Book Talk Assignment and Rubric s1

Independent Reading Book Talk Assignment Due November 27, 2017

Assigned on Monday, September 25, 2017

Your Book Talk assignment involves delivering an oral presentation (approximately 2-3 minutes) to the class about a novel you have read for independent reading. The objective of a book talk is to convince the listener to read the book you are recommending. A book talk is very similar to a preview for a film, which shows you just enough information to convince you that you should go see the movie. This assignment will be worth 60 points. You may use notes to make your presentation. At the end of your presentation you will be expected to hand in a written book talk and any notes that you used to present.

1. Introduction: Find an interesting, exciting, or mysterious excerpt from the book to start off your presentation (at least 3-5 sentences). This excerpt should grab the reader’s attention. Don’t just pick any old excerpt. You might want to choose an excerpt that shows something about the character/conflict/theme in the story. Also explain why you chose the excerpt. Clearly introduce your book by giving the name and author of the book.

1. Middle: The middle of the presentation will cover the setting, characters, and general plot of the book without giving away too much of the story. No SPOILERS! Tell a little about where the book is set, what kind of action or conflict is involved in the book, and what it is about in general (Think about the summary on the back cover of a book, but do NOT just read what is written on the back - you must write this overview yourself). Mention the Theme of the novel and give support to explain why that is the theme. Under no circumstances should you give away the specific ending of the novel. Do not just list the characters and the setting and don’t give a drawn out summary of the book.

2. End: Without giving away specific plot details, explain why you enjoyed this book, and try to convince the class to read it. Explain what type of reader might enjoy this book and explain why. An example of a short book talk on The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman:

“There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.”

So begins the story of Nobody Owens, known as Bod. On the night his parents are brutally murdered, 2 year old Bod calmly climbs out of his crib and toddles out of the house and into a nearby cemetery. There he is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Owens (childless and dead for 250 years!) who gladly care for the child and protect him from harm.

With loving ghostly parents, teachers, friends, and protectors, Bod grows from age two to fifteen in the graveyard. He learns to read and do numbers, and he also learns some ghostly skills. But not all the residents of the graveyard are friendly. There are witches, ghouls and creatures, and let’s not forget Jack – the evil fiend who is out to finish the job he started.

Filled with great illustrations, this is a funny, exciting and suspenseful story. How will Bod survive? Or will he? Can his loving family and friends really protect him from the evil Jack? This delightfully gruesome tale will certainly appeal to both boys and girls who like adventure stories, suspense and some action. The Graveyard Book won the Newbery Award in 2009, and the award said that the book is a “delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humour and human longing" (by Diane Ferbrache, Hazen High School Librarian for The Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, 2011). Name: ______Book Title: ______

Rubric for Book Talk

Criteria Advanced Proficient Partial Proficient Emerging 10 points 8 points 6 points 4 points Introduction Exceptional and Creative Not a very Not a very good attracts audience creative beginning beginning with a creative or beginning with no with an excellent good excerpt from interesting quote and interesting the text beginning with a excerpt from text weaker quote Discusses the plot, Thorough and Somewhat General summary Very brief setting, and interesting thorough and of these elements; summary without characters summary of these interesting may have a few enough detail; elements summary of these missing lacking some elements elements Discusses the Correctly Correctly Mentions a Does not discuss theme identifies the discusses theme general theme or theme at all theme and but does not incorrect theme provides specific include enough but does not support and explanation or provide any explanation support support Conclusion makes Very enticing Somewhat Concluded but did Unconvincing us want to read conclusion – interesting not draw the conclusion or too the book (or not draws the listener conclusion- listener to read the brief; may not give read the book) to read the book listener might book opinion or with convincing want to read the recommendation explanation book Presentation skills Always maintains Almost always Sometimes Never maintains  Eye contact eye contact and maintains eye maintains eye eye contact;  Audible engages audience; contact; contact; presentation is not  Time limit presentation is presentation is presentation is audible; clear & audible; mostly audible; somewhat audible; presentation is stays within time stays close to the either too long or way too long or limit time limit too short way too short. Oral Reading Reads excerpt Reads excerpt Reads excerpt Reads excerpt Fluency from the text very from the text with from the text with from the text with clearly with appropriate little expression no expression and effective expression and and inappropriate inappropriate expression and pacing pacing (either too pacing (way too pacing for quickly or too quickly or slowly) emphasis slowly)

Comments: Total Score: ______/ 60