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Summer 2021 Reading Projects – Required Reading: Choose One of the following works: 1 The Diviners by Libba Bray 2 Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman 3 Fences August WIlson Complete a project and study guide for the chosen work. Purpose: The purpose of the assignment is to express your understanding of the novel through some creative expression. This assignment will help you connect to the novel on a deeper level. Assignment: You will complete ONE of the project ideas listed. The idea is to be creative and express yourself in a way that is interesting for you. You will also prepare a reflection/explanation of your project to connect your understanding to the details of the novel (see below). Reflection/Explanation Requirements: ● Must be typed in Times New Roman font no larger than 14 (not bolded). ● Must be at least one full page in length with the default margins. (No longer than two pages please!) ● Must explain everything about your creative project, especially how it relates to key ideas, themes, or important aspects of the book. ● Your project must show some deeper understanding of the novel; the explanation must show this understanding and knowledge. ● You must include at least six specific quotations from the story to connect to your project as well as an explanation of the connection. Please be sure to introduce and cite in MLA format. Failure to use citations when appropriate, is plagiarism, and will result in a grade of zero. (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/jpeg/MLAPoster09.jpg) ● Please be sure to answer, carefully and thoroughly, the following question: How did this project help you to better understand the story, in your conclusion. ● Standard writing expectations: Double-spaced, Times New Roman 14 or smaller, proofread for grammar and spelling, etc. Due Date: Project and Study Guide due the first day of school 9/8/2021 Point Value: 60 points for the project 40 points for reflection/explanation Options and ideas: Essay Option: Pick a theme of the memoir and write a five paragraph examination that includes at least three citations from the novel itself. Themes could include: lessons Marjane learns while coming of age, hypocrisy and the revolution, treatment of women in Iran, individualism and rebellion. Project options - remember 60% for Project and 40% for reflection/explanation ● Create an illustrated timeline of key events in the story. ● Compose a song or poem that addresses some event in the story or that summarizes the whole story. ● Imagine that you are the casting director for the film creation of the novel. Decide which actors you would invite to play the main characters and write them letters where you invite them to take a part and tell them why you think they are well suited for the roles. Be convincing and site specific reasons for your choice. (Must write at least five letters.) ● Create a poster-sized mural that depicts a scene or scenes from the novel. ● Rewrite the ending of the story, add on a chapter, or write a part of the story from another character’s point of view. Make sure it makes sense in relation to what actually happened. ● Create a poster advertising the book including background information on the author, other books they have written, and a review of the book. ● Make a Mobile for the characters - put a visual representation on one side ( your own drawing or a cutout of someone who you think fits the character) and a short description of the character on the other. Do at least five characters. https://www.marcomahler.com/how-to-make-mobiles/ ● Make a one to two minute “video” of music, images and concepts that connect to the book—please burn to a CD or DVD to turn in. Have fun! Be creative! Enjoy! Complete with enthusiasm and purpose! Project Rubric Project 60% ● Effort 20 pts (does the project reflect the effort a quiz grade deserves?) ● Originality 10 pts (is the product something new or just a copy of something on the internet?) ● Neatness10 pts (is the project professional looking?) ● Accuracy 20 pts (does the project reflect an understanding of a careful reading of the text?) Explanation 40% ● Spelling and grammar 10 pts (it’s English…) ● Development 10 pts (does the document fully explain choices made in the creation of the project?) ● Accuracy 10 pts (Again does the project reflect an understanding of a careful reading of the text?) ● Style 10 pts (are the word choices and compositional decisions appropriate for the level of the course?) Study Guide Questions Fences 1. What does a fence symbolize in this play? What other analogies are used in this play? 2. How does the setting of 1950s Pittsburgh inform the play? What changes would happen if the story took place earlier or later? 3. What qualities does a hero have? What qualities does a villain have? Would you describe Troy as a hero or a villain? 4. How would you describe the relationship between Troy Maxson and his sons? His brother? His friends? His wives? 5. How does Troy’s fear of death and dying manifest itself in the play? How does he cope with it? 6. How would you describe Rose? How does she react to the confession from Troy? How would you have reacted to this information? 7. Why does Troy want Cory to drop football and get a job? 8. How does Lyons describe his love of music? 9. How would you describe the character Gabriel? What purpose does he serve for the play? 10. What surprises happen at the end of the play? Study Guide Questions Neverwhere 1. In the Prologue, Gaiman foreshadows the dangers that await Richard in London. First, his friends give him a numbrella with the London Underground map on it, and then an old woman warns him that London can be a dangerous place, saying, "It starts with doors…. I'd watch out for doors if I were you." (p. 3) How does this set the tone for the novel? Did you make the connection when Richard meets Door? 2. There seems to be some sort of social code in London Below, i.e. the rat-speakers, the truce at the Floating Market, the owing and repaying of favors, etc. Discuss social order, class systems, family and community in reference to London Below. How does it compare to London Above? How well does Richard understand the social mores of the world he has been thrown into? Is it frustrating to watch him put himself in jeopardy with his ignorance? 3. Door and company are never quite sure whom they can trust. What sort of message is the author sending? Do men and women seem equally untrustworthy? What does that say about gender roles in London Below and/or in our own society? 4. The author uses lots of interesting and original names in this novel (i.e. Door, Mr. Croup, Mr. Vandemar, Marquis de Carabas, Islington, etc.) What effect do these names have on your reading of the novel? Do they help you to mentally conjure up an image of each character? Do you recognize the literary and/or historical origins of some of the names? Discuss. 5. In his life in London Above, Richard Mayhew is a rather boring, ordinary fellow. Discuss his transformation as he journeys through London Below. Can you pinpoint the moment that he seems to let go of the old Richard and become the new one? 6. There is no exchange of money in London Below; instead everything seems to work by favors, or on a barter system. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this situation. Can you imagine our own society operating on such a system? 7. Gaiman uses a lot of religious imagery in the novel, including angels, cathedrals, Black Friars, crucifixion and resurrection, etc. Discuss these and other religious images and how they shape your reading of the novel. How are these images used by the author and for what purpose? 8. The Marquis de Carabas is killed quite convincingly by Croup and Vandemar, yet he improbably comes back to life. How do you account for his resurrection? Did you find it believable in the context of the 'reality' of London Below? 9. The Angel Islington turns out to be the evil menace in Neverwhere. When Richard expresses surprise at this the marquis tells him, "When angels go bad Richard, they go worse than anyone. Remember, Lucifer used to be an angel" (p. 274). Were you surprised to discover that Islington was behind the murder of Door's family or did you suspect him? If so, what made you suspicious of him? 10. Door sends Islington through a dark, faraway passage-perhaps to hell, but perhaps not. Do you think he is gone for good or do you think he could turn up somewhere down the line? 11. What do you think about Islington's connection to Atlantis? Is it a plausible connection within the world of London Below? Did you find Islington's imprisonment and Lord Portico's refusal to help him a satisfactory reason for having Door's family slaughtered? Why or why not? 12. At the end of the novel, after returning to London Above for a brief while, Richard decides that he now belongs in London Below and returns to help Door on her new quest to continue her father's work to unite their world. Were you surprised by Richard's decision? Do you think he made the right one? Study Guide Questions The Diviners DISCUSSION QUESTIONS PRE-READING QUESTIONS 1. What can you infer about the story from the title The Diviners? 2.

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