Novel Unit (Begin now…must finish before the course ends!)

Hello English Students!

    You should have your novel now.  Please disregard the Novel Unit on WebCt.  Your novel unit will be outlined in this post.  The unit has four parts…

1) Novel Journals(5 journal posts, 30 marks each).  Your journal will be posted in WebCt for other English students to read.  There will be bonus opportunity for students to respond to your  in their blogs.  Please see Novel Bonus below.

2) Novel Essay (This is a supervised essay and will be done at the completion of the novel.  You may have a copy of your journal posts while you write.)  The essay will be scored /60. 

3) Novel Test (This is a supervised, multiple choice test.  It is closed book and no novel or notes will be permitted).  The test is scored /100.

4) Novel Bonus(These bonus assignments will be posted and will require the student to use their blog to respond to questions.  As well there will be bonus opportunity in responding to other student journal posts.)

Novel Journal Questions

Journal Question #1 (due after you finish your first 50 pages)
 
Discuss the Plot and other Mechanics of the first 50 pages:
(Minimum word length….Grade 12 (400+) Grade 11 (300+) Grade 10 (200+))
Specifically discuss the…

a. Setting – consider the following:
• actual geographic location, physical arrangement of rooms
• the time period, history or season in which the action takes place
• general environment of characters (for example, the religious, mental, moral, social,
economic, and/or economic conditions)
b. Characters: list major characters of book (introduced in the first 50 pages) and include the following for each:
• conflicts (internal or external) that motivate and shape the character
• two or three words (key personality traits) that characterize each person (example:
ambitions, lonely, overprotected)
c. Point of view
• identify point of view used (first person narrator; third person limited; third person
omniscient)
d. Plot
• summarize the plot (50 words or fewer)
• see if you can make a connection between this work and another story with similar
plot lines or similar characters, etc.
e. Opening chapter/first few pages
 

Journal Question #2 (due after you finish 125-150 pages)
 
Discuss the conflict(s) developed in the first 125-150 pages:
(Minimum word length….Grade 12 (400+) Grade 11 (300+) Grade 10 (200+))

Conflict is the struggle between opposing characters or forces, that is the protagonist and someone or something else.  Additional conflicts, which the protagonist is not involved in may also be found in a short story.  Three common types of conflict are as follows…

1. Conflict can be found between a character and his or her environment.  The conflict may be nature, society, or circumstance.  This is often called an “external conflict”.  Discuss any conflict of this type in the novel.

2.  Conflict can be found between two characters.  This struggle may be physical, emotional, or psychological.  This type of conflict is also called “external conflict”.  Discuss any of this type of conflict found in the novel.

3.  Conflict can be found within a character.  In this case, the character experiences conflict in emotion and/or thought.  This type of conflict is called “internal conflict” and is very important to a story.  In a short story, all three types of conflict may be occurring at the same time.  Discuss the internal conflicts occurring in your novel.

Journal Question #3 (due after you finish 200-250 pages)
 
Discuss the development of character(s) in the first 200-250 pages:
(Minimum word length….Grade 12 (400+) Grade 11 (300+) Grade 10 (200+))

The term ‘character’ refers to both a fictional person in the story, and the moral, dispositional, and behavioral qualities of that fictional person.  The qualities of a character are generally revealed through dialogue, action, and description (often said as ‘what the person says, what the person does, and what others (including author) say about the person).

Other classifications of a character include…

Flat Character-a limited, usually minor character with only one apparent quality.  It would be impossible to write a full character essay on such a limited character.  There just isn’t enough to work with.

Round Character- is a realistic character with several dimensions.  It would be easy to write a full character essay on this character because there is so much to work with.

Stereotyped Character-is a one-dimensional character who is recognizable to the reader as ‘of a type’ for example the jock, the brain, the yuppie.

Dynamic Character-is often the protagonist and is a character who undergoes a significant, lasting change, usually in his or her outlook on life.

Static Character-is a character who does not change in the course of the story.

Journal Question #4 (due after you finish 300-350 pages)

Discuss the symbolism in the novel so far:
(Minimum word length….Grade 12 (400+) Grade 11 (300+) Grade 10 (200+)

The word ‘symbol‘ refers to a person, place, thing, or event that stands for or represents something else.  For example, a flag is a symbol of a nation.

Look up symbolismin the back of your textbook.  What is the definition there?  Do some internet research about symbolism (use of symbols).  Select some symbols in the novel and discuss them.  Remember that the use of support quotes is essential.

Journal Question #5 (The last one!)

(Minimum word length….Grade 12 (400+) Grade 11 (300+) Grade 10 (200+)

Discuss the connections between the novel and real life.  Select some themesfrom the novel and connect them to current events.  Look for newspaper articles online that might support your connections.  Use support quotes from the novel to prove the connection.

A theme is a central idea in a literary work.  If you are unclear about the themes in your novel, please let me know and we can brainstorm some.