Book Project Outlines
For your book project, pick 7 ideas from the following
suggestions that demonstrate-
- Book Review
- Summary (Main Idea of the Book)
- Character Analysis
- Theme Analysis ( Or Conflict
Analysis)
- A Letter to the Writer
- Creative Response
- Graphic that illustrates the book
Suggested ideas for the book project:
- Write a book review as it would be done for a
newspaper. ( Be sure you read a few before writing your own.)
- Write a feature article (with a headline) that tells the story of the
book as it might be found on the front page of a newspaper in the town where
the story takes place ( for book summary).
- Interview a character from your book. Write at least
ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss
his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you
choose to present your interview is up to you. (for character analysis)
- Write a diary that one of the story's main characters
might have kept before, during, or after the book's events. Remember that
the character's thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary. (for
character analysis)
- Write about one of the character's life twenty years from now.
(creative response)
- Dramatize
a scene from the book (creative response).
- Write a letter (10-sentence minimum) to the main
character of your book asking questions, protesting a situation, and/or
making a complaint and/or a suggestion. This must be done in the correct
letter format. (character analysis or creative writing)
- Write a FULL (physical, emotional, relational) description of three of
the characters in the book. Draw a portrait to accompany each description.
(character analysis & graphic)
-
Write
and perform an original song that tells the story of the book.( creative
writing)
- Design a book jacket for the book. I STRONGLY suggest that you look at
an actual book jacket before you attempt this. (graphic & summary)
- Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article,
cover the weather in another, do a feature story on one of the more
interesting characters in another. Include an editorial and a collection of
ads that would be pertinent to the story. (summary/ character
analysis/creative writing/graphic/ theme analysis)
- Do a book talk. Talk to the class about your book by saying a little
about the author, explain who the characters are and explain enough about
the beginning of the story so that everyone will understand what they are
about to read. Finally, read an exciting, interesting, or amusing passage
from your book. Stop reading at a moment that leaves the audience hanging
and add "If you want to know more you'll have to read the book."
(book review)
- Make a graphic representation of an event or character in the story. /
Make a Venn diagram of the people, events or settings in your story.
(graphic)
- Make a poster advertising your book so someone else will want to read
it. (graphic)
- Choose five "artifact" from the book that best illustrate the happenings
and meanings of the story. Tell why you chose each one. ( theme analysis)
- Stories are made up; on conflicts and solutions. Choose three conflicts
that take place in the story and give the solutions. Is there one that you
wish had been handled differently? ( conflict analysis)
- Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly
the book becomes a best seller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to
get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain why the
story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a
filming location and the actors to play the various roles. ( book summary)
- Write a different ending for your story. / Write a different beginning.
( creative response)
- Write a
letter to the author of the book (letter to the author).
- Make a character tree, where one side is event, symmetrical side is
emotion or growth. ( character analysis)
- Choose a quote from a character. Write why it would or wouldn't be a
good motto by which to live your life ( character analysis)
- Make a Venn diagram on the ways you are like and unlike one of the
characters in your story( character analysis)
- Write an obituary for one of the characters. Be sure to include
life-time accomplishments. (character analysis)
- Do some research on a topic brought up; in your book.
( creative response)
- Find a song or a poem that relates to the theme of your book. Explain
the similarities. ( creative response)
- Exaggerate either characteristics or events and write a tabloid-style
news story related to your book. ( character analysis)
- Write a letter to the main character of the book. Write the letter he or
she sends back. ( creative response)
- Write a
diary as the main character would write it to explain the events of the
story. Must have at least 5 entries( character analysis/creative response)
- Make a collage representing some event or part of your book.
(graphic)
- Create a radio ad for your book. Write out the script and tape record it
as it would be presented. Don't forget background music! (creative response)
- Make a "wanted" poster for one of the characters or objects in your
book. Include the following: (a) a drawing or cut out picture of the
character or object, (b) a physical description of the character or object,
(c) the character's or object's misdeeds (or deeds?), (d) other information
about the character or object which is important, (e) the reward offered for
the capture of the character or object. ( graphic)
- You are a prosecuting attorney putting one of the characters from the
book you read on trial for a crime or misdeed. Prepare your case on paper,
giving all your arguments. ( character analysis/ creative response)
-
Make a
list of at least ten proverbs or familiar sayings. Now decide which
characters in the book you read should have followed the suggestions in the
familiar sayings and why. ( character analysis/ creative response)
- Pick a national issue. Compose a speech to be given on that topic by one
of the major characters in the book you read. Be sure the contents of the
speech reflect the characters personality and beliefs. ( creative response)
- Complete each of these eight ideas with material growing out of the book
you read: This book made me wish that..., realize that..., decide that...,
wonder about..., see that..., believe that ..., feel that..., and hope
that... ( reader's response)
- Look through magazines for words and pictures that describe your book.
Use these to create a collage on a bookmark. Make the bookmark available for
others to use as they read the same book. ( graphic)
- Design a poster to advertise your book. Be creative...use
detail...elaborate...use color! Can you make it 3-D or movable? ( graphic)
- Gather a large collection of current events that reflect incidents that
closely parallel those in your novel. ( creative response)