Blind Date with a Book: Book Talk Assignment and Rubric

Your book talk assignment involves delivering a book talk to the class about the novel you have read for independent reading. The object of a book talk is to recommend the book for others to read or not read. This book talk is essentially a persuasive speech to convince the listener that they should read, or stay away from, a specific book. A book talk is very similar to a trailer for a film, which shows you just enough information to convince you that you should watch the movie or give you enough information that you know you won’t want to watch it.

BEFORE YOUR PRESENTATION:

You will take an AR test on your book. This test must be taken in the library in front of Mrs. Spence, or in front of me, and the score sheet must be printed off. Mrs. Spence or I will need to sign off on the sheet. Sheets with no signature will not be accepted. This is half of the 200 point grade assignment. The AR test must be taken before you complete your presentation. This means this test must be taken before the day of your presentation. I WILL NOT ACCEPT AR TESTS TAKEN AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION.

Your presentation must include a visual aid, such as a drawing, collage, map, or PowerPoint, etc., to present to the audience. You may use notes to make your presentation. The book talk will cover the some elements of the novel, but you should focus much of your time on the plot and conflict of the novel.

Introduction: Find an interesting, exciting, or mysterious quote to start off your presentation. This quote will get the reader’s attention. Don’t just pick any old quote… choose carefully and deliberately to try to capture the attention of the audience Also explain why you chose the quote. Clearly introduce your book by giving the name and author of the book.

Middle: The middle of the presentation will cover the setting, characters, and plot of the book without giving too much away of the story. Tell a little where the book is set, what kind of action or conflict is involved in the book, and what it is about in general. See if you can mention the theme of the novel. Under no circumstances should you give away the ending of the novel. Do not just list the characters and the setting and don’t give a drawn out summary of the book.

Resolution: Without giving away the ending, convince the reader that you loved (or didn’t) this book and that this is the book they want (or not) to read next. Make some predictions which student in the class would enjoy the book.

Passage: You must select a passage of at least a half page to fluently read after your presentation. During this reading, you must not stumble over words, use inflection, articulate your words, and read with an appropriate pace; therefore, you will need to practice reading this passage before you present. This passage cannot be the back of the book, nor should it be a summary of the book. The passage should be interesting, drawing the audience’s attention, or it should illustrate something you disliked about the book (if you didn’t like the book). In either case, you must explain your reasons for choosing that passage in particular.

Examples: There are several examples of book talks on the internet, in addition to the ones I have shown you in class. Remember, these book talks do not meet all of the requirements you need to meet, but they are a good reference for how to complete the assignment. Rubric for Book Talk

Criteria 20 points 15 points 10 points 0 – 5 points Introduction Exceptional Begins with a Begins with a Not a very good attracts creative good quote and quote that may beginning with audience beginning with explanation of no quote an excellent quote. quote and explanation Discusses the Thorough and Somewhat Average Does not plot, setting, interesting thorough and summary of the summarize and characters summary of interesting elements these elements these elements. summary of or is missing a these elements component. Discusses the Correctly Correctly Discusses theme Does not theme discusses theme discusses theme but is incorrect discuss theme and makes an but fails to or not very or makes a very educated elaborate on the thorough in their general argument for importance elaboration of statement the theme of the theme about the novel theme. Conclusion Draws the Gives opinion of Concluded but Very boring makes us want listener to read book-- listener did not draw the conclusion or to read the book (or not) the might want to listener to read no conclusion (or not read the book—Offers read (or not) the (or not) the book at all. book) suggestions as book—offers —No to who would suggestions suggestions as to enjoy the book about who may who might like like the book the book Fluently reads Fluently reads Reads an Reads a passage No passage is an interesting an intriguing, interesting that is too short, read at all. passage from passage of passage of that is not the book (not appropriate appropriate interesting, just the back length from the length fluently and/or shows no blurb or book (uses and with inflection or summary) inflection of inflection, but fluency. Gives voice). Gives stumbles over no explanation of adequate words. Gives less passage choice. explanation of than adequate passage choice. explanation of passage choice. Visual aid Well done, Colorful (with Completed, but Not done or colorful (with pictures) and may have some very poorly pictures) and helpful to the grammar / done. Has very helpful to presentation, spelling errors. many grammar the but there may be Used as / spelling presentation. some grammar / notecards errors. No grammar / spelling errors. instead of an aid. spelling errors.

AR Score: ______/100 Book talk Score:______/120 Total:______/220