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

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A Novel StudyA Novel Study

a journey exploring story elements with a critical

eye

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A Novel Study……A Novel Study……

• 11stst The Book 3 - 8 The Book 3 - 8• 22ndnd Book-Walk 9 - 12 Book-Walk 9 - 12• 33rdrd Chapter SummariesChapter Summaries 13 - 15 13 - 15• 44thth Reading Notes 16 - 26 Reading Notes 16 - 26• 55th th Vocabulary 27Vocabulary 27• 66thth Story Reflection 28 - 29 Story Reflection 28 - 29

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11stst The Book The Book

• Title identifies the book often suggests something

about the book• “Gentle Ben”• “The Incredible Journey”

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The BookThe Book ……

• Author: person or people who

wrote the book may help you find other

books you will enjoy…..or want to avoid

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• Publisher: person or company that

printed and distributed the book

examples: Scholastic

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• 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

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• 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

http://www.interventioncentral.org/htmdocs/tools/okapi/okapi.php

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• 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.

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22ndnd Book-Walk Book-Walk

• making a prediction about the book

• the topic• the genre• the characters• the events

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Book-Walk…..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

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• 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

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• 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

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33rdrd Chapter Summaries Chapter Summaries

• summarize the chapterbriefly presents main points

in the chapter• events• characters actions

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Chapter Summaries….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

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Chapter Summaries….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

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44thth Reading Notes 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

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Reading Notes…..Reading Notes…..

• setting where the story takes

place• the main “big” location• i.e. forest, a town, a planet

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• setting take notes on

• location details/descriptions• smells, colours, textures,

sounds

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• time period when the story takes place choose a description which

best describes the entire story

• past, present, future• year• season• time of day

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• time period take notes on

• dates• weather events• events we associate with a

time e.g. World War II• events (people travel to Mars)

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• main characters round character

• ‘real’ personality revealed• thoughts, interests etc

revealed• grows or changes

flat character• little personality• little revealed• usually does not change

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• 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

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• story message the reason why the author

wrote the book, to• entertain• teach a lesson• inform about a subject

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• story message take notes on

• what happens to you as you read

• laugh• get frightened• learn something new

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• plot the action, outline,

development of the story

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• 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!

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55thth Vocabulary 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

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66thth Story Reflection Story Reflection• reflect on the story in 2

ways:1. 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

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Story Reflection……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

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A Novel StudyA Novel Study

You are now ready to begin your journey of

exploring story elements with a critical eye!

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

Documents

book genre

book title

book author

book publisher

book reading level

nd bookwalk

kind of book examples

book gentle ben