Author Study

Introduction

                                                         The best female authors of all time

Students will be doing an author study of an author of their choice. In class, I assigned you to read two books from your favorite author or desired author. I will have you do a study over your author that will require facts from resources and a comparison and contrast of their other works, and finally a critical evaluation of the author. You will insert all of your findings and evaluation into your own google slide presentation using the template I have provided and present your findings. Let's learn more about our favorite authors!

Task

In this WebQuest, students will.....

- Gather information about the authors of their books from the book itself and online resources (links to resources will be provided)

- Find one podcast or video interview including your author (if there are no sources with your author in them, find one about your author)

-Students will need to find their age, birthday, hometown or state, and as much basic information about them that is available

-Students will find the genres they commonly write

-Students will find any awards they have earned

-Students will compare and contrast the two books they have just read and note any differences in similarities (genre, point of view, writing style, etc.)

-Students will then provide a critical evaluation of the author (why they like the author, what they do well, what is good about their books, what is not, etc.)

- They will take their findings and evaluations to fill out a template on the google slides I have provided 

Process

First, you will open their google slides and select the template I have created for our author study. You will use the slides to insert the information that you find to create a cohesive presentation at the end. Next, you will use the link provided below (Teaching Books) and sign up as a student. You will then search your author's name in the search bar and begin finding the information bout your author. You are then required to find a video or podcast video including your author. If your author is not included in one, find one about them and provide the link to this resource in your google slides. 

Next, you will compare and contrast your two books regarding the author. Did the author write these books similarly or differently? Compare and contrast the point of view, genre, writing style, etc. 

Finally, you will provide your own critical evaluation of the author at the end of the slide presentation. Describe what you like and do not like about the author, what you think they do well in their books, and what they do not do well, and provide supporting details of why you think this way. You will then present your author study to the class.

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?go=1&adv=author

https://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews (Some video interviews with common authors)

https://podcasts.google.com/ (Google podcasts, search for your author here)

https://www.youtube.com/ ( If you are unable to find your author on other resources, try youtube)

 

Evaluation

 

Internet Use

4 Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

3 Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

2 Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

1 Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.

Compare and Contrast

4 Compare and contrast has at least three accurate differences and similarities

3 Compare and contrast has at least three accurate differences and similarities but two or less are inaccurate

2  Compare and contrast have a few similarities and differences and some are inaccurate

1 Compare and contrast have no similarities and differences.

Compare and Contrast

4 Compare and contrast has at least three accurate differences and similarities

3 Compare and contrast has at least three accurate differences and similarities but two or less are inaccurate

2 Compare and contrast have a few similarities and differences and some are inaccurate

1 Compare and contrast have no similarities and differences.

Diagrams & Illustrations

4 Presentations are neat, accurate, and add to the reader\'s understanding of the topic.

3 Presentations are accurate and add to the reader\'s understanding of the topic.

2 Presentations are neat and accurate and sometimes add to the reader\'s understanding of the topic.

1 Presentation are not accurate OR does not add to the reader\'s understanding of the topic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Now you know more about your author and other students' favorite authors. This assignment will help with your critical thinking, ability to use online resources to discover things, critical analysis, and help you form a deeper attachment and interest in your books. Hearing other's authors' studies, it exposes you to many more authors and maybe even enticed you to read some of their books.

Credits
Teacher Page

Geared to students 6-8

This lesson will help students develop better reading and critical thinking skills. This author study requires students to read two pieces of work by one specific author. They will have to take note of all elements of a book in order to successfully compare and contrast the two books.

This will also help students develop a love for reading and allow them to connect with books easier when they have the ability to discover more about the authors. 

The presentation portion of this lesson will expose students to new authors and new genres. It may introduce them to a new book they would like to read and will encourage more exploration of books.

The two resources below will be helpful in creating your author study and providing tips and reasons on why author studies are beneficial.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:author%20study%20for%20middle%20school

https://www.adlit.org/books-and-authors/author-study-toolkit/10-reasons-do-author-study