Monday, August 20 ~ Let the Lit Circles Begin!

REMINDERS:

• Tuesday is picture day. 
• No Block this week.

 EQ: How should you approach your Lit Circle in order to make it a beneficial experience?

Literature Circles Roles

Summarizer: Your job is to write a summary of at least one page covering all the important events from the assigned reading and explaining why these events were significant. How did they change the characters? How did they develop themes? 

Discussion Director: Your job is to write down at least five questions for discussion. These questions should be open-ended (not "yes/no" questions) and designed to spark interesting discussion. Questions that are controversial or require students to think about what they would do in a situation that relates to the story are good conversation starters.  You also must write a 3-5 sentence response to each of your questions to share with your circle after they have had a chance to answer.  

During the discussion, your job is to encourage all group members to participate by involving them in the discussion, to ask follow-up questions when conversation lags, and to be sure that every participant has a chance to present his or her preparation.  

*When you don’t know what to say… 

Sentence Starters for Discussions

Relate to Personal Experience:

1. If I were__________, I would ______________ because_______. 

2. I am a lot like ___________ because____________.

3. This scene in the novel reminds me of ___________.

4. I would like to be like _________ because he/she_____________. 

5. My experience is similar/different because _____.

6. I understand how you feel because _____.

7. If I could introduce one character to my family or friends, it would be __________.

Go to the Text:

1. What evidence do you have from the book that leads you to believe that_____?

2. How do you know that_____?

3. Can you show me where it says __________?

4. Remember the part when _______?

5. The author creates conflict when __________.

Ask a Question:

1. What do you mean when you say __________?

2. Why do you think that __________?

3. Can you give an example?

4. Why does ________ do __________?

5. I think _______ is confusing because _________.

6. If I could ask __________ one question, this would be my question:

7. Why does the author __________?

Express an Opinion:

1. I agree that _____ because _____.

2. I think that _____ because _____.

3. I disagree with _________'s actions because___________. 

4. I like the way the author uses __________ because__________.

5. If ___________ had not done ___________, I think__________.

6. I like _______, because____________.

7. I would be embarrassed to introduce _____ to my family because_______.

8. I want to tell the author of the story that ___________.

9. I just hate that _________ because ___________.

Speculate: 
1. If I could change anything in the story I would change ________ because________.
2. I wonder if ________________.
3. I wish that _________________.
4. I would like to give the following advice to___________:
5. If only ___________ had _________ I think he/she would have ___________

Connector:

Your job is to find at least four connections between the story and the world/present. These connections might relate to current events, personal experiences, movies or other books, or anything else that relates to the story in some way. Write a paragraph explanation of each connection (4-8 paragraphs total).

During the literature circle, present each connection to your group, and ask them if they can provide additional connections for this section of the text. 

Literary Luminary: Your job is to compile at least four quotations from the reading that you think are significant or include interesting/poetic language. Be sure to use MLA format for your citations. For each quote, write a paragraph discussing what the quote means and what role it plays in the story. (4 paragraphs total)

During the Literature Circle, you will read each quotation to your group, then ask your group what they notice about the quotation, what they think it means, and what role the quotation plays in the story. 

Literary Terms Expert: Your job is to write down at least four examples of magical realism and figurative language (metaphors, similes, symbolism, etc.). Be sure to use MLA format for your citations. For each example, write a paragraph discussing the example's meaning and what role it plays in the story. (4 paragraphs total)

During the Literature Circles, share these examples with your group and ask them to discuss their meaning before you offer your answers.  

**We will group up by books and we will make adjustments for those that happen to be the only one who read a certain novel.

You will be graded on:

• participation in group discussion (5 points)
• depth of understanding (5 points)
• following the directions for your assigned role(s) (10 points 

NO HOMEWORK