The document outlines a reading project assignment where students will analyze and compare two books of their choosing. They can complete a portfolio of tasks analyzing elements like plot, characters, setting, themes, and structure. The teacher provides examples of tasks but emphasizes that students can create their own analyses and pieces of work. The goal is for students to enjoy the process and create work they are proud of that demonstrates their learning and development.

1. Reading Project
Your reading project should be a study of twobooks. It might be
interesting tocomparetwobooks from the samegenre, or from very
different genres – it’s up to you.
I’m not going to giveyou any timescalesor deadlinesyet – just get started
by choosing and reading and starting tothinkabout what you’re going to
do. I will writeup some deadlinesand other requirementsbytheend of the
next half term, and we will probablytry to have thisall done before the end
of thehalf term after Easter, but I will be moreclear about thisas we go
along.
Thisis about the end result – I want you to makepiecesof work you are
pleased with, that you’ve enjoyed doing and that show how you are
developing and learning things.
BUT it’s also about enjoying thejourney.
Thisis not one pieceof work – it’sa ‘portfolio’ of tasks. I will guideyou,
and I might ask for more from you, or encourageyou to revisit and develop
things, but you canchoose a rangeof different thingsyou might do. I have
a rangeof examplesbut
 You absolutely don’t have to do all of these
 You absolutely can createa different thing you want to do
1. Introduction to Plot,Authors and Choices
 Summarisetheplotsof both books or stories. Each summaryshould
be no longer than100 words.
 You could also introducetheauthorsand any informationthat you
have on them. The internet would be a great resourcehere, but don’t
ever copy and pasteand thinkthat’swork. Read, think, reflect, and
then writeyour own response.
 Why have you chosen these? Both individuallyand together (so why
thisone, and why thisone, and why these two together?)

2. 2. Characters
 Makenotes with evidence from the text on the main
characters/peopleinyour books.
 Do thecharactersseem realistic? Ifnot, why not?
 Outlinethe development of thecharacters-dotheylearnanything?
How do they changeas the plot develops?
 Makea personal response to the characters-doyou like them? Would
you choose them as a friend?
 Writea letter to one of the charactersinthe book.
 Imaginethat a film is being madeof your books. Which actorswould
you choose to play which character? Makesureyou say why.
 Rewritean extract from thestory from thepoint of view of a different
character
 Rewritean extract from thestory so that you try to changethereaders
sympathyor empathyfrom one charactertoanother. (Ask me for
help with this idea if you need it).
3. Settings
 What isthe setting for each book? Are they similar or very different?
Pickone setting for each book and describeit. Perhapsyou could try
to find a picturefrom a magazineor the internet that matchesyour
description.
 Remember that aswell as ‘Place’, setting also means‘Time’ – is the
story set now? In the past, the future? In some different realityor a
fantasysetting?
 Did you get a clear pictureinyour mind of the setting? If you did not
get a clear picture, explainwhat theproblemswere and give examples
from the text. If you do, explainwith evidencefrom the text what
providesthat picture.
 Have you ever been there or would you like to go there? Give reasons
for your answer.
 When describing a setting, did theauthorsuse all five senses? Give
examples.
 What wasthe best part of the setting and why?
 How did the setting reflect what else was happening inthe book? For
examplewas it darkand gloomy when a character felt sad?
 Draw a map of the story.

3. 4. Themes
 Pickout themainthemes of your books eg. love, fear, power.
 Makea collage using imageand text to illustratethethemes from
your book.
 Writea poem based on your storiesabout one of the themes.
 Do you thinkthe stories providegood answersto the questionsthey
consider? Complicated answersor easy answers? Arethey more
about thinking about thequestionthanproviding ananswer?
5. Structure
 Remember what Todorov said about narrativestructure? Think
about his ideasand how they applyto your stories.
 Draw tension graphsfor your books, explaining which werethe most
exciting partsand why. You should also pickout any dull partsand
explainwhy you though them to be boring. Pickout the most
readablepartsand explainyour choice. Which bitswerethe most
tediousand why? (I’ll remind you about tensiongraphsand show
you some examples)
 Choose an extractfrom the storyand recreateit in the style of a
graphic novel.
 Choose an extractfrom the storyand rewriteit as a script for a play.
6. Performance
 Reading aloud – choose extractsfrom your book and make a
recording of you reading them. (You might be ableto do thison a
phone or a computer you have. If not, or you’re not sure how, I can
help here with guidanceand also with equipment).
7. Opinions
 What do you think about thetwo books? Do you prefer one or the
other? Why?