A Novel Study

1. A Novel Study a journey exploring story elements with a critical eye

2. A Novel Study…… • 1st The Book 3 - 8 • 2nd Book-Walk 9 - 12 • 3rdChapter Summaries 13 - 15 • 4th Reading Notes 16 - 26 • 5th Vocabulary 27 • 6th Story Reflection 28 - 29

3. 1st The Book • Title • identifies the book • often suggests something about the book • “Gentle Ben” • “The Incredible Journey”

4. The Book …… • Author: • person or people who wrote the book • may help you find other books you will enjoy…..or want to avoid

5. The Book …… • Publisher: • person or company that printed and distributed the book • examples: Scholastic

6. The Book …… • Genre • the kind of book • examples: • adventure (The Incredible Journey, Bristle Face) • comedy • crime • mystery • fantasy (Harry Potter) • historical fiction (Dear Canada books) • science fiction

7. The Book …… • Reading Level: • the level of difficulty • finding the reading level helps you judge whether you will be able to read the book comfortably • e.g. read a page, if you have problems with fewer than 5 words, you will probably be find • go to OKAPI

8. The Book …… • Prior Knowledge: • Have you read anything about this topic or by this author before? • If so, spend a moment thinking about the topic or other books.

9. 2nd Book-Walk • making a prediction • about the book • the topic • the genre • the characters • the events

10. Book-Walk….. • how to make a prediction • look at the cover • picture details, words, images • look to see if the chapters have titles • look for clues in the title words • read the back of the book • look for clues about what may happen • flip through and scan different parts • look for ideas/events suggested

11. Book-Walk….. • write a prediction • write a general statement about what you think may happen (topic sentence) • write three more sentences providing details and reasons about what might happen • remember a concluding sentence

12. Book-Walk….. • hint • you may want to try a variety of ways to list your three ideas • First, Second, Third • For example, A second example, A third example • One example, A second example, A third example

13. 3rd Chapter Summaries • summarize the chapter • briefly presents main points in the chapter • events • characters actions

14. Chapter Summaries…. • record notes as read • write a summary for each chapter • write a topic sentence briefly stating the chapter’s big idea • write three more support sentences providing details that support this big idea • write a concluding sentence reminding the reader about the chapter’s main idea

15. Chapter Summaries…. • hint • do not just list events • you need to state how these events make a ‘big idea’ • every five chapters, write a summary of them • use the same process as for a single chapter summary

16. 4th Reading Notes • tracking information • as you read, you need to take notes of the literary elements • you must write general information, the page number, specific example or quote • setting • time period • main characters • Story message • plot

17. Reading Notes….. • setting • where the story takes place • the main “big” location • i.e. forest, a town, a planet

18. Reading Notes….. • setting • take notes on • location details/descriptions • smells, colours, textures, sounds

19. Reading Notes….. • time period • when the story takes place • choose a description which best describes the entire story • past, present, future • year • season • time of day

20. Reading Notes….. • time period • take notes on • dates • weather events • events we associate with a time e.g. World War II • events (people travel to Mars)

21. Reading Notes….. • main characters • round character • ‘real’ personality revealed • thoughts, interests etc revealed • grows or changes • flat character • little personality • little revealed • usually does not change

22. Reading Notes….. • main characters • take notes on • physical description • habits • beliefs • fears • strengths (what they are good at) • how they speak • relationships with others • what they learn

23. Reading Notes….. • story message • the reason why the author wrote the book, to • entertain • teach a lesson • inform about a subject

24. Reading Notes….. • story message • take notes on • what happens to you as you read • laugh • get frightened • learn something new

25. Reading Notes….. • plot • the action, outline, development of the story

26. Reading Notes….. • plot • take notes on • key events to the story (that determine the next story events) • climax (usually the part of the book that you have been waiting for • Note, you will not only record the event, page #, and evidence, you will also explain “why” it is important!

27. 5th Vocabulary • 10 new, difficult, or interesting words • for each word, • record the word • record the page number • Look the word up in a dictionary (book form) • write the meaning of the word • in your own words • in a way that shows what the words means • do not copy from the dictionary record

28. 6th Story Reflection • reflect on the story in 2 ways: • your connections to the book • What does this book make you think of? • in your own life • in something you have read, viewed, listened to • Reread your character descriptions. Do you connect with any of these descriptions? • personality (funny, shy, brave etc) • fears • interests • age, male, female • appearance

29. Story Reflection…… • reflect on the story…. 2. your opinion of the book • like, dislike • strengths, needs improving * remember: for each reflection, write a clearly written paragraph with a topic sentence, at least three support sentences (evidence), and a concluding sentence

30. A Novel Study You are now ready to begin your journey of exploring story elements with a critical eye!