Personal

Reading 2016

Selecting a Text
You may choose a poem, a film,
article or an advertisement.
book or song. It needs to be rich
enough material to respond
of this task means anything
be something you read last year.
the text you would like to do for

a novel or non fiction book, a song, an

However, you can't do just any old poem,
in mature ideas in order for you to have
personally to. 'Mature ideas' in the context
suitable for use in our classroom. It cannot
Please check with me if you are unsure if
your next reading log is suitable.

Completing the log

You need to provide details about the text, author, and a personal comment in the table below. Once you have filled in the
table, you need to select one of the activities that follow. The activity will need to be published on this Google doc and
should show a running record of your personal reading this year. There is no maximum amount of required texts but you
should be aiming to read at least two texts per term.
Note
A reading log is not the same as an academic essay. A good reading log focusses on PERSONAL RESPONSE. What do you
think about the themes (important ideas) in your chosen text? Can you relate to the subject matter personally? Does it
make you curious to know more? What does it make you wonder? What could be the effect of the topics in your text if they
were to happen in real life? (In the case of fiction)
Name of book:

Author:

Date
completed:

Comment:

Response Activities
Select from either the fiction or non - fiction activities. Alternatively you can scroll down and complete an
activity on character, setting, plot, or theme. It is important that you select a different activity for each
response that you do. Try something challenging!

Fiction Activities:
1. Draw or paste a picture of how you see the antagonist and protagonist. Briefly explain why.
2. Draw or paste a picture of the setting in the story. If there are multiple settings, there needs to be a
picture for each.
3. In a short paragraph, predict what will happen in your book.
4. List and explain any possible symbols in the book.
5. Research the authors biography, cut and paste into your log. Highlight any other books that you
might consider reading by this author.
6. What is the tone of the story? (Tense, anxious, sad, formal, excited etc) Answer why you think this
and support with examples from the text.
7. Create a vocabulary list for the book. Go through the book, copy down any words you didnt know or
havent seen before (up to 30). Put them in alphabetical order.
8. In a short paragraph, briefly explain how the book would be different if the main character was a
different gender.
9. In a short paragraph, briefly explain how the book would be different if the setting were in a different
town / country / location.
10.
Write down any significant moments in the story. Explain each moment. Why was this
important. What did it make you wonder?
11.
What is the Point-of-View the story is told in? Would the story be different if it were told from
another POV?
12.
Create a plot mountain map for your story. Continue the plot mountain to the end, labeling
each part. Focus on key events.
13.
What is the theme of the story? Briefly explain why you think this.
14.
Write a letter to the author suggesting 2 revisions. Explain why you would suggest this.
15.
If you could write a sequel to the story, what would happen in it?

Non-Fiction Activities:
1. Briefly explain why you chose to read this book?

2. Briefly discuss if the book has met / exceeded / failed your expectations?
3. Copy or summarize one chapter / passage / section that you enjoyed. Explain why you picked it.
4. List at least 3 comparable books and tell how they are similar.
5. Research the authors biography, cut and paste into your log. Highlight any other books that you
might consider reading by this author.
6. Write a letter to the author suggesting 2 revisions.
7. Create a vocabulary list for the book. Read through the book, copy down any words you didnt know
or havent seen before.
8. Create a picture for one section of your book that physically or symbolically represents what it talks
about.
9. If you could write a fiction book that revolved around any section of this book, what would it be
about? Who would the characters be?
10.
Create a short poem that helps relates to a part of the book or the entire book.
11.
Develop a 5 question test for this section of your book. Provide answers to the questions.
12.
Do a character profile of a famous person who would be interested in reading this book.
Explain why he or she would be interested in reading it.
13.
Re-design the cover of the book with pictures / text / or a combination that you feel better
suggests the content.

CHARACTER:
Collage
Create an A4 collage around a main character in the book you are reading. This might include cutting pictures
from magazines or newspaper or printing pictures off the internet. You might also include 3-dimensional items
that tell the story of your character.
To accompany your collage you must write a paragraph that explains the items that you have included to
describe your character. Make sure you clearly link the items/pictures to your character in your paragraph.

Character Trait Diagram

Create a Venn diagram to illustrate similarities and differences in the traits of two of the main characters in a
book you have just read. Make sure you give detailed examples and explanations as to why you believe each
character fits the traits you have chosen.
Interview a Character
Compose ten questions to ask a main character in a book you have just finished reading. You also need to write
the character's response to each question. The questions and answers should provide information about the
character without giving away the most significant details.
CV Writing
Imagine the main character of your book is applying for a job at New World in Whitianga. Create a CV for them.
You should include in the CV a statement of the applicants goals and a detailed account of his or her experience
and outside interests. Also include a paragraph explaining their traits or what sort of person they are and why
they would be good for the job.

SETTING:
Mapping
Make a map of where the important events in the book take place. Include a short paragraph for each place on
your map which explains what the setting looks like and why it is important. Make sure you link your explanation
back to the book.
Travel Brochure
Prepare a travel brochure for one of the main settings in your book. Use pictures you have found or
drawn to represent the setting. You also need to include as much information as possible about

your place to show what you have learnt about your setting and to encourage others to travel
there.

Whats it look like?

Draw a picture of one place in which an important event takes place using the details that were given in the
book to make it as accurate as possible. Include a short explanation about this setting saying why the place was
important for the action that took place there. Explain how the setting made the event possible/exciting or made
things difficult for the characters or had an influence on how you felt while reading the book. Make sure you link
your explanation back to the book.

PLOT / THEME
Executive summary
Take five 10x10cm card and summarise what happened on one side. On the other, analyze the importance of
what happened and the reasons it happened.
Conflicts
Stories are made up of conflicts and solutions. Choose three conflicts that take place in the story and give the
solutions. Is there one that you wish had been handled differently? Explain your answer and give reasons to
support your thoughts.
Storyboard
Create a storyboard for a chapter of your novel. Make sure you include all important events and explain
underneath your picture exactly what is happening in your storyboard.
Write your own

Using the themes in the story, write your own story, creating your own characters and situation. It does not have
to relate to the story at all aside from its theme.
Newspaper connection
Read and collect newspaper and magazine articles that somehow relate to theme in the book you are reading.
Collate them in a booklet. For each article explain why you have picked it and how it relates to the theme of the
book you have read.

Start your first activity here!

Novel Title:
Author:
Activity: