While this section encompasses the entire book, it is actually a relatively easy section because it simply requires you to summarize the book. This means that you, as a group, need to agree on the most important events in the book, from start to finish, and describe them here. To start, I would brainstorm the top 5 to 7 most important events. Once you agree on these, then you decide how you will write about them.
Primarily, you are summarizing, which means that you will be asked to understand the book literally. With that said, you should also provide a brief explanation of why each event is important, and this will give you the opportunity to provide some interpretation.
CHARACTER LIST AND ANALYSIS:
While this section encompasses the entire book, it is actually a relatively easy section because it simply requires you to describe each of the major characters in the book. This means that you, as a group, need to agree onWHOthe most important characters in the book are and describe them here. To start, I would list the most important characters. Once you agree on these, then you decide how you will write about them.
Consider these questions for each character:
What do they look like?
What is their personality like?
What is their role in the book?
How did they change throughout the book?
Are their any truly important quotations (or examples of the character's thinking) that are worth citing?
THEMES:
I personally find this section to be the most interesting because it requires you to think critically about the book. This means that you, as a group, need to agree on the most important themes or lessons in the book, from start to finish, and describe them here. To start, I would brainstorm the top 5 to 7 most important themes or lessons. Once you agree on these, then you decide how you will write about them.
Theme: an idea that recurs in a piece of literature (ex. love, friendship, being an outsider, loss, self discovery, etc.)
For each theme, please consider the following:
Why is the theme important?
How does the theme affect the major characters in the book?
Has this theme shown up in other books you've read?
Do you see this theme being relevant in our lives at SPHS?
CHAPTER SECTIONS:
Of all the sections, these are the most important. Think about it... which sections do you go to first when you look a book up on Spark Notes? Of course, you go to the chapter sections. And what are you looking for? Well, you are probably looking for a SUMMARY so that you can quickly understand what happens in the section, and you are also probably looking to find out WHY the section is IMPORTANT so that you can discuss it intelligently in a classroom setting. This is exactly what you need to provide for your section: a summary and an interpretation or analysis.
Summary
As a group, identify three to five of the most important events in your section. Please describe the event. Think of the five "W" questions and the one "H" question:
What
Where
When
Who
Why
How
In other words, for each event you describe, I should know what happened, where it happened, when it happened, who was involved, why it happened, and how it happened. In many ways, you will be writing a mini-plot summary, so view my prompt for the plot summary group above.
Analysis
This may seem challenging, but it really isn't. Simply, for each event, answer the question: Why is this important? To elaborate, please explain the reasons the events in the section help a reader relate to or comprehend the story. In many ways, you will do the same thing as the themes group, just in a smaller way, so please read my prompt for that section.
Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson
PLOT OVERVIEW:
While this section encompasses the entire book, it is actually a relatively easy section because it simply requires you to summarize the book. This means that you, as a group, need to agree on the most important events in the book, from start to finish, and describe them here. To start, I would brainstorm the top 5 to 7 most important events. Once you agree on these, then you decide how you will write about them.Primarily, you are summarizing, which means that you will be asked to understand the book literally. With that said, you should also provide a brief explanation of why each event is important, and this will give you the opportunity to provide some interpretation.
CHARACTER LIST AND ANALYSIS:
While this section encompasses the entire book, it is actually a relatively easy section because it simply requires you to describe each of the major characters in the book. This means that you, as a group, need to agree on WHO the most important characters in the book are and describe them here. To start, I would list the most important characters. Once you agree on these, then you decide how you will write about them.Consider these questions for each character:
THEMES:
I personally find this section to be the most interesting because it requires you to think critically about the book. This means that you, as a group, need to agree on the most important themes or lessons in the book, from start to finish, and describe them here. To start, I would brainstorm the top 5 to 7 most important themes or lessons. Once you agree on these, then you decide how you will write about them.Theme: an idea that recurs in a piece of literature (ex. love, friendship, being an outsider, loss, self discovery, etc.)
For each theme, please consider the following:
CHAPTER SECTIONS:
Of all the sections, these are the most important. Think about it... which sections do you go to first when you look a book up on Spark Notes? Of course, you go to the chapter sections. And what are you looking for? Well, you are probably looking for a SUMMARY so that you can quickly understand what happens in the section, and you are also probably looking to find out WHY the section is IMPORTANT so that you can discuss it intelligently in a classroom setting. This is exactly what you need to provide for your section: a summary and an interpretation or analysis.Summary
As a group, identify three to five of the most important events in your section. Please describe the event. Think of the five "W" questions and the one "H" question:
- What
- Where
- When
- Who
- Why
- How
In other words, for each event you describe, I should know what happened, where it happened, when it happened, who was involved, why it happened, and how it happened. In many ways, you will be writing a mini-plot summary, so view my prompt for the plot summary group above.Analysis
This may seem challenging, but it really isn't. Simply, for each event, answer the question: Why is this important? To elaborate, please explain the reasons the events in the section help a reader relate to or comprehend the story. In many ways, you will do the same thing as the themes group, just in a smaller way, so please read my prompt for that section.