Ms. Flagg’s Comments (group member since Sep 10, 2012)

Ms. Flagg’s comments from the What's 811 Reading? group.

Compare your protagonist with a character from another text, film, song, person, etc.

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Compare your protagonist with a character from another text. If you're feeling stuck, use a character from The Outsiders or "The Last Spin"!

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

s the protagonist a dynamic or static character? If you aren't sure at this point in the text, predict how your character may change. Make sure to defend your ideas.

You may use RAFTAT if you are discussing a static character.

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

What is a song that fits the “soundtrack” of your text?

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

How does your character handle tough situations or conflict? Why does he/she respond that way?

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Describe a difficult choice your character had to make.

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Using RAFTAT, identify a mood in your text. Provide two examples of how the writer established that mood.

If you did mood for Thursday's homework, please identify a symbol that represents a character in your text.

USING RAFTAT: Identify a symbol that represents a character in your text. Identify two examples that supports your idea.

You may answer any question you would like, as long as you follow the RAFTAT strategy.

Feeling stuck? Here are some sample questions:

1.) Connect a character in your book with another character from a text or person

2.) Choose a significant quote and explain what it shows about him/her.

3.) If you had to choose a symbol for your character, what would it be and why?

R: Restate
A: Answer
F: For example...
T: This shows/proves/etc....
A: Another example
T: This shows/proves...

What trait best describes the protagonist in your independent reading book?

Please consult your rubric and models to ensure that you are doing your best work!

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

What is the most significant conflict in your character's life? Is it internal or external? How does it affect/motivate/change your character?

Please make sure to follow the checklist:

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Using one characterization strategy (words/thoughts/actions/appearance/ background/etc), identify something important you learned about a character in your independent reading book (motivation, trait, conflict, etc). In your topic sentence, state the text information, strategy used, and what you learned. Then, follow the standard reading response checklist.

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Being that we are focusing on identifying relevant information and explaining its significance, you may choose whatever prompt you would like. Please make sure that your evidence and explanation are very strong. Your explanation should be a MINIMUM of THREE sentences.

Feeling stuck? Here are some suggestions:

1.) If you could change something about your book, what would it be? A character? The ending?

2.) Describe a connection that you can make with the book. Can you connect it with yourself? Another text? The world?

3.) Who is your least favorite character?

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Answer ONE of the following:
-What motivates your character?
-What is the most important conflict in your text?

You must use at least ONE appositive phrase in your response.

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Answer ONE of the following:
-What motivates your character?
-What is the most important conflict in your text?

You must use at least ONE appositive phrase in your response.

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

If you could change something about your book, what would it be?
-More action?
-Dialogue?
-More interesting language? Sentence structure?

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Write one sentence about your book for EACH rule:

1.) Items in a series
2.) Separation of adjectives
3.) Compound sentence using a comma and conjunction
4.) Compound sentence using a semi-colon and transition word/phrase

For example:

I am reading the fantasy novel The Necromancer by Michael Scott.

1.) Series: In the text, twins Sophie and Josh Newman have had their auras awakened, been chased by a wide variety of monsters, and are trying to avoid being captured by the evil magician, Dr. Dee.

If your character had to write a research paper, what topic may he/she want to study about?

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

Choose ONE of the following prompts or create your own original question. Remember to consult the checklist below!:

1.) Who is the most influential character to your protagonist in the text?

2.) Since reading your text, what is something you would like to learn more about?

3.) Why do you think the writer wrote your text? What was its purpose?

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

What is a prediction you have about your text? Why do you think that? Justify your idea using evidence from the text.

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about?
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?