7 th Grade Language Arts

1. Book Project PresentationNote: Please add these slides to the author research Powerpoint that you have already begun. 7th Grade Language Arts

2. Your Goals and Instructions: • To report your knowledge and understanding of various literary aspects of your book. • To create a PowerPoint presentation to share this information. • Following these instructions, you will see an example based on the short story “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto.

3. More Information: • You do not necessarily need to include the exact slides that I did in the example, but your effort and content should be equivalent. • Feel free to comment on literary elements of your book if you have already started reading, including: characterization, setting, author’s style, etc. • Save your presentation in your server documents so that you may continue working on it next week.

4. Make sure you have the following slides from Part 1 of this assignment: • Setting • Historical Context (if it applies to your book) • Cultural Context (if it applies to your book) • Unfamiliar Vocabulary Words used in the book and their definitions • Any “made up” or special vocabulary that is relevant to your book, for example, the reaping in The Hunger Games, or the Spanish words used in “Seventh Grade”

5. Setting of the story “Seventh Grade” • “Seventh Grade” takes place in a school in Fresno, California, which is the fifth largest city in the state. • Fresno, which means ash tree in Spanish is located in the center of the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. • There is no particular time era mentioned in the story, which leads the reader to assume that it takes place at the time it was written, in the 1980’s. • The story takes place on the first day of school.

6. Historical Context of “Seventh Grade” • This story likely took place in the 1980’s • Clues: computer cards, crackling loud speaker, GQ • Historical and Cultural Highlights of the 1980’s: the Cold War, conflict in the Middle East, space shuttle Challenger tragedy, E.T.,Flashdance, Michael Jackson, Madonna, the cola wars (Coke vs. Pepsi), the preppie look, punk, neon, spandex, leg warmers, computer technology still new and evolving. This is a screen from an Atari video game. We thought this was very cool in the 80’s!

7. Cultural Context • The main characters are are Mexican-American. • The characters attended a Catholic school as children “…since they were in catechism classes at Saint Theresa’s…” pg. 1 • The characters are probably not wealthy. According to the text, the boys picked grapes in order to buy their fall clothes.

8. Vocabulary Words from “Seventh Grade” • elective: optional course or subject • conviction: belief • sheepishly: in a shy or embarrased way • Sibera: a region in northern Asia known for its harsh winters

9. Vocabulary, Continued… • portly: large, heavy, rounded • ferocity: having great force • linger: to stay; to remain • scowl: an expression of anger; frown

10. Spanish Words Used in the Story • raza or “race” refers to people of Mexican-American, particularly Mexican- Native American descent • saludo de vato: Spanish gestures of greetings between friends • ese: man

11. French Language Used in the Story • Bonjour: “Hello” or “Good Day” • Très bien. Parlez-vous français?“Very well. Do you speak French?” • Le bateau est sur l’eau: “The boat is on the water.”

12. Part 2 • This is the actual beginning of the NEW slides for part two.

13. Characters in “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto • Protagonist: Victor Rodriguez • Antagonist: The main conflict in the story is person vs. self, so I would conclude that Victor is also the antagonist in the story. He seems to be working against himself. • Supporting Characters: • Michael Torres, Victor’s best friend • Theresa, Victor’s crush • Mr. Bueller, Victor’s French teacher

14. Characteristics of the Protagonist • Victor is a seventh-grade, Mexican-American boy from California. He can be described as a little shy and awkward, self-conscious, yet very determined to do what it takes to accomplish his goal. • Include a picture to help us visualize your character.

15. First Main Event • Use complete sentences to fully describe this part of the story. • Include a picture that helps us to visualize this event.

16. Second Main Event • Use complete sentences to fully describe this part of the story. • Include a picture that helps us to visualize this event.

17. Third Main Event • Use complete sentences to fully describe this part of the story. • Include a picture that helps us to visualize this event.

18. Fourth Main Event • Use complete sentences to fully describe this part of the story. • Include a picture that helps us to visualize this event.

19. Resolution- End of the Book • Use complete sentences to fully describe this part of the story. • Include a picture that helps us to visualize this event.

20. Evaluation • Use complete sentences to answer the following questions: 1. Did you like the book? 2. Explain why you either did or did not like the book.3. Would you recommend the book?4. Explain why you would or would not recommend the book.

21. Favorite Part of the Book • What was your favorite part of the book and why?