LTCY 320 Critical Reading

The purpose of this task is to increase your skills in reading critically. Teachers of reading must be able to look critically at literature in order to plan appropriate instruction and help students appreciate quality writing.

1. To help understand the purpose for this assignment, please read and consider the FOUR main reasons for analyzing literature listed on this webpage:

http://www.brocku.ca/english/jlye/criticalreading.html

2. You must select a piece of QUALITY children's literature (narrative ONLY) and have the book APPROVED by your instructor - no exceptions . This piece of literature must be personally meaningful to you and one that you REALLY like as you will be spending some quality time with it. Aside from writing a paper of critical analysis of the story elements in this book, you will also use this same book as a springboard for the ORIGINAL piece of writing you will do in Task 2.

3. Dr. Lye (from the website above) continues by providing you with a guide for analyzing fiction. In relation to the book you selected, please read and consider the SIX story elements provided on this webpage: http://www.brocku.ca/english/jlye/criticalreading.html

4. Print the following forms to help organize the story elements in your book. (You will turn these completed sheets in with your final paper).

Character	Plot	Point-of-View	Setting
Style	Theme	Tone

5. Brainstorm KEY WORDS related to your book (theme also).

6. Go to this website (http://www.pampetty.com/webquests/home.htm) and read about WebQuests.

a. Go to the following websites and SEARCH the WebQuest databanks using the KEY WORDS you identified in #5 above. Your goal is to locate a WebQuest that relates in some way to your book. You should use this WebQuest Evaluation Rubric (http://www.pampetty.com/webquests/evaluation.htm) to determine the overall quality of the WebQuest you select.

WebQuest Collections	http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest_collections.htm
WebQuest Collections: EMT	http://www.itdc.sbcss.k12.ca.us/curriculum/webquest.html

WebQuest Collection by Subject

http://sesd.sk.ca/teacherresource/webquest/webquest.htm

Dr. Alice Christie's Matrix of WebQuests

http://www.west.asu.edu/achristie/wqmatrix.html

Elementary WebQuest Collection	http://www.teachtheteachers.org/projects/LGurian3/index.htm
WebQuest Main Search Page	http://webquest.sdsu.edu/wqSearch.html

b. Email the Title of the WebQuest, a WORKING URL, and a short annotation of the WebQuest to your instructor. (Annotation should include: Purpose of the WebQuest, highlights of the WebQuest, targeted grade/age level, and how it links to your book or the theme of your book.)

c. Use the information you find on the WebQuest you have selected to further your knowledge and understanding of your book topic (or theme). This will hopefully aid you in the writing process in section "c" of this Task.

7. Write a critical analysis of the book you selected. The paper should include the following:

One paragraph that summarizes the story.
One paragraph for EACH of the story elements listed in # 4 above (seven paragraphs in all relating to story elements).
One bulleted list suggesting how this book could be used in the classroom (you should have a minimum of 5 suggestions). These suggestions might include reading and language arts skills and/or content area applications.
Turn in the sheets you filled out (from the table above) with your completed paper. These can be handwritten - neatness does not count on these - they are preplanning forms only.

Further Readings and Resources

Please refer to the following on-line resources to learn more about and gain diverse perspectives involving critical reading strategies:

http://mind.phil.vt.edu/www/1204crs.html

http://www.critical-reading.com/criticalreadingthinkingtoc.htm

http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/critrdg.html

http://hakatai.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/critR/critRead.html

Rubric for scoring this assignment:

Critical Reading Activity

Student Name ___________________

CATEGORY	25-30	24-19	18-13	0-12
Literature	Book selection was approved by the instructor for this assignment.			Book selection was NOT approved by the instructor for this assignment.
Summary	Exemplary paragraph summarizing the story and THEME of the book.	Good paragraph summarizing the story and THEME of the book.	Paragraph summarizing the story and THEME of the book is somewhat unclear or inaccurate.	No paragraph that summarizes the story and THEME of the book.
Story Elements	One exemplary paragraph for each of the story elements listed in table above (7) - clearly and accurately written.	One good paragraph for each of the story elements listed in table above - somewhat clearly and accurately written.	At least 5 of the 7 paragraphs for each of the story elements listed in table above - lacks clarity and accuracy.	Failure to include required paragraphs and/or paragraphs do not address required content.
Classroom Use Suggestions	Excellent list of at least 5 classroom suggestions for this book. Ideas incorporate higher order thinking, are motivational, and creative.	Good list of at least 5 classroom suggestions for this book. Ideas somewhat incorporate higher order thinking, are motivational, and creative.	List of at least 3/5 classroom suggestions for this book. Ideas are rather literal in nature and uninspiring.	Incomplete or inaccurate list of suggestions for this book.
Story Elements Planning Sheets	Completed planning sheets attached to paper.	Most planning sheets attached to paper.	Few planning sheets attached to paper.	No or blank planning sheets attached to a paper.
Grammar - Mechanics - Neatness	No grammar, mechanics problems ... very neat and attractive paper.	Few grammar, mechanics problems ... neat and attractive paper.	Several grammar, mechanics problems ... somewhat neat and attractive paper.	Excessive grammar, mechanics problems - lack of neatness and attractiveness.
WebQuest Located	Searched to locate a very good WebQuest whose topic aligns with the subject or theme of the book selected for this assignment. Working URL and appropriate annotation sent to instructor.	Searched to locate a WebQuest whose topic somewhat aligns with the subject or theme of the book selected for this assignment. Working URL and appropriate somewhat annotation sent to instructor.	Searched to locate a WebQuest. Alignment subject or theme of the book selected for this assignment is in question. Working URL and questionable annotation sent to instructor.	Either no WebQuest located or the WebQuest in no way aligned with the book. Either no URL and annotation was sent or URL did not work and annotation was not according to instructions.

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