Have you ever finished reading a really good book and then had trouble figuring out what to read next?  This assignment is designed to help overcome this dilemma.  Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a new book.  Sometimes we get excited about reading if a friend tells us about a book they really enjoyed.

Your task is to choose a book you liked reading.  Then present a 1-3 minute book talk to the class.  During your talk you will your classmates will hear why you enjoyed this book.  Use story elements to prepare you book talk.  The list below will give you ideas about the kinds of details to include in your book talk.  Remember to review the Book Talk Rubric so that you will know how you will be graded.  

Remember you will need to complete one book talk each quarter.  During the first quarter your book talk will be an oral presentation.  Beginning in the second quarter you will be required to use some aspect of technology to supplement your book talk.  You may choose to prepare a poster using Web Poster Wizard, prepare a slide show using Power Point, or use another form of technology that has been approved by the teacher.

Details you Should Include

Setting (time and place)

• helps make the story exciting
• has in important effect on the character
• increased my understanding of a certain time in history by...
• creates a new and exciting world
• offers nothing new and exciting
• could have played a more important part in the story

• _______ is the main character
• act believable or unbelievable when...
• events or forces make the character(s) act the way they do
• change from _____ to _____ by the end of the book
• identify character traits of the main character. (character trait list)
• this character is like me/unlike me...
• I can identify with this character when...

• there are a number of important events which lead to the conclusion
• the ending is predictable, surprising, or unbelievable because...
• this book showed what it is like to be...
• parts of the story are hard to believe or confusing because
• the climax (most important event) changes the story in an interesting way, believable way, or in an unbelievable way way...
• the story includes some/many predictable events

• courage, survival, greed, happiness, family, loyalty, jealousy, growing up, ambition...
• the moral "Don't judge a book by its cover", "Haste makes waste", "Hard work pays off", is developed in this novel
• the book showed me what it is like to be...

• select an interest part of the story to read aloud to the class
• read a portion of the book that clearly demonstrate the characters main trait(s)
• read a selection of the story that will hook the listener