Literature Circles – War Novels War and Literature Periods 6 & 9 Mrs. Maloney and Ms. Kuiphoff March 31, 2009
Today you’ll have your first meeting with your literature circle. As you’ll see, your literature circle will consist of people reading at least two different books. The purposes and responsibilities of the literature circles are explained on the reverse side of this sheet. You will also receive additional information as we move forward.
Period 6 A B C D Danielle D Julie E Jennifer Y Eftihia Brian Amanda Neal Liam Rachel B Lauren Julia H Susan David Nick Zoee Brad Min Josh Andres Jeremy Stephanie
Period 9 A B C D E Naomi Suzie Peter Saori Corey Alex K Heejin Michelle Erica Omar Mika Rob Nate Michelle Rachel L Julie F Calvin Ali F Kirk Dayne Alex L Liz Justin
Unit: Small-Group Reading of War Novels: Literature Circles
texts: A Farewell to Arms, All Quiet on the Western Front, Catch-22, Choke Creek, The Last of the Mohicans
Essential Questions: How do writers use the genre of the novel to portray war, to comment on war, and to shed light on history? How and when does war literature serve as social activism?
Each student will read at least one complete war novel, will keep a double-entry journal, and will participate in a literature circle. Each literature circle will create a wiki that will capture and convey reading experience and exploration of meanings within texts.
reading schedule:
finish 1/4 of novel by Friday, April 3 finish 1/2 of novel by Monday, April 13 finish 3/4 of novel by Monday, April 20 finish novel by Monday, April 27
Lauren Small, author of Choke Creek, will visit our classes on May 11. Today members of your literature circle will begin working together to share and to discuss the books you’re reading. Cover the following topics, in whatever order you choose.
1. You will probably want to begin by saying what you’re reading, why you selected it, and any expectations or hopes you have for your reading experience. You will also share your reading experience so far. If you’re reading a book in common with others in your group, help one another understand what is happening so far; and whatever else you find emerging – along with any observations, thoughts, questions you have. As part of this, you will share the five questions you wrote for homework and some of what you wrote in your double-entry journal. Have your questions and your journal out; Ms. K will check those as you’re working.
2. One of the big purposes of our literature circles will be to support and to help one another in your reading of novels over the next month. Your literature will operate as a team. You might even start discussing today a team name/motto/etc. Keep in mind that any reading of a novel is a process, subject to changes in opinions, experiences, thoughts, and so on – so each time you meet you might share very different experiences, thoughts.
3. As you read on the reverse side of this sheet, our reading will be guided in part by our shared essential questions: How do writers use the genre of the novel to portray war, to comment on war, and to shed light on history? How and when does war literature serve as social activism? Process together what these questions mean, or might mean – and how you might go about looking for answers to them.
4. At the beginning of this semester, you received a list of possible inquiry questions for our reading of war literature. Take out those questions (titled “Some Inquiry Question” and dated January 27, 2009) and review them; share as needed. Discuss together which of these questions interest you individually. What are your group’s collective interests? What questions is your group especially interested in investigating?
5. Your group will create together a wiki. We’ll have time in class on Friday to begin construction. Your wiki will be a format through which you will share with others your reading of your novels, your individual and shared observations, questions, opinions, and so on. It will offer other War and Literature students (and perhaps others beyond this) with information on what your group members are reading and the inquiry members of your literature circle is conducting. It should have both individual and shared components. Everyone will have responsibility for contributing to this wiki (and you will be assessed both individually and collectively).
6. If you have time, discuss today some thoughts on what you might want to do with your wiki: what you might want to call it, how you might structure it, how you might go about constructing it, and so on.
For homework, continue to read your novel (see reading schedule on other side).