project is meant to help you improve your reading and critical thinking skills by giving you a chance to read a book of your own choice and provide your own analysis of the text. Use this project to read a book you've always wanted to read, and really try to analyze its major themes, characters, and conflicts--as well as the author's use of language. This book may also serve as a source you can use in class to enhance your writing or discussions, as well as on the AP exam. Choose wisely. Ultimately, this is a project for your own personal enrichment, not mine.
The Independent Reading Project is meant to help you improve your reading and critical thinking skills by giving you a chance to read a book of your own choice and provide your own analysis of the text. Use this project to read a book you've always wanted to read, and really try to analyze its major themes, characters, and conflicts--as well as the author's use of language. This book may also serve as a source you can use in class to enhance your writing or discussions, as well as on the AP exam. Choose wisely. Ultimately, this is a project for your own personal enrichment, not mine.
Assignment:
You will select and read a book of your choice, preferably fiction, that is age appropriate in content and reading level. You will submit a reading notebook that will demonstrate your understanding of the novel, as well as your ability to discuss literature from an analytical perspective. Your reading notebook may be the same notebook you used for your summer assignment.
Below are some resources that offer reading lists that may help you find a novel:
Requirements:
You will select and read a book of your choice, preferably fiction, that is age appropriate in content and reading level. You will submit a reading notebook that will demonstrate your understanding of the novel, as well as your ability to discuss literature from an analytical perspective. Your reading notebook may be the same notebook you used for your summer assignment.
Below are some resources that offer reading lists that may help you find a novel:
- 101 Great Books recommended for College-Bound Students by the College Board – a copy of this list is available at homeschoolmarketplace.com/booklists/college.html
- College Bound Reading List for American Literature (Grade 11) and World Literature (Grade 12). This is an annotated reading list. http://als.lib.wi.us/Collegebound.html
- The class binder for the Independent Reading Project. This binder contains lists of several reading lists.
- The school library also has a copy of Ms. Plazola’s Independent Reading Project Binder.
Requirements:
- Divide your book into four major sections of roughly equal page length. Each section will constitute an “entry” in your reading notebook.
- Each entry in your reading notebook should have 3 key quotes/passages that you will use to demonstrate your understanding of the novel, as well as your ability to analyze a text for its literary merit. Total number of passages should equal 12.
- Your selection of significant passages/quotations should reveal character development, illuminate a conflict, identify setting, contribute to plot, or demonstrate the author’s use of figurative language or rhetorical strategies/devices.
- Copy down the quotations into a college-ruled notebook; center the quotes on the page so that there is enough room for annotations around the quote (see samples attached). You can also type and print out the quotations and paste them to the page, but you cannot type your responses to the quotes – those need to be handwritten.
- Quotes/passages should appear in quotation marks and include page citations at the end.
- Please do not exceed two quotes/passages per page.
- The quotations can be between 5 to 10 lines each. Remember to leave enough space between quotes for your hand-written annotations.
- Your annotations should include the following:
- Address the context of the quote/passage
- Reveal insight into the quote/passage’s significance
- Cite the literary devices you believe appear in the passage/quote, as well as explain the purpose and effect for the reader.
Independent Reading Project. See below to download the assignment handout and rubric Independent Reading Project. Any text not on the list needs to be approved by me prior to completion of the project.
independent_reading_project_v2018.docx | |
File Size: | 198 kb |
File Type: | docx |
101_great_books.doc | |
File Size: | 126 kb |
File Type: | doc |