Novel Project Ideas:

1. Make a time line of important events. Illustrate it using color.

2. Create a chart of all the characters in the book. Describe each character, and tell why that character is important to the story.

3. In paragraph form explain how this novel connects to your personal life. Use details from the story.

4. Illustrate the major events of the story. Write a caption to explain each illustration. Color the illustrations.

5. Write at least 4 diary entries as if it were written by one of the main characters in the book.

6. Write a letter to a character giving him or her advice about a problem he or she is having in the book.

7. Compare and contrast two main characters in the book.

8. Using descriptive language and details from the book, describe the setting of the story.

9. Summarize the plot of the novel telling about the main problem in the story, the events, and the solution to the problem.

10. Find and define 25 vocabulary words. Write down the original sentence in the novel where you found the word.

11. Design a book jacket for the book; make a front cover with an illustration, the title, and the author’s name. Then design the back of the book with a short summary of the story.

12. Write about one of main events in the story in play form.

13. Present a book talk to the class telling us about the story, and why we should read it.

14. Write a 10-segment comic strip of the book. Under each segment explain what is happening in the book.

15. Write a pretend interview with the main character in the book, as if you were a talk-show host and he /she was your guest.

16. Any other ideas? Ask me to get an OK.

Quality Book report Rubric

Basics:

Directions for each book report choice should be followed.

Book reports are written in BEST HAND WRITING or typed (Comic Sans, Ariel, or Times New Roman 12 pt font).

Written book reports should be at least three paragraphs in length. A paragraph has at least 5 sentences in it.

All art/illustrations should be done neatly, with color, showing evidence of effort, and be important to the story. All except for the book cover should include a description.

Descriptions of scenes can be one paragraph. But summaries of novels should have multiple paragraphs (at least three paragraphs) and include all the important events of the story.

Spelling, punctuation and word choice need to be correct throughout.

If describing a character, a minimum of one paragraph for minor characters, two for major, three for the protagonist (main character) or the antagonist.

Diary entries should have at least one paragraph per entry.

Plays and interviews should be at least 300 words long.

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Paper was incomplete.	Progressing toward a quality 5^th grade book report	Followed all basics of book report. Showed quality 5^th grade effort with complete sentences and paragraphs. Corrected spelling, etc. Art shows effort and is important to the novel.	Exceeded basics of book report.