Literature Circles Brochure

Purpose:    The purpose of this activity is for your literature circle group to demonstrate your understanding of the book you read. Your finished products will be presented to the class in a jig saw forum and then placed on display in class.

Activity:   On a piece of 12 ¾” x 17 ½” paper (lg. construction paper in the supply cabinet) you will create a publicity brochure for the book you read.  Each member of your group will be responsible for providing the text, pictures, graphics, etc. for at least one panel of the brochure.

Instructions:  Fold the sheet of paper in half (hamburger style) and then into three equal parts.  The two ends of the paper will fold backward - toward the front (Side A).

      Open up the brochure and label, in pencil, so you can erase, the panels 2,3,4 – from left to right.

      Flip it over and label the panels, 5,6,1 again in pencil, from left to right.

Side A (back of paper)

Side B (front of paper)

Inside panels : Panel 7 will start the top row

Side A (back of paper)

Panel 1      When your brochure is finished, this panel will be the front cover.  The cover should include the title of the book, along with the author’s name.  You should incorporate an attractive, provocative pictorial representation of the book that captures the reader’s attention (like a trailer in for a new film). This can be a scene from the story, portraits of the characters, symbolic representations of scenes/events in the story, etc. Provide an intriguing caption for your cover that piques their curiosity.

Side B (front of paper)

Panel 2     The Background Investigator should write an “about the author” section that includes other books s/he has written, their personal background, and any special interests skills they have. Also include some enriching background information for the novel.

Panel 3            The Character Shrink will provide paragraph summaries of each character in the book. Each paragraph should begin with the character’s name, bolded. Physical descriptions, character and personality traits, hobbies and interests, along with external and inner conflicts should be included. Don’t give away plot information, just give the reader a synopsis of who these people are and what makes them tick. This information may take up w panels. If it does, move the panel 4 information to panel 5.

Panel 4      The Discussion Director should provide a clear, concise overview of the plot of the book. Don’t give away too much.

Side A (back of paper)

Panel 5     This is the symbols page. Draw, print, copy, trace, or reproduce visual symbols, shapes, and words that represent the characters, themes, and events that are central to the book and the author’s message.

Panel 6     On this panel, showcase four or five significant quotes from the text.

Inside panels : Panel 7 will start the top row

Panel 7     The Travel Tracker should draw or reproduce visuals that depict the journey(s) that the characters take, both literal and metaphorically, during the book. Each picture or scene should include descriptive captions. Don’t give too much away.

Panel 8     Same as above

Panel 9     The Conflict Tracker should recount the types of conflicts that appear in the book and should relate them in terms of conflicts the reader has come across in other stories – i.e.- in this man vs. man conflict a protagonist is pitted against an antagonist in a fight to the death, much like that found in Kahled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. They should also describe each main conflict in specific terms, such as Jack and Ralph find themselves on opposite sides in a struggle for power on the island. Their disagreements become physical and escalate to the point where … The idea here is to explain the types of conflicts and who is involved in them.

Panel 10    The Thematic Tracker will give an overview and brief description of the themes and the main message the author is trying to get across to their readers.

Panel 11     Finally, on this last “content” panel, your group should come up with some unique approach to sell the book. What type of information hasn’t been shared yet? What other words, visuals, puzzles, clues, anagrams, diagrams, etc. can you devise to finish off your project with pizzazz, style, and a sense of the dramatic or flamboyant. Be creative!

Panel 12     This panel will be the last page of your brochure. The names of all the members of your group, along

with a picture of each of you,  should appear on this panel, along with the roles you played in the

group.