Pick a novel, any novel

Start looking for a novel for this quarter's outside reading. As you can see on the outside reading assignment below, your first response to the book will be due on Wednesday. Here's the assignment (a word copy is also available on Edline):

Our second quarter outside reading assignment is for you to read a novel of your choice. The novel should be at least 250 pages, and should challenge you as a reader.
Assignment Due Date
Blog #1 Wed. November 12
Blog #2 Wed. November 19
Blog #3 Wed. November 26
Blog #4 Wed. December 2
Blog #5 Wed. December 9
Blog #6 Wed. December 16
Blogs #7, #8, and #9 Wed. January 7
Blog #10 Wed. January 14
Book Presentation Thur. January 15 & Fri. January 16

You must post ONCE a week (for our purposes a week is from Wednesday to Wednesday). I've explained below what should do in the post. You should have 10 weeks of posting. Posts are due Wednesdays in the am (i.e. before school) on 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16, and 12/7, and 12/14.

Free Response
A thoughtful response—to whatever text you are currently reading outside of school—of approximately 250 words. You must cite the selection, author, and page you're referring to as well. Some possible ways to respond to texts include: pick a quote and comment on its significance, make connections to the book (self, text, world, media), analyze the protagonist, pretend you're writing a letter—or blog response—to the author or main character, identify the thesis and supporting evidence (of nonfiction) and discuss the arguments from your perspective, etc. There are many, many ways you can do this.

Book Presentation
On either Thursday, January 15, and Friday, January 16 (your specific date will be assigned), you will give a presentation, to the class, about your book. You will use your blog as a visual aid during this presentation. You will receive more specific information about the format and grading of the book presentation.

You must attempt to use correct spelling and punctuation and capitalization

**NOTE: If you finish your book, you must continue to read outside of class and complete the blog assignments.




BLOG GRADING: Here's how the grading will work out of 50 points.
A -
You have all of the posts.You have always posted on time.You post a thoughtful comment to a peer’s blog each week.
Your response was always highly thoughtful and reflective.
You used correct mechanics almost all of the time.
B -
You have all of the posts.You mostly posted on time.You post a comment to a peer’s blog each week.
Your responses were mostly thoughtful and reflective.
You used correct mechanics most of the time, but there are some glaring errors.
C -
You have 8-9 of the posts.You sometimes posted on time.You post a comment to a peer’s blog most weeks.
You responded to the book.
You have several errors in mechanics.
D -
You have about 6-7 posts total.You rarely posted on time.You occasionally post comments to peers’ blogs.You somewhat responded to the book.
Your responses do not make an attempt to use proper mechanics.
F -
You have 0-5 posts.You did not do what was asked of you in the post.
You do not post comments on the blogs of your peers.
Your responses do not make an attempt to use proper mechanics.

BTW, don't forget the reading assignment for All the Pretty Horses!