Quote Paragraph

Christopher Reeve described a hero as “An ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” In speak, Melinda may not be faced with 'overwhelming' obstacles but she was, without a doubt, an ordinary teenager. After her 'abuse' she lost all her strength, integrity and popularity at school. She says: “I have survived. I am here. Confused, screwed up, but here. So, how can I find my way? Is there a chain saw of the soul, an ax I can take to my memories or fears?” Something like that is not easy to overcome. Eventually, with the help of a couple of friends and a teacher, she finds the strength to say 'no' and lets her voice be heard again.

Assignments for Novel Study

Independent Novel Study Unit

Thematic tie for this unit's possible texts:

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” (Christopher Reeve)

Required Assignments:

1. Quartering the text. Purpose: like summary sheets, these offer a synopsis of 4 sections of the text and compressed analysis of ideas therein. Use the structure as a guide. /5 X 4= 20             Print and submit

Due: Quarter #1_____________,#2____________#3___________,#4______________

1. Character Sketch. Choose one character in the novel and create a
   detailed character sketch with both written literary elements and an
   image that represents that character.  handed in - visual representation

Due:_________________________________ /24

Posted On the Blog:

3. One polished response writing where you will tie the above quote
   by Christopher Reeve to your text after researching the significance
   (remember to cite properly).
   Due:_________________________________________ /24
4. Final Essay on a student and teacher generated topic- requires a
   minimum of two conference marks. A conference is a meeting to look over your rough draft and make suggestions. Rough draft: /15 Polished copy: /15
   Due:_________________________________________________

5. Lit Circles Table Talk- self evaluation and peer evaluation-

This is the wrap-up to our novel study and a celebration.

Due:________________________________________________ /15

Keep ALL rough work! You may need rough work and ideas later to create a note bank, valuable for your lit circle discussions, which will be the final project for this unit:

there will be an adult leader for each lit circle to facilitate discussion.

Keep a paper trail in case of a cyber crisis!!

Choice Assignments & Bonus Marks:

Choose two tasks below, and do one or more for bonus marks. If you have another creative project, or design a task for more than one person, see me to negotiate your brilliant possibilities!

1. Diary Entries: From a primary character. Introspective, detailed and
   their experience through the five senses. Each entry should
   be at least a paragraph in length. Blog entry /24

2. Represent a key scene: in film, pictures, poetry, song or other media. Include a reflective write up to describe why the scene is important
   and the significance of your representation. Check with me first.

The write up must be at least a paragraph in length. /24

3. View & Analyze: view the film of your novel. Analyze as a movie critic would. Give a detailed movie review. Include the differences between movie and book. Must be at least two paragraphs in length and include quote from
   the book. Compare and contrast between movie and book.
   Blog entry /24

4. Songs: Listen, Analyze and write a song review for three songs that deal with the theme of this unit. Each review must be a paragraph in length. Include the songs or quotes from the songs. Blog entry /24

5. Create a game- either on paper or media- based on the theme of your novel.
   Include a reflection on how you've included character types,
   plots, scenery and conflict. Your reflection must be at
   least a paragraph. /24

Hero Quote

          Why are heroes born special? ''A hero is an ordinary individual...'' states Christopher Reeve. It's a true fact. Heroes aren't born with super special qualities, they just find it . Heroes become heroes by finding strength from weakness. ''I had to multiply hope by hope. Where is hope? Who has hope?'' Asks Arnold. He felt weak and was heading towards the unknown which made him stronger. He's an ordinary individual that found strength when he was weakest and travelling to the unknown.  

Quote Response- The absolutely true diary of a part time indian.

“When it comes to death, we know that laughter and tears are pretty much the same thing. And so, laughing and crying, we said good-bye to my grandmother. And when we said goodbye to one grandmother, we said good-bye to all of them. Each funeral was a funeral for all of us. We lived and died together. All of us laughed when they lowered my grandmother into the ground. And all of us laughed when they covered her with dirt. And all of us laughed as we walked and drove and rode our way back to our lonely, lonely houses.” Junior is a hero when he can take the death of his grandmother and turn such a tragic event into something joy full and heart felled. “Endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” Witch fit quite well with Junior.

Book Thing #3- Joseph Dobbs

Book study thing #3

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”, says Christopher Reeve. Katniss Everdeen, protagonist in the book “the Hunger Games”, is one of these. She faces incredibly overwhelming odds and overcomes them courageously. To many people, she is a hero and a role model, even in real life. Her personal values of loyalty, courage and determination have come to be admired all over the world. In the book, her stylist, Cinna, gives her this advice for an interview, showing how Katniss' personality and tenor are to be admired: "Why don't you just be yourself? … No one can help but admire your spirit." All included, Katniss is worthy of the title she has been given: A symbol of resilience and determination in both worlds, fictional and real.

Nailbiter

NAILBITER

-In a section of Speak. the main character Melinda mentions biting her nails and eventually the skin around it. I found that topic and the motives for it interesting, because I do the same. So I tried to find out what motivates me to do it, and I came to the solution that it has some sort of nostalgic value (to me at least) because I started when I was quite young.-

Why do I do this?
It's the only thing I know
It keeps me grounded
From wanting to let go
It's what I can remember
From so long ago
It's what keeps me safe
From the things that I don't know

It's a crutch, it reminds me of better times
When I was younger, it made me feel alright
I can't stop, it happens alot, I'm destroying my hands
But it doesn't really hurt and I don't see the point

And what does it mean when the swelling starts?
I can feel it throbbing, I'm afraid I've gone too far

Something about it feeds a need
A hunger that food can't support
And eventually I start chewing the skin
I can't hold alot of things
Something about it was appetizing
Something I can't describe
I can feel my blood rising
I feel fine

And what does it mean when the swelling starts?
I can feel it throbbing, I'm afraid I've gone too far

Worthless and alone
Getting rid of myself piece by piece seemed to make me feel more human than before
I'm worried, but not surprised

I'm asking myself rhetorical questions
I already know the answers, but it's refreshing to think I don't
I couldn't possibly prepare for everything I will go through
And this seemed to calm my nerves

And what does it mean when the swelling starts?
I can feel it throbbing, I'm afraid I've gone too far

Why do I do this?
It's the only thing I know
It keeps me grounded
From wanting to let go
It's what I can remember
From so long ago
It's what keeps me safe
From the things that I don't know

Any plagiarists will have their balls cut off and fed to my uncles cat.

Quote Response Parapgraph

“Heroes are ordinary people” according to Christoper Reeves and I couldn't agree more. People don't become heroes overnight, they have to prove themselves, usually by “finding strength to persevere and endure... obstacles.” The main character in Speak, Melinda, proves this. Before her life-changing incident, she was as plain and normal as one could be... and then it happened. As she delicately stated “He hurt me, he hurt me, he hurt me.” It isn't just that that she had to overcome, she had to live with the aftermath. Somebody who's been in a similar situation knows that it isn't something you can just forget about. It tortures you mentally. It makes you hate everyone. It makes you not want to Speak...