Some Expectations:

• Continue to develop your skills in observation of the illustrations in picture books

• All picture book reflections should include comments about the art, style, medium, design and how they connect to the literary elements of plot, theme, tone, voice and writing style

• Consider the standards for evaluating the genre of the novels you read as well as the plot, theme, tone, voice and writing style-you may have to use the children’s literature textbooks in the CRC

• Use the reflections you submit as opportunities to develop your skills as a writer. Find resources for improving you writing style and technical abilities. Use the studies in various genre as an opportunity to expand your own reading horizons

• Use the journal entries to record your personal reader-responses to literature. Your thoughts about the books you share with your future students will in large part determine their willingness to broaden their own reading experiences.

4/14 Have Read Fantasy*bring to class short description of three scenes*discussion of setting*map exercise* Literary Theory of any Novel DueHave read Science Fiction

4/16 Have read Horror*Topic: Discussion of selection vs censorship*Fantasy -Setting response due

4/21 Topic: Literature Across the Curriculum-Nonfiction*Science Fiction Creative Writing Response Due

4/23 Topic: Biography and Autobiography*Horror/Censorship response due*Thematic Poster Board Project Due-Literature Across the Curriculum 3 picture books connected by theme related to Poster Board Project Due

*all responses should include author, title, illustrator, copyright date and publisher *all picture book responses should include information about include style,

medium and design *nonfiction responses should use evaluative guides for nonfiction

• Brainstorm Book Titles for Poster Board Presentation

• Investigate a Topic• Develop a plan to effectively present your idea in a lesson

using the books in a transdisciplinary way• Use Oaktag or large poster paper to attractively present a

basic lesson using 3 thematically related trade books that cross-genre or disciplines

To Review:

When you reflect on Picture Story Books and Picture Books that are Thematically Related, Picture Book Biographies, Poetry anthologies or any book in which illustrations are significant:

• An evaluation of art and text and an appreciation of how they work together to create meaning, mood, tone are required

Visual Elements-the art-style, medium, design

Text-ask yourself “what is this story about?” “how is this story told?” what is the structure, the sound, rhythm, rhyme and quality of the language?

think about predictability and pacing Style of writing-Persuasive, Expository, Descriptive, Narrative Tone of writing-formal/informal, humorous/serious, personal/objective

When Evaluating Text Consider:

PlotThe series of events that tell a story

• Who tells the story?

• Narrative order-is the story told chronologically or in flash backs?

• Conflict-what challenge does the character face that keeps the story moving. Is the protagonist in conflict with another Character? Nature? Society? Self?

Text-ask yourself “what is this story about? (theme)” “how is this story told?” what is the structure, the sound, rhythm, rhyme and quality of the language?

think about predictability and pacing Style of writing-Persuasive, Expository, Descriptive, Narrative Tone of writing-formal/informal, humorous/serious,

personal/objective

Characterization

• Who are the main characters??• Are the main characters believable?• Are they well developed… ‘well rounded’?• Do they grow and change over time… ‘dynamic’?• What is their appearance?• What actions do they take that add insight into their thoughts and

motives?

Point of ViewThe vantage point from which the story is told• First Person• Omniscient

Guidelines for Evaluating Modern Fantasy

Pleasure • Will children and young adults enjoy reading this book? • Does the book tell a good story?

Appropriateness Is this the right book for the context? Will it appeal to this individual or group? Will it provide a pleasurable and/or educational experience? Are the topics or language too difficult/simple/banal so that reading becomes frustrating? Are stereotypes avoided?

• Is the story well written and engaging?• Does the work contain an authenticity of voice and setting?• Do style, character development, plot, theme, tone, point of view,

mood, pace, and design enhance the storyline? • Is the plot original? Are there elements of folklore and myth, scientific

principles, or terrifying possibilities integrated into the narrative?• What are the fantastic elements?• How does the author make the story believable? Does the narrative

encourage the reader to suspend belief? • Is the speculative world consistent and logical within the world

created? • How does the story compare with other speculative fiction by the

same author? Other fiction with a similar theme?• How has the book been received by reviewers (professional as well as

young people)? Do you agree with these reviews?

One of the biggest question that presents itself with fantasy is how does an author take this obviously made up world and draw the reader in? Why would readers be interested in engaging with storylines that are not "real"?

Think of the fantasy novel you have read for this week. How does the narrative engage the reader?

• What made your fantasy novel "believable" (or not) for you? • Who might the implied reader be for your novel? • How would you approach using the novel in English/Language

Arts class?

Setting

Establishes the time, place, social environment –it creates the atmosphere and mood for the events of the story

• What is the effect on the story of using this particular location?

• Is the setting an allusion to something else?• How do the characters respond to their environments?• Does the setting change at all?

Consider this image-think of all the words that you would use to describe this dwelling

How about now?

Write a descriptive sentence about this dwelling. What makes it different than the previous image?

And now-continue to think to words that would describe these dwellings.Again-what makes it different than the previous images?How does it make you feel-why?

Describe this landscape in contrast to the next image

Now how do you feel about these dwelling compared to the previous slide?

You have described three key settings from one of the following novels in your journal to prepare for today’s class• The Alchemist by Michael Scott• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer• Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo• Breadcrumbs by Anne Urs• The Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate• The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt

Think about how these three settings fit into the larger world of you fantasy book-think about how the plot flows in terms of a map of your fantasy land

Many maps of fantasy lands have been created

Carry out a mapping activity:

Fantasy more than any other genre often includes maps of the fictional worlds in the front of the novel. When maps aren't included they tend to appear on fan sites along with fanfiction, fan art... Why do you suppose maps are significant when we are talking about speculative worlds?

Form groups based on the novels read for this week. You are creating an actual map of the fantasy world. Start by comparing the settings each of you visualized for today's class. Are there other significant settings, locales that should be included. Plot these locations on a map. Add details... you might think about:

1. Compass - which way is north? 2. Scale - how far are things away from each other? 3. Legend - can you tell a city from a village?4. Landforms - forests, mountains and rivers.5. Paths - roads or walkways. What routes do your characters take? from http://hubpages.com/hub/Drawing-a-Fantasy-Map-for-Your-Novel-or-Short-Story

Once you have the map created discuss how you can explain the hero/protagonist's journey through this world.

Assignments for Next Week:

4/21 Science fiction: creative writing response dueWrite creatively within the fictional world of the science fiction novel. Write a new ending to the book, an extension, a letter or diary entry from one of the

characters to another.

4/23 Horror: censorship response due *Is the horror genre limited to blood, gore and violence? Consider books with supernatural themes, or frightening or disturbing content. Why might they be controversial?

*Food for thought: Is selecting and choosing appropriate books for a certain age the same thing as censorship? Whose opinion do you

consider when choosing the right books for your classroom?

*Is there a difference between a banned book and a censored book?

*response due: censorship- many parents object- explore censorship-reasons parents object (family values , religion , political views , minority rights. Explore the cultural implications of genre censorship

4/23 Censorship-4/28 Have Read 2 Picture Books from CRF text sets

3 Nonfiction responses due4/30 3 Life story responses due5/5 Blog Post for International Contemporary Realistic Fiction5/7 Classroom Inquiry Project Due5/12 1 Digital Picture Book

Poetry Anthology Response DueCompleted Binder due

5/14 Reader Autobiography due