year 8 reading project
Newspapers Newspapers are where we gather information about the world on a daily basis. Write down a definition of the word ‘bias’
Look at the picture below. What do you think the article which accompanies the picture might be about?
I think the article might be about…
Because...
Author Study Create a booklet, poster or leaflet with all the information about the author you have researched! You should decorate it with pictures and images and present it in any way you wish. Research each area: LIFE WORKS
When were they born?
List examples of different books/ poems/ plays they have written
Where did/ do they live?
How many different genres have they written in?
What else can you find out about them/ their beliefs/ their past/ their life experiences?
How many of these have you read?
CONTEXT How has their life, beliefs or the time they were writing influenced their work?
INFLUENCES Who influenced them? Who have they inspired? Why did you choose this author? REVIEWS
Find and read some reviews of their work. What have other people said about this writer? Use some quotations.
Re-reading Revisiting Read a book that you enjoyed reading or listening to when you were younger. If you have young relations you could read it to them. Title: Author: Genre: What makes it good to read or listen to?
Why did you like it so much?
Did you enjoy re-reading it?
Did you notice anything you didn’t notice the first time? What?
Who would you recommend it to? Why?
Headlines When reading non-fiction texts, it is usually the headline which informs the reader on the topic of the articles. Headlines usually include puns, alliteration or rhyme to catch the reader’s attention. What is a pun? Create three possible headlines for the following article: “A community was in shock today as the mastermind behind a string of thefts was revealed to be a local cat. Samson the greedy tabby’s reign of terror had been puzzling residents in Brighouse for three months, before it finally came to a ’sticky’ end. People in the area became increasingly concerned when items of clothing began going missing on a regular basis. Local woman Ann Grey, 65, said ‘We were all very confused. It started off at the occasional sock and piece of underwear going missing from the dryer, but when I came home and found three empty tubs of ice cream I knew we weren’t dealing with any ordinary thief.’ The feline fiend soon moved on to more extravagant loot and was finally caught red-handed in another resident’s kitchen covered in honey. Speaking to Samson’s owner, who declined being named, she offered her apologies. “He’s always been really greedy, I’m very sorry. He’s such a daft cat.” 1. 2. 3.
Article Looking at either a book of your choice or one which you have studied in class, you are going to write a newspaper article based around the story.
Don’t forget to include: An overview in the first paragraph—The reader will want to know what happens right away to encourage them to find out more.
Read a selection of newspapers at home or in the LRC to get an idea of how to make your article sound like national news!
Comics Using a book you have read, design a comic strip based around an important chapter in the novel. Don’t forget to include: Speech Onomatopeia (Sound words like ‘BANG!’)
To be continued...
Character Choose a character from a book you have read. Label the person below with comments about the character’s personality. Write a quote from the book which shows that aspect of the character’s personality. Example: Joan is a cheerful, optimistic girl: “ She skipped up to the front of the class and grinned as her teacher handed over Joan’s marked test.”
Books Over the next few pages you will be expected to make use of the LRC or another library available to you. “Reading books will make you a better writer. Reading many different books will make you a better person.” What do you think this quote might mean?
It is important that you read a variety of books in order to improve your writing, knowledge and views of the world. “You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world! This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have—arm yourselves!” - Dr.Who
Explain what Dr. Who means in this statement:
Autobiography What does ‘Autobiographical’ mean?
List the titles of three autobiographies and their authors:
Choose an autobiography to read. Write a paragraph about your chosen author, detailing some of the facts you found out.
My Autobiography Begin writing your autobiography on the lines below. Feel free to use extra paper if needed.
Genre What does the word ‘genre’ mean? Give an example.
Choose two novels you have read which are different genres. Sketch the front cover and title in the boxes explaining why you liked/ disliked the book. Create a checklist of features of the genre below.
Word-search Create a word-search based on the novel you have studied in class. Swap with another learner, time them!
Villains Think of a villain from two novels you have read. Using quotations and your own words, compare them. You could set it out like this: Villain 1
Villain 2
Name. Is it significant? Appearance Behaviour Speech Other peoples opinions Answer the following in as much detail as you can. 1. Why is the villain important in the whole story? What do they add to the story? Use examples to support your answer. E.g The Warden is important because… 2. Think of a third villain. Does s/he fit the pattern above?
Rules for writers: how to create the perfect villain. Using your research on villains, write a set of instructions for a writer. Include quotations or close reference to the texts, drawings, imperative verbs.
Look at the picture below. What do you think the article which accompanies the picture might be about?
I think the article might be about…
Because...
Author Study Create a booklet, poster or leaflet with all the information about the author you have researched! You should decorate it with pictures and images and present it in any way you wish. Research each area: LIFE WORKS
When were they born?
List examples of different books/ poems/ plays they have written
Where did/ do they live?
How many different genres have they written in?
What else can you find out about them/ their beliefs/ their past/ their life experiences?
How many of these have you read?
CONTEXT How has their life, beliefs or the time they were writing influenced their work?
INFLUENCES Who influenced them? Who have they inspired? Why did you choose this author? REVIEWS
Find and read some reviews of their work. What have other people said about this writer? Use some quotations.
Re-reading Revisiting Read a book that you enjoyed reading or listening to when you were younger. If you have young relations you could read it to them. Title: Author: Genre: What makes it good to read or listen to?
Why did you like it so much?
Did you enjoy re-reading it?
Did you notice anything you didn’t notice the first time? What?
Who would you recommend it to? Why?
Headlines When reading non-fiction texts, it is usually the headline which informs the reader on the topic of the articles. Headlines usually include puns, alliteration or rhyme to catch the reader’s attention. What is a pun? Create three possible headlines for the following article: “A community was in shock today as the mastermind behind a string of thefts was revealed to be a local cat. Samson the greedy tabby’s reign of terror had been puzzling residents in Brighouse for three months, before it finally came to a ’sticky’ end. People in the area became increasingly concerned when items of clothing began going missing on a regular basis. Local woman Ann Grey, 65, said ‘We were all very confused. It started off at the occasional sock and piece of underwear going missing from the dryer, but when I came home and found three empty tubs of ice cream I knew we weren’t dealing with any ordinary thief.’ The feline fiend soon moved on to more extravagant loot and was finally caught red-handed in another resident’s kitchen covered in honey. Speaking to Samson’s owner, who declined being named, she offered her apologies. “He’s always been really greedy, I’m very sorry. He’s such a daft cat.” 1. 2. 3.
Article Looking at either a book of your choice or one which you have studied in class, you are going to write a newspaper article based around the story.
Don’t forget to include: An overview in the first paragraph—The reader will want to know what happens right away to encourage them to find out more.
Read a selection of newspapers at home or in the LRC to get an idea of how to make your article sound like national news!
Comics Using a book you have read, design a comic strip based around an important chapter in the novel. Don’t forget to include: Speech Onomatopeia (Sound words like ‘BANG!’)
To be continued...
Character Choose a character from a book you have read. Label the person below with comments about the character’s personality. Write a quote from the book which shows that aspect of the character’s personality. Example: Joan is a cheerful, optimistic girl: “ She skipped up to the front of the class and grinned as her teacher handed over Joan’s marked test.”
Books Over the next few pages you will be expected to make use of the LRC or another library available to you. “Reading books will make you a better writer. Reading many different books will make you a better person.” What do you think this quote might mean?
It is important that you read a variety of books in order to improve your writing, knowledge and views of the world. “You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world! This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have—arm yourselves!” - Dr.Who
Explain what Dr. Who means in this statement:
Autobiography What does ‘Autobiographical’ mean?
List the titles of three autobiographies and their authors:
Choose an autobiography to read. Write a paragraph about your chosen author, detailing some of the facts you found out.
My Autobiography Begin writing your autobiography on the lines below. Feel free to use extra paper if needed.
Genre What does the word ‘genre’ mean? Give an example.
Choose two novels you have read which are different genres. Sketch the front cover and title in the boxes explaining why you liked/ disliked the book. Create a checklist of features of the genre below.
Word-search Create a word-search based on the novel you have studied in class. Swap with another learner, time them!
Villains Think of a villain from two novels you have read. Using quotations and your own words, compare them. You could set it out like this: Villain 1
Villain 2
Name. Is it significant? Appearance Behaviour Speech Other peoples opinions Answer the following in as much detail as you can. 1. Why is the villain important in the whole story? What do they add to the story? Use examples to support your answer. E.g The Warden is important because… 2. Think of a third villain. Does s/he fit the pattern above?
Rules for writers: how to create the perfect villain. Using your research on villains, write a set of instructions for a writer. Include quotations or close reference to the texts, drawings, imperative verbs.
