Name__________________________
ELA 7
Quarter 4 Independent Reading Book Review
Due: Wed- June 8th
This quarter, you will be writing a book review examining important literary terms for your independent
reading project. You will have 4 weeks to read and complete your assignment. The final product must be typed
and follow these parameters:
•
•
Create a typed review (Times New Roman font size 12), single-spaced, about an age and school
appropriate book that you have read and that you truly enjoyed.
Include a summary, your name, genre, number of pages, rating on a scale from 1-10 (1 being the
worst and 10 being the best rating).
In addition, you MUST include the following:
CONFLICT
*Each story involves several conflicts that make the story interesting and lead to the climax. Finally in the end,
the story is resolved in some way. We call the main problem in the story the central conflict. For example, in
Bearstone, the central conflict that drives the novel stems from Cloyd’s bitterness over his upbringing in a
group home and his yearning for a real father. Almost as important are Cloyd’s love of solitude in the
wilderness and his need to learn to live with others.
• Define conflict AND provide a description of the main conflict the character faces and how it is
resolved.
THEME
*Often in a book there are one or two ideas that tie the whole book together. We call these ideas the themes of
the book. A theme is simply a recurring idea or issue in a book. For example, in Bearstone, some themes
include: Forgiveness and compassion can conquer anger and hatred as well as a love of nature and animals can
inspire a deeper understanding of human relationships.
•
•
•
Define Theme
Provide an explanation of what theme you think is the most important in your book and why it is most
important.
Select THREE quotations (where you copy directly from the book) which show the importance of your
chosen theme and explain why it shows the theme’s importance.
CHARACTERIZATION
*We find out about people in lots of different ways- what they say, what they do, what others say about them.
It’s exactly the same in a book! How does the author of your chosen book build up the main characters?
• Define Characterization
• What does the main character look like? Find a description in your book and put it into your own words.
• What does the main character do and what does that say about him/her?
• What do other people think about the main character? How does this affect what you think of them?
You must provide an opinion
• What does the main character say and what does this suggest about him/her? Support it with evidence.
Climax
*Every story has several conflicts that lead up to a high/turning point. This point of intensity in the plot is called
the climax which brings all of the prior events to a head and leads to the resolution of the story. For example, in
Bearstone, the climax or turning point takes place in the mountains when Cloyd sees Rusty kill the grizzly and
then discovers Walter’s accident.
You MAY NOT PLAGIARIZE your book review summary. You must create your own words here. If
you try to copy a summary found on the book or from the Internet, your book review will not be
accepted.
•
Include a printed picture of the book cover that is at least 5” tall and 4” wide.
Your book review should be very similar to the example below:
In this box include:
1. Summary
2. Conflict
•
•
Definition
a description of the main conflict the
character faces and how it is resolved
3. Theme
•
•
•
Definition
Explanation of what theme you think is the
most important in your book and why it is
most important.
Select THREE quotations (where you copy
directly from the book) which show the
importance of your chosen theme and
explain why it shows the theme’s
importance.
4. Characterization
•
•
•
•
•
Define Characterization
What does the main character look like? Find
a description in your book and put it into
your own words.
What does the main character do and what
does that say about him/her?
What do other people think about the main
character? How does this affect what you
think of them? You must provide an
opinion
What does the main character say and what
does this suggest about him/her? Support it
with evidence.
5. Climax
Name: Mrs. May
Pages: 160
Teacher: Mrs. May
Rating: 10/10
Genre: Fiction/Adventure
•
•
Definition
Describe the climax and explain why it is the
turning point and how it leads to the
resolution
Name________________________
Independent Reading- Book Choice Form
Date__________
ELA 7
Independent Reading- Quarter 4
Book Choice Form
Book Selection/form: Due Tuesday- May 17th
Project Due: Wednesday- June 8th
You will be responsible for choosing a book for your Quarter 4 Independent Reading assignment
by Tuesday- May 17th. All of the information below must be filled out in entirety. You should
practice good reading habits such as reading at least 20 minutes a day/night. Attached, you will
find a graphic organizer to help you organize your thoughts and answer the questions
completely. Budget your time wisely, leaving yourself enough time to read and complete the
assignment in a timely manner.
Title of novel:__________________________________
Author of novel:________________________________
Number of pages:_________
Genre:____________________
For this Independent Reading assignment, you may choose a book from any genre. Make sure
that the book is at your appropriate reading level.
Your book choice must be a minimum of 100 pages, not including picture. The book you choose
must be something you’ve never read before. *I know what books were read in elementary
school.
Student Signature____________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature___________________________
For teacher use only
Book approved: Yes____
No____
Teacher’s initials___________
NOTES
Conflict
Definition-
Theme
Definition-
Be sure you have every part answered
completely!
Characterization
Definition-
Climax
Definition-
Character description from bookDescription of main conflict-
Describe the climax and
explain why it is the turning
point and how it leads to the
resolution-
What is a theme in your book?
Explain your theme
What does the main character do?
What does it say about him/her?
How is it resolved?
Why is it important?
What do other people think about
the main character? How does this
affect what you think of them? You
must provide an opinionTHREE quotations which show the
importance of your chosen theme and
explain why it shows the theme’s
importance.