Nonfiction Narrative Reading

Introduction

Students,

As you read your nonfiction narrative novels, you will complete this project.  Check the assignment calendar and RenWeb for important deadlines. :)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Hoilman

Task

What will I learn from this Webquest?

  1. As I read a nonfiction account of someone's life, I will be able to determine his/her main life events and create a timeline of these events.
  2. I will use this timeline to write a summary of this person's life events.
  3. I will understand and explain how this person's life events has left a lasting impression or changed society.

Your Task:

   Over the next three weeks, you will independently read about someone in history that is of interest to you.  As you read, you will recognize major events in his/her life.  You will also write three reading responses to show your thinking and understanding of the text.  By conducting independent research, you will learn more about this person and the impact that he/she had on society.  Your final product will consist of two items.  First, you will create a timeline with a written summary of his/her key life events.  Then, you will write a letter to this person showing your understanding of his/her life and showing admiration for the lasting impression that he/she has made to our world.

Process

Process:

November 10:

  1. Complete the KW part of the KWL chart based on what your know about the person in your biography. See your project packet.
  2. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. One of your end products is to create a timeline of events with a short summary of each event.  Watch the video below so that you have an idea of what a timeline looks like. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT7G6-VcKEU

November 11:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Watch the video on finding the central idea of a nonfiction text.  https://learnzillion.com/lessons/2031-determine-the-central-idea-of-a-t…
  5. Now, use your jots and what you just learned to complete the "Determining Central Idea" sheet in your project packet.

November 12:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.

November 13:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Now, use your jots and complete the "Determining Central Idea" sheet in your project packet for tonight's reading.

November 14:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Watch the video on connotation and denotation. We had a lesson on this in class a couple of weeks ago. Remember this lesson when you are trying to determine the meaning of unknown words.  https://learnzillion.com/lessons/1971
  5. Complete your first Reading Response.  See your project packet.

November 17:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Watch the following video.  https://learnzillion.com/lessons/1993-draw-inferences-from-the-text
  5. Be prepared to write one inference jot tomorrow night as you read.

 

November 18:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details and ONE inference.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5  new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Complete the "Important Life Events" to this point in your reading. See your project packet.

November 19:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Watch the video https://learnzillion.com/lessons/5046-day-2-comprehension-skill-video Keep this strategy in mind when you come to an unknown word in your reading.

November 20:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Complete the second Reading Response.  See your project packet.

November 21:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Watch the video  https://learnzillion.com/lessons/5047-day-3-comprehension-skill-video
  5. Use your jots and complete the "Determining Central Idea" sheet in your project packet for tonight's reading.

November 24:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Watch the video  https://learnzillion.com/lessons/5048-day-4-comprehension-skill-video

November 25:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.

December 1:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 5 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Complete the "Learn More about My Character: Part 1" sheet.  See the project packet.

December 2:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 10 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Complete the "Learn More about My Character: Part 2" sheet.  See the project packet.

December 3:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 10 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.

December 4:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 10 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Complete the "Important Life Events" to this point in your reading. See your project packet.

December 5:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 10 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.
  4. Complete the third Reading Response.  See your project packet.

December 8:

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 10 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.

December 9: (Your biography should be completed tonight.)

  1. Read your required nightly reading. Remember, jot important details to help you with your summary.
  2. As you read, add important vocabulary words or unknown words to your "Word Chart" in your project packet. (You must have 10 new words by the end of the book.)
  3. If you finished a chapter, write the sentence summary on your "Sentence Summary" sheet in your project packet.

December 10-15:  Your Project is due on the 15th! (...even if we missed for snow.)

  1. Create a timeline for your person.
  2. Review your "Important Life Events" sheet, "Sentence Summary" sheet, jots, and any notes.
  3. Determine which key events best represents the life of the person.  Ask yourself, "Which events are important to showing my audience why he/she is well-known to our society?"  You MUST have 7-10 events represented on the timeline.
  4. Use the "Timeline Planner" to plan your timeline.  (This is like a rough draft.)
  5. You may use any materials that you like to create the timeline, even digital.
  6. Find online or draw a picture to represent each event.
  7. Write a brief summary for each event. Use your jots, chapter summaries, and research to help you.
  8. Write the letter to your person.
  9. Go to the following website and review the parts of a friendly letter.  http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/n/friendlyletterl.cfm
  10. Use the graphic organizer to plan your letter. See your project packet.
  11. Now, write or type a one page letter to the person that you read about telling them how you admire and appreciate what he/she did to make a lasting impression on society. You MUST use evidence from their life to support your thoughts.  (I will give you an example letter to use as a guide.)
  12. You should bring your timeline, letter, and project packet to class on December 15.  The project packet will count as two quiz grades, and the timeline/letter is a test grade.
Evaluation

Packet Work: Two Quiz Grades

  • This packet will be graded on completion.
  • It is due on December 15

Timeline & Letter: One Test Grade

  • Timeline will be worth 48 points.
  • Letter will be worth 56 points.
  • Points will be added together and divided by the total amount of points, which is 104, to get your percentage grade.

Timeline Rubric:

CATEGORY 8 6-7 4-5 0-1
Title The timeline has a creative title that accurately describes the material and is easy to locate. The timeline has an effective title that accurately describes the material and is easy to locate. The timeline has a title that is easy to locate. The title is missing or difficult to locate.
Dates An accurate, complete date has been included for each event. An accurate, complete date has been included for almost every event. An accurate date has been included for almost every event. Dates are inaccurate and/or missing for several events.
Content/Facts Facts were accurate for all events reported on the timeline. Facts were accurate for almost all events reported on the timeline. Facts were accurate for most (~75%) of the events reported on the timeline. Facts were often inaccurate for events reported on the timeline.
Pictures (digital or drawn) All pictures accurately illustrate the event based on the text. All but one or two pictures accurately illustrate the event based on the text Pictures do not accurately illustrate the event based on the text. OR Three or more events are not illustrated. All pictures do not accurately represent the text. OR There are no pictures.
Readability The overall appearance of the timeline is pleasing and easy to read. The overall appearance of the timeline is somewhat pleasing and easy to read. The timeline is relatively readable. The timeline is difficult to read.
Spelling and Capitalization Spelling and capitalization were checked by another student and are correct throughout. Spelling and capitalization were checked by another student and were mostly correct . Spelling and capitalization were mostly correct, but were not checked by another student. There were many spelling and capitalization errors.

Letter Rubric:

 

CATEGORY 8 6-7 4-5 0-1
Salutation and Closing Salutation and closing have no errors in capitalization and punctuation. Salutation and closing have 1-2 errors in capitalization and punctuation. Salutation and closing have 3 or more errors in capitalization and punctuation. Salutation and/or closing are missing.
Sentences & Paragraphs Sentences and paragraphs are complete, well-constructed and of varied structure. All sentences are complete and well-constructed (no fragments, no run-ons). Paragraphing is generally done well. Most sentences are complete and well-constructed. Paragraphing needs some work. Many sentence fragments or run-on sentences OR paragraphing needs lots of work.
Ideas Ideas were expressed in a clear and organized fashion. It was easy to figure out what the letter was about. Ideas were expressed in a pretty clear manner, but the organization could have been better. Ideas were somewhat organized, but were not very clear. It took more than one reading to figure out what the letter was about. The letter seemed to be a collection of unrelated sentences. It was very difficult to figure out what the letter was about.
Length The letter is 15 or more sentences. The letter is 13-14 sentences. The letter is 10-12 sentences. The letter is less than 10 sentences.
Format Complies with all the requirements for a friendly letter. Complies with almost all the requirements for a friendly letter. Complies with several of the requirements for a friendly letter. Complies with less than 75% of the requirements for a friendly letter.
Content Accuracy The letter contains at least 5 accurate facts about the topic. These facts support why you appreciate, admire how this person made a lasting impression on society. The letter contains 3-4 accurate facts about the topic.These facts support why you appreciate, admire how this person made a lasting impression on society. The letter contains 1-2 accurate facts about the topic.These facts support why you appreciate, admire how this person made a lasting impression on society. The letter contains no accurate facts about the topic. OR These facts do not show how he/she made a lasting impression on society.
Grammar & spelling (conventions) Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling. Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar and/or spelling. Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar and/or spelling Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar and/or spelling.