Literature Circles

Assignment and Reading

In preparation for each group meeting, you will:

• Reading to the agreed upon page
• Write two open-ended questions about the reading, which you look forward to discussing with the group. (How?  Why?  Questions can be about content, such as plot, character development, etc or about stylistic choices such as imagery, figurative language, etc)
• Choose two passages that you feel are interesting, important, or confusing. 

During each meeting, you will:

• Take turns asking your questions.
• Each contribute as you discuss your group member’s questions.
• Jot down notes about the answers to your discussion questions and/ or thoughts on other people’s questions/
• Share the passages you chose, explain why you chose them, and comment on each other’s choices.  Why are they interesting, important, or confusing?  If confusing, help each other to better understand them.
• Jot down notes on your passages or on those of your group members.

Book Discussion Work Sample

Meeting	Open Ended Questions	Passages
#2 Prep work	1.       Why is Jim so patient with the boys’ escape plan? 2.       Why does Twain bring Tom into the end of the book? What function does this serve in the message of the novel?	Tom said it warn’t borrowing, it was stealing.  It ain’t no crime in a prisoner to steal the thing he needs to get away with, Tom said (223). “Here a poor prisoner, forsook by the world and friends, fretted out his sorrowful life” (236).
Notes	Maybe Jim is giving up at this point?  Maybe he feels like he needs to stick around for Huck?  Tom’s moral values highlight how much Huck’s have changed.  Susan asked why Twain would have a section in the book about pretending to escape when the whole book is really about escape- Jim from slavery and Huck from alcoholic father.  We think it’s similar to why twain brought Tom back… shows the difference between how they faced their problems at the beginning and now.  However, by killing pap and having the Jim freed, it’s also like saying the escape wasn’t even needed.  Twain sort of sends a mixed message.	“Forsook” means forgotten.  It’s ironic because Jim isn’t forgotten.  They’re working to get him out. Paul noticed that Jim calls Tom “Mars Tom” as a sign of respect, but just calls Huck by his name.  We think this is maybe more about familiarity than respect, because Jim obviously respects and loves Huck.

 

Final Project

Your group will create a presentation of the book, which includes the following:

• A VERY short play version of the book, using the passages your group members selected prior to your group meetings as the basis for your script.  You will not use all of the lines you’ve collected, but the body of your play can ONLY use the lines you’ve collected.

• Character actors who may play multiple characters, will use simple costumes to high light features of their characters, and will read the passages chosen by the group.

• A narrator who will open the play with basic information about setting, characters, title, etc so that viewers can tell what’s going on.  The narrator will also close the play by clarifying the ending of the story if the play is unclear, commenting on how the book fits into the larger context of American Literature (How does it relate to the history, themes, styles of other books?)

• An analyzer who will periodically interrupt the flow of the story (which will have a very odd flow anyway given that it’s made up of the passages you chose) in order to comment on the stylistic significance of the lines from the book.  The analyzer must comment on at least four lines and must discuss at least two of the three topics (tone, character development, and theme).

• Optional: You are welcome to add other features, such as props or sound track, so long as they do not detract from the required elements.

*Some books are collections of stories, rather than one longer story.  In that case, you are responsible for highlighting the style and central themes that unite the collection.  You may need to be creative in how you do this.

Reading Schedule

1. Date: 3/4

Task: Planning

2. Date:3/14

Read to page:

3. Date:3/22

Read to page:

4. Date:3/28

Read to page:

5. Date:4/5

Read to page:

6. Date:4/13

Finish the book

During this meeting you will write your script, choose your roles, rehearse, etc.

7. Date: 4/15

Present

Assessment

	Book Club Discussions	Final Presentation
You could teach a class on this book.  Want my job?	·          Shows deep understanding of what you read ·          Always completely prepared with written work and reading ·          Helpful to group members and on task the entire time	·          Provided accurate, creative, and condensed version of the book, reflecting thorough understanding of plot, character, themes, tone, style, as appropriate. ·          Presentation of role was creative and thorough, as appropriate. ·          Helpful participation in assisting group to prepare for all aspects of the presentation
Good.  You are ready for next year.	·          Shows solid understanding of reading but lacks insight ·          Almost always prepared with written work and reading ·          On task	·          Provided accurate and condensed version of the book, reflecting understanding of elements of plot, character, themes, tone, style, as appropriate.  ·          Presentation of role was thorough in covering all requirements. ·          Participated in assisting group to prepare for all aspects of the presentation
Okay.  Hope you enjoyed the book.	·          Shows a basic understanding of reading ·          Mostly prepared with either written work or reading ·          Mostly on task	·          Provided condensed version of the book, reflecting basic plot, character, themes, tone, style, as appropriate. ·          Presentation of role covered basic requirements of the role. ·          Participated in assisting group to prepare for all aspects of the presentation, but primarily focused on only what your own job.
At least you know how to use Sparknotes	·          Shows a basic understanding of part of the reading or does not demonstrate knowledge beyond Sparknotes level ·          Occasionally prepared ·          Occasionally on task.	·          Provided condensed version of the book, but may fail to include much more than plot. ·          Presentation of role left out essential elements. ·          During preparation time, worked only on your own job.
Let’s practice the alphabet song.	·          Didn’t read ·          Consistently under prepared ·          Distracting during discussions	·          Excessively confusing.  Does not reflect even a basic sense of the book.  Fails to follow the directions.  Chaos abounds.