English                                                                                                                        Robison May 2011

Literature Circles/Book Groups                       

For the remainder of the year you will be involved in Literature Circles, during which you will choose, read, and study a novel of your choice. You will be placed in small groups (4-5 members) based on your 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd choices. You will be responsible for multiple tasks outlined below:

Calendar:

Discussion Director: directs discussions and summarizes for the group. They set the agenda for the day, with suggestions from team members, bring questions to meetings to stimulate and facilitate discussion, and act as a summarizer for the group – i.e. the reading & what has occurred in the group that day. (The Discussion Director CANNOT take on the role of Recorder.) The agenda for the mtg. will be placed behind the Recorder's minutes in your interactive notebook each day and signed by the Discussion Director.

Recorder: records minutes about the session for that day - i.e. what did you discuss, what tasks/activities/assignments did you work on, what do you plan to do next, etc. You should also note important elements or questions raised during meeting time. I have given you the format for the minutes and put a template you can copy and print off for class sessions on the "Roles for Lit. Circles" link. Minutes will be placed in the group’s interactive notebook at the end of each day. The minutes must be signed by the Recorder each day.

Background Investigator: is responsible for researching and bringing in background info. on the author, setting, time era, events, you will read about in the novel. This role is 1 time only. This assignment is due on the first day of reading, and the name of the Investigator must be on the entry.

Plot Director: Tracks the progression of the plot - from exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, denouement, etc.

As the story unfolds, you will continue to "draw" plot entries for your interactive notebook. Remember, plot elements can be repeated, so it is possible to have more than one climax and lots of rising and falling action. The name of the Plot Director must be on each entry.

Style Analyst: chooses a passage from reading for that day and takes a close look at the author's use of diction, syntax, tone, and literary elements. Choose a scene that stands out to you. Usually that means the author has used descriptive words that bring alive a vivid image, event or emotion.  What does the author do to make the work come to life? You will probably want to highlight, margin note & annotate your text, or a copy of that passage, as this will serve as part of your explanation. You will be doing 10 passages total for your book, and these will be entered into your interactive notebook. The name of the style analyst must be on each entry.

Character Shrink: The character shrink identifies the role each character plays in the story - i.e. protagonist, antagonist, foil, tragic hero, etc. You track the characters and their development, how they relate to their world, how well they know themselves and others, how they relate/respond to the conflict. Psychoanalyze them: what makes them tick?  Finally, discuss with your teammates what they think of that character? How are they relating to them? Remember, just because someone is the protagonist doesn't mean we like them. As new characters are introduced have the Plot Director enter that on their diagram.

Thematic Tracker: identifies and tracks thematic development. Links themes to specific excerpts from the text. Have the plot director include the introduction of that theme on their drawing that day.

Travel Tracker: identifies and tracks the journey the character(s) is/are taking, either physical or metaphorically. This information will be displayed on the plot diagram too.

Conflict Tracker: identifies and tracks the different types and number of conflict in the plot and identifies their resolution. These struggles will be an integral part of the plot diagram. Make sure you are communicating well with the Plot Director.

Illustrator: provides 1-2 illustrations reflective of the reading section for the day. The task is to provide an artistic rendering of the reading. It may be symbolic or literal. Portraits, scenes, symbolic representations, abstract character sketches etc. are just a few examples of what you can include.

Assignments for Lit. Circles: You will be given a specific focus and/or assignment for each meeting day. You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the focus for that day. These include:

            Characterization

            Literary Devices, Symbolism & Motifs

            Creative Representation: visual art

            Close Reading & Thematic Development

            Current Event – tied to specific theme & Relevancy to Today

            Creative Representation: creative writing

Final Presentation:

As a group you will prepare a final product, which I am working on. I will post it soon. It will probably be something that you share in a "Jig Saw" type activity rather than a formal presentation.