Literature+Circle+Weekly+Assignments

= Round One of Literature Circles- Activities and Weekly Assignments =

=**Directions:** Read all assignments in advance. Meetings will be held on Fridays unless otherwise discussed. **Complete step one for each week prior to your meeting.**=

A. **Use post-it notes within your book to record your questions**. B. **Mark at least one or two parts of the assigned readings to discuss in your literature circle group during your meeting.** C. **Review the Literary Terminology to Discuss and Take Notes on section for each week to help you mark your novel for discussion and with questions.**
 * NON-NEGOTIABLES**


 * Activities for Meetings**
 * Week One:**
 * 1) Independent work prior to meeting: For each reading selection you will need to write 3 higher-level discussion questions. These questions should focus on what you have observed about the story/plot/style and main characters. The questions should help deepen your understanding of the novel as well as the understanding of your group members.
 * 2) Literary Terminology to Discuss and Take Notes: Exposition (setting- includes time, place, social context, characters- label as protagonist and antagonist, themes (3-5 listed), mood)
 * 3) Activity: Characterization Chart- see handout
 * 4) **DUE DATE: Monday after meeting**
 * 5) **Take your time! Include ALL details possible. Spelling counts!**


 * Week Two:**
 * 1) Independent work prior to meeting: For each reading selection you will need to write 3 higher-level discussion questions. These questions should focus on what you have observed about the story/plot/style and main characters. The questions should help deepen your understanding of the novel as well as the understanding of your group members.
 * 2) Literary Terminology to Discuss and Take Notes: Rising Action- identify at least two internal conflicts (character vs. self) and the major external (character vs. character/society/nature/world
 * 3) Activity: Extra! Extra! Read All About It! – Newspaper Activity- Create a newspaper on white computer paper; include four articles relevant to issues, conflicts, setting details from your novel; include at least two illustrations relevant to your story (may be symbols); must have headlines, dates, newspaper name
 * 4) **DUE DATE: Monday after meeting**
 * 5) **Take your time! Organize the paper, complete a rough draft for your articles and focus on CONTENT! Spelling and grammar count!**


 * Week Three:**
 * 1) Independent work prior to meeting: For each reading selection you will need to write 3 higher-level discussion questions. These questions should focus on what you have observed about the story/plot/style and main characters. The questions should help deepen your understanding of the novel as well as the understanding of your group members.
 * 2) Literary Terminology to Discuss and Take Notes: Climax- turning point, the point of no return, affects main character and the path he/she is taking; explain how you know this part is the turning point; explain how it promotes the plot of the story
 * 3) Activity: “Pretty As A Picture”- create a colored illustration, a collage of pictures/symbols/text that represent the book you are reading- you should have a border for your picture too to serve as the picture frame
 * 4) **DUE DATE: Monday after meeting**


 * Week Four:**
 * 1) Independent work prior to meeting: For each reading selection you will need to write 3 higher-level discussion questions. These questions should focus on what you have observed about the story/plot/style and main characters. The questions should help deepen your understanding of the novel as well as the understanding of your group members.
 * 2) Literary Terminology to Discuss and Take Notes: Figurative Language, Plot development, Mood, Character development (believable, unbelievable, round, flat, etc…)
 * 3) Activity: Character Narrative- Loss of Innocence- 1stperson account detailing a main character’s loss of innocence- At least 1 page in length, multiple paragraph format, explains how the loss of innocence has changed your character
 * 4) **DUE DATE: Essay due one week from meeting date**
 * 5) **Draft, Revise, Proofread, Edit, Revise, Submit- Spelling and grammar count! Take your time and focus on the topic!**