CREATIVE BOOK REPORT PROJECTS FOR ANY NOVEL OR SHORT STORY: VIDEO INTRODUCTIONS
These 6 creative alternatives to the traditional book report can be used with any novel or short story and will engage even your most reluctant students. This bundle includes everything you need to implement five outside-the-box projects that your students will love. The best part is that each assignment comes with a hand-drawn video, created by the talented John Spencer that introduces the assignments to hook them in! Watch the preview video above to get a sneak peek of the videos included and download the preview to get a closer look at the projects included.
WHAT ARE THE SIX WRITING PROJECTS?
1. INTERVIEW WITH THE ANTAGONIST
Students will assume the role of a special agent tasked with interrogating the antagonist of the novel or short story they just read. They will develop a complete file on the villain, create a plan for interrogation/interview, complete a transcript, and examine and analyze the information.
2. THE DYNAMIC CHARACTER SPEECH CONFERENCE
Students will write and deliver the keynote speech at the Dynamic Character Speaking Conference, an event that highlights the transformational stories of those who have undergone a significant inner change. This can be used with any novel or short story!
3. TELL THE STORY AS AN OBJECT
Students will flip the narrative viewpoint and retell the short story or novel they just read from the perspective of an object within their story. They will consider specific things that the object observed, their perspective on key characters and the decisions they made throughout the story, and their take on the theme of the story.
4. CHARACTER EDITORIAL ARTICLE
Students will write an editorial for the Literary Times that evaluates a character's actions in any novel or short story. Students will take a firm stance on whether they believe the character was right or wrong in their actions. They will also write a letter to the editor from another character who did not agree with the editorial.
5. ALTERNATE ENDING
Students will write a found alternate ending to the novel or short story they just read. They will then assume the role of a world-renowned literary professor eager to share their thoughts about how the new ending impacts the characters and theme of the story.
6. SETTING ONLINE REVIEW
Students win a contest to win a trip inside the setting of any short story or novel of their choice. They must write online reviews of the setting from 3 characters and write comments on those reviews. They must also pack for their trip and plan their itinerary of where in the setting they want to visit.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
• Students watch hand-drawn videos that introduce each of the five projects. These videos are highly engaging and will hook your students immediately. Watch the video preview on the product page to get a sneak peek.
• Use the eye-catching PowerPoint presentations to introduce each of the projects and guide you through each of the tasks.
• Use the student informational handouts, pre-writing brainstorming sheets and graphic organizers, peer editing checklists, final copy sheets to guide students through the project! Easy-to-use rubrics are also included for quick marking.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MY PURCHASE?
1. INTERVIEW WITH THE ANTAGONIST
→ Introductory video
→ Teacher and student Instructions
→ PowerPoint to guide the project
→ The Antagonist’s Profile graphic organizer
→ Are you asking the right questions? student handout
→ Interview Questions sheet
→ Writing the interview transcript graphic organizer
→ Good copy sheets
→ Post-interview reflection
→ Easy-to-use teacher rubric
2. THE DYNAMIC CHARACTER SPEECH CONFERENCE
→ Introductory video
→ Teacher and student instructions
→ PowerPoint to guide the project
→ Perfecting Your Delivery information handout
→ Writing Your Speech information handout
→ How Have You Changed graphic organizer
→ Planning Your Speech graphic organizer
→ Peer speech review checklist
→ Speech self-review checklists
→ Good copy sheets
→ Teacher rubric
3. TELL THE STORY AS AN OBJECT
→ Introductory video
→ Teacher and student instructions
→ PowerPoint to guide the project
→ Choose your object brainstorming sheet
→ Becoming your object planning organizer
→ Flip the narration checklist
→ Good copy sheets
→ Let’s dig deeper (two analysis questions)
→ Teacher rubric
4. CHARACTER EDITORIAL ARTICLE
→ Introductory video
→ Teacher and student instructions
→ PowerPoint to guide the project
→ How to write an editorial handout
→ Writing your thesis handout and organizer
→ Planning your editorial outline sheet
→ Good copy sheets
→ Writing a letter to the editor handout
→ Letter to the editor planning graphic organizer
→ Teacher rubric
5. ALTERNATE ENDING
→ Introductory video
→ Teacher and student instructions
→ PowerPoint to guide the project
→ Thematic Statements student handout
→ Writing a Thematic Statement graphic organizer
→ Writing the Alternate Ending Planning Sheet
→ Good copy sheets
→ The Professor’s Analysis reflection assignment
→ Teacher rubric
6. SETTING ONLINE REVIEW
→ Introductory video
→ Teacher and student Instructions
→ PowerPoint to guide the project
→ How to write a travel review handout
→ Review writing planning graphic organizer
→ Three computer templates to write the reviews and leave comments
→ A packing assignment where students choose two non-traditional items to bring with them (must show a text connection)
→ A travel itinerary assignment where students chose three particular areas of the setting to visit first.
→ Easy-to-use teacher rubric
@prestoplans @johnspencer
The videos and resources in this resource are for single-classroom use and are not to be uploaded to the Internet in any format without permission from the creators. Please contact prestoplans@gmail.com if you require more information.