12th NAME______________________________DATE
___________________
Book Report
Please take the
book report seriously and do your best work to finish out this semester. This
is the last part of your SSR grade. You
may choose your own topic but it needs to be pre-approved with me. TURN
IN THIS PACKET WITH YOUR FINAL PAPER.
The topics you
can choose from are the following (circle ONE):
|
TOPIC
1:
Often characters show love and
compassion towards others. Analyze the
compassionate actions of one or two characters. What is the author suggesting we do
differently in our own lives by following these examples?
|
|
TOPIC
2:
Motifs play a significant role in
books. Choose one motif, discuss how
it’s used to create meaning, and analyze the author’s purpose for using it.
|
|
TOPIC
3:
Trace the change and transformation one
of the main characters. What are we
supposed to learn about life from this character?
|
|
TOPIC
4:
There are moments of sacrifice in most
novels. Analyze moments of sacrifice and discuss what we are supposed to
learn about life from these examples?
|
REQUIREMENTS:
-
your
typed literary analysis should be between 3-5 pages; you can’t do this well in less
than that
-
Manuscript Rules
– look at the rubric
to format your document using Word. I will review formatting in class.
-
this
will be written in 3rd person so using personal pronouns (he,
she) to refer to characters is acceptable
-
FOR THIS PAPER DO
NOT use “I” and DO NOT use “YOU/YOUR”
-
Since this is a formal essay, DO NOT use contractions – they’re
informal
-
write in the present
tense and be consistent about it; characters in novels are considered
living, breathing human beings
-
5 quotations
(w/citations) from the novel (for maximum points). Quotations should support your thesis.
SCORING: (100 pts. for the
Final Draft)
DUE DATE: No later than: Friday,
December 7th at the beginning of the period.
NOTES ABOUT THESIS STATEMENTS
Keep
these things in mind when writing a thesis statement:
1.
A thesis is NOT the whole essay; a thesis is the main idea,
often expressed in a single sentence.
2.
A thesis can also be thought of as the main argument of your
paper
3.
A thesis should NOT
be a laundry list of your main points
4.
It should merely set up the topic and give any
general information the listener needs to know.
5.
Every topic paragraph should clearly support your thesis –
create strong links that return to what you are explaining throughout your
paper.
There are three kinds of thesis statements:
- SIMPLE: Usually more descriptive and generic in nature
SPECIFIC SUBJECT + SPECIFIC FEELING[S]/FEATURES[s] =
THESIS
EXAMPLES:
·
The history of the
United States is dominated by lust for money, possessions, and power.
·
Unexpecting, average people like Mrs. Dubose, Atticus Finch,
and Link Deas all show the real meaning of courage without the supernatural
powers or fancy costumes throughout the novel.
- INTERMEDIATE: Usually more complex; addresses the larger message/call to action
AUTHOR
+ VERB + CHARACTER/SYMBOL/THEME/DEVICE/ETC. + PICK FROM BELOW + POINT
to discuss, in order to, to examine, to relate,
concentrates on, to trace,
to see if, to show [shows,] to prove [proves,] to
determine, to explain,
to argue [argues,] to persuade [persuades]
EXAMPLES:
·
Harper Lee uses references to flowers as a symbol to prove
that in times of despair one can always find beauty.
·
Harper Lee illustrates the theme of childhood innocence
through her young characters to represent the fact that things are not always
as clear as they may seem to be.
3. ADVANCED: This
developed thesis includes contrast and may use words like therefore or although.
With this type of thesis sentence, you will want to include the part and whole.
EXAMPLES:
- Though many people wait for an extraordinary person to stop injustice, Lee passionately argues it is the courageous acts of average people that change society for the better.
- Ralph’s inability to lead exposes man’s inherent evil nature in the face of adversity.
Book Report RUBRIC
Formatting: Presentation
Manuscript Rules:
name,
course & class period, date, the first line, upper left corner
all
margins set at 1 inch
there
is a creative title, centered, w/blank line above and below
capitalize
1st, last, and all important words in title
title
is not larger or in bold, underlined, no quotes, all caps., etc.
essay
is double-spaced; no extra space between paragraphs
Times
New Roman 12 pt. font for all text including title and heading
paragraphs
are indented; 1 tab
page
numbering
name
(header) at the top of each page
5 all manuscript rules were followed (10)
4 one or two errors with manuscript
rules (8-9)
3 a few errors with manuscript rules
(7)
2 several errors with manuscript
rules (6)
1 many errors with manuscript rules
Formatting: Research Skills
Proper Citation: (Hugo 38). – unless name is mentioned
in intro. then use (38).
Passages that appear in Book Report text as less than 4 complete
lines:
Introduced
with a comma
enclosed
in quotation marks
followed
by proper citation (as above)
Passages that appear in Book Report text as 4 complete lines are
more:
Introduced with a colon
NO quotation marks (unless
you’re quoting dialogue then use single quotation marks)
Double indented & single-spaced
Followed by proper citation (as
above)
5 ALL evidence is properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
4 MOST of the evidence is properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
3 SOME of the evidence is properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
2 FEW pieces of the evidence are properly documented,
spaced, punctuated, etc.
1 LESS THAN 3 pieces of evidence are properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
Conventions
10 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation are correct
grammar and usage are correct
8 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation are mostly correct
minor errors with grammar and usage
6 several errors with spelling, capitalization, punctuation
some grammar and usage errors are repeated in a few places
3 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation errors occur often but the message remains
clear
many grammar and usage errors but the message remains clear
some fragments & run-ons present
1 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation errors occur often and interfere with the
writer’s message
grammar and usage errors occur often and distract from meaning
many fragments & run-ons present
Content: Ideas/Support
20 5 effective/purposeful quotations are included
All integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
16 4 effective/purposeful quotations are included – 1 may be
ineffective
Most integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
12 3 effective/purposeful quotations are included – 2 may be
ineffective
Some integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
8 3 effective/purposeful quotations are included –
Few integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
4 2 or less effective/purposeful quotes are included –
2 or less integrated well and thoroughly analyzed
and/or linked to the topic/thesis
Content: Organization
10 well-written introduction, including an opener and thesis statement adequately introduces the essay
ALL topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body
paragraph and refer back to the thesis
All body
paragraphs end with some type of clincher
that analyzes the support & links back to thesis
well-written conclusion that leaves the reader with
something to think about
evidence of smooth, effective
transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas
8 introduction, including an opener and thesis statement
clearly introduces the essay; may be awkward
ALL topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body
paragraph and refer back to the thesis - one may be awkward
All 3 body paragraphs end with some type of clincher that analyzes the support
& links back to thesis; one may be awkward
conclusion attempts to leave the reader with
something to think about
a variety of transitions exist
in and between paragraphs; pacing is developing
6 introduction introduces the essay; may be missing a
component or unclear, or thesis may
be more than one sentence
MOST topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body
paragraph and refer back to the thesis - one missing or
may not link back to the
thesis
MOST body paragraphs end with some type of clincher that analyzes the support
& links back to thesis; one missing
or may not link back to
thesis
conclusion concludes the essay; may be missing a
component, unclear/awkwardly written, or may not indicate a deeper meaning
the transitions sometimes work
3 introduction is attempted but may need a lot of work
A topic sentence helps to introduce/transition one body
paragraph and refers back to the thesis; two may be missing or may
not link back to the thesis
A body paragraph ends with some type of clincher that analyzes the support
& links back to thesis; two may be missing or
may not link back to thesis
conclusion is present but needs a lot of work
missing or unclear transitions
force the reader to make giant leaps
1 no introduction or no thesis statement
no topic sentences are present to introduce body paragraphs or
no topic sentences refer back to the thesis
no body paragraphs end with a clincher or none of
the clinchers link back to thesis
no conclusion
no transitions
Total ______/ 50 x 2=
