[This page is for my independent study class: Contemporary Literature].
List of Texts:
- Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers
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For each book you read, you are to write five blog posts of 200 to 300 words. Be sure to post while you are reading the book. Do not wait until you have finished the book. I will read these posts and comment on them. You may comment in return.
What to write about?
Posts Options for fiction: For each blog post chose one of the following. Option gives you fifteen questions, and you choose only one.
- Use one of fifteen questions about literature to prompt responses.
- Cite a short passage from your book and respond to it. What is the main idea in the passage? Why is this message or idea important to you?
- Do a name analysis. Make a list of the characters’ names and Google them. What did you find out? What do you think the author was going for when he/she chose these names. Narrow your discussion to one or two characters.
- What is the significance of the title of your book? What does the title mean? Does it mean more than one thing? Explain fully.
Posts Options for nonfiction: You may mix and match between these two.
- Cite a short passage from your book and respond to it.
- Choose one of the topics from the list: responding to nonfiction.
- Imagine you are a parent or a teacher or a coach. Would this book be one you would have your child, student, player read? Why?
Blog Posts Rubric:
At Expectations:
Blog post is interesting, full of details, free of conventions errors. The writer has given examples and reasons to support his point of view. The writer may quote the text to support his ideas. This writer’s response to literature is insightful.
Still Working on it:
Blog post is mostly interesting, but less detailed. It contains some conventions errors. The writer has fewer examples or reasons to support his point of view. The writer does not quote the text to support his ideas. This writer’s response to literature is vague.
Not There yet:
Blog post is not interesting, and lacks details. It contains some conventions errors. The writer has no examples or reasons to support his point of view. The writer does not quote the text to support his ideas. This writer’s response to literature is general, and statements made could be made about any book.
