2. The books may be fiction or non-fiction.

3. Choose books appropriate to your age and reading level. Each book should be a full-length, well-written, serious book.

4. Fill out the works cited form for each book. You will need this for the essay at the end.

6. Bring your book every Tuesday and Thursday.

7. Make entries in your Reader’s Notebook each week.

8. Come to class at the end of the semester having finished both books and write an essay about your topic.

10. Overview:

11. The Topic of Interest assignment asked you to choose two books that allow you to study a topic that interests you. My hope is that you learned something about your topic and why it is of interest to you. Now it’s time to write!

12. Goals:

13. This in-class essay has several goals. Specifically, you should:

14. Establish a focus for your paper. What is important about your topic (thesis statement)? (20 pts.)

15. Organize your ideas effectively to communicate them. What points do you want to make about your topic (body)? (20 pts.)

16. In the body of the essay, develop your points by providing examples and quotations from your Reader’s Notebook then explain how these relate to your main focus-thesis statement. (20 pts.)

17. Show that you read and understood the books you chose. (20 pts.)

18. Include the Works Cited information from the forms you filled out on each book. (20 pts.)

19. 100 points total

20. Directions:

21. Use the following guidelines to prepare and write your essay in class (500-700 words):

22. Write an Introduction that tells us:

23. who or what topic you read about,

24. refer to the titles and authors of the books you read,

25. why you read about this topic, and

26. why this topic is important (not just to you, but to others).

27. Identify the points you want to make about this topic.

28. Establish a clear and effective focus in each paragraph.

29. Example: The character, Tony, in the novel and Pelé both had to overcome an obstacle. They both grew up very poor.

30. Provide examples from your Reader’s Notebook.

31. Explain how these examples relate to your main idea-thesis statement.

32. Discuss the importance of this topic. For example, discuss how the characters or people overcome obstacles to succeed.

34. Give a three-four minute presentation on your topic. (25 pts.)

35. This presentation is formal and should be well-organized. (25 pts.)

36. You may use a visual, but it is optional.

37. You may use up to five note cards to guide your speech.

38. Use formal speaking strategies (25 pts.)

39. Use correct grammar and Standard English (no slang).

40. Use good voice projection.

41. You should make eye contact with your audience.

42. Do not read the whole speech from the note cards.

44. Support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to other works.

45. Demonstrate awareness of the author’s use of stylistic devices and an appreciation of the effects created.

46. Identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text.Written and Oral English Language Conventions<br />The standards for written and oral English language conventions have been placed between those for writing and for listening and speaking because these conventions are essential to both sets of skills. <br />Written and Oral English Language Conventions <br />Students write and speak with a command of Standard English conventions.<br />2.0 Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics) <br />Students deliver polished formal and extemporaneous presentations that combine the traditional rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description. Student speaking demonstrates a Students command of standard American English and the organizational and delivery strategies outlined in Listening and Speaking 1.0.<br />1.0 Speaking Standard <br />Using the speaking strategies of grade nine and ten outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 1.0, students: write and speak with a command of Standard English conventions appropriate to the grade level. <br />