The Reasons Why You Chose the Book

Book Club #1

You should choose a substantial work (taken from the classroom library, or otherwise approved by me) which you have never read before, preferably a work that represents a challenge and a risk for you. The intent here is to foster a friendly reading of something you may never have experienced. Despite years of being "taught" or "force-fed" canonical literature, you may never have experienced a voluntary reading of some of the authors who are generally regarded as the greatest in our culture. Indeed, you may harbor resentment for some of these authors.

The books can be in hard copy form or an e-text available for download. I will allow e- readers to be used in class only on select reading days. No cell phones are ever allowed, and i-Pads and other tablets must only be used for reading during class time.

Format:

Reading Log: From the beginning, you should keep a journal in which you monitor your reading habits and reactions. You should write at least a page a week, and address many or all of the following topics (if stuck, refer to pp. 125-129 for questions to consider):

 the reasons why you chose the book  your first impressions of the book  problems of understanding  difficulties in reading  the author’s style  plot, characters, setting, etc.  emotions and associations which are evoked  places which you reread  places which you skipped  times or places when you thought or talked about the book independently of reading it  images or "movies" you formed in your head  reading behaviors which you notice (like reading the last page ahead of time, counting off the number of pages left, reading in bed or while eating, preferring to read alone or with music, etc.)  how your reading of this work intersects with your reading of other books for this course and for the other courses you are taking…not to mention how it intersects with experiences in the world or in your personal life

I will check occasionally for progress, and I will collect these reading logs on two occasions.The log should be brought to class every day, and entries should be appropriately dated and with page references to the literature under discussion.

 Evaluation of this reading log will be mainly in terms of timeliness and comprehensiveness. That is, have you made regular and consistent entries, and do these entries reflect mature and insightful considerations on not only the work of literature, but your own experience of reading it? Entries should be dated and appropriately referenced to the literature. Since the assignment is a learning log, evaluation will not be concerned with grammatical or other mechanical concerns. Legibility is essential, but the log may be handwritten in part or in full.

Book Club Meetings:

 Book clubs will meet periodically. The expectation is that each participant is present for book club meetings. Each student will share aspects of their book. Individual meetings will focus on various elements of literature such as plot and conflict, characterization, style, etc. Each participant should have journals to share that add to the discussion of the book.

First Chapter Handout:

 Because first chapters are so revealing (and potentially helpful for our AP exam takers, we will have an opportunity to create a brief handout for your fellow classmates outlining ch.1 of your chosen text. A template will be provided later.

Review:

 The final part of your book club assignment is a “review” of your book. Reviews are evaluations of literature. Your review should focus not only on your opinion of the book, but also on your assessment of its literary value. Feel free to develop your own unique rating system (for example: the Dainty meter). Establish and discuss what makes a work one of literary merit, and evaluate how your chosen text measures up to that criteria, citing specific examples from the text. Review should be 2 pages in length.

Book Club Meeting Participation: 20

Reading Logs: 20

Chapter 1 Handout: 10

Final Review: 100

Total: 150