The Color Purple Novel Project

Novel Project Due Date-_______5/27-5/28________

Book guidelines:

1) ReadThe Color Purple

After you have read the book, you must complete two parts of your Project. Each Part is worth 100pts

PART ONE (worth 100 Points):

Please TYPE up the answers to the following.

1. Summarize the book in no more or less than 8 sentences.
2. What was the main POINT OF VIEW of the book?
3. What was the main TONE of the book?
4. What was one of the THEMES of the book?
5. Give one open-ended (i.e., not yes/no or one word answer) question you had while reading the book.
6. Give one Aha! you had while reading the book.
7. Describe one Monitor moment you had while reading the book (a moment when you “zoned out” or lost comprehension).
8. Give two Connections you made while reading the book (text-to-text, text-to-self, text-to-world)
9. Give two memorable examples of a literary term or device. Quote the text directly, give page numbers, and correctly identify the term or device.

PART TWO (worth 100 points):

Pick one of the ideas below to demonstrate your comprehension and understanding of the book by synthesizing your knowledge with a creative product. The key here is creative; use the guidelines for each idea as a minimal requirement for completion.

If you have any questions along the way, please ask me! Each student will share part two with the rest of the class on the due date given. Have fun!

1. CHARACTER ASTROLOGY SIGNS. After reading brief descriptions of astrology or sun signs, figure out which signs you think THREE of the main characters from your book were born under. Write an explanation of why you think they fit the signs, drawing on their actions, attitudes, and thoughts from the book. Create a VISUAL representation of this.
2. HEROES AND SUPERHEROES. Take your protagonist and select THREE people your character would think of as a hero or superhero. (Heroes can be real people or imaginary.) Describe the characteristics of each hero and why those characteristics would be important to your protagonist, AND at least ONE characteristic/superpower from EACH hero that your protagonist would most want, and why. Create a VISUAL representation of this.
3. CREATE A HOME PAGE. Select one of your main characters and create a home or MySpace page. This can be “virtual” (on a piece of 22” x 28” or bigger poster board) or actually posted on the web; however, print off pages to share, since we may not be able to access the site at school. Include pictures, appropriate backgrounds and text, and at least FIVE website favorite links. Be sure to write up a short explanation of how you made the decisions you did and what you believe this tells us about the character. Create a VISUAL representation of this.
4. CHAT ROOM / INSTANT MESSAGE CONVERSATIONS. Imagine that TWO or more or your characters meet online and begin talking. (If it’s a chat room, which room and why?) Write at least one page of the transcript of their conversation. Create a VISUAL representation of this.
5. CARTOON STRIP / COMIC BOOK. Create a comic strip or book of at least SIX boxes or panels to dramatize a dramatic event from the book. Use a piece of poster board (22” x 28” or bigger), folded or kept flat. Be sure to use both text and images.
6. MUSIC SOUNDTRACK. Divide your book into at least FIVE sections. Find a piece of music or a song that you feel best captures the feel or tone for each section. Type up a one page paper describing each song/piece and explain why it best fits each section. (You may bring in the music to share if you like.) Create a VISUAL representation of this.
7. POETRY. Write THREE poems in response to the novel. The poems can be about the characters, setting, or the themes of the book. One of these poems can be a Found Poem, taking a passage from the book that you feel has particularly powerful or interesting imagery and words and rearranging them in verse form. Create a VISUAL representation of this.
8. CHARACTER MONOLOGUE. Take one significant event/moment in the story, pick the point of view of ONE character, and write a one page monologue based on their perspective of the event. You can adapt the text and embellish as necessary. Perform the monologue in character for the class; before beginning, make sure to briefly introduce what is going on in the scene so we can follow the action. Come in costume to receive credit for a VISUAL element.
9. ANSWERING MACHINE MESSAGES. Select FIVE characters from the book and record an appropriate answering machine / voice mail greeting for each. These greetings should reveal character and information from the book. Pay particular attention to diction and tone. Turn in the recordings on a CD-R (which will be played for the class) along with a copy of your “script.” (Note: for added realism, use mobile phones to make beeps, and actually call through a speaker phone so the voice sounds “canned.”) Create a VISUAL representation of this.
10. NAME ANALYSIS. Select THREE characters from the book. Look up each name in name books / web searches (baby name books and sites can help!). Write your found meanings down, and write a paragraph for each character explaining in what ways the name is suitable and in what ways the name does not fit the character. Create a VISUAL representation of this.
11. DRAW A SCENE, CHARACTER OR OBJECT. Pick ONE important scene, character or object from the book and draw it the way you see it. (Material and media is up to the artist, but size should be at least 22” x 28”.) Type up a short explanation for what the focus is, and why you represented it the way you did.
12. CREATE A CHARACTER’S ROOM. We learn a lot about people by what they keep in their closets, what they have on their walls, what they select to put in a room. Select ONE character you know well and create a living room, bedroom, kitchen, etc. that would mean a lot to the character. Draw or write about it, making sure to include an explanation of why you designed the room you did.
13. CHARACTER ALPHABET. Choose ONE character you liked and then create sentences based on the alphabet scheme that demonstrates your knowledge of the character. For example:
    A is for the ABSENCE that made Romeo’s heart grow fonder for Juliet.
    B is for the BANISHMENT of Romeo after killing Tybalt. . . .
    Create a VISUAL representation of this.
14. COMPOSE A SONG / RAP. Write a two-minute song or rap that you will perform for the class. The song can be a parody or completely original; it must be age-appropriate; it should concentrate on ONE character, major event, or theme from the book. On the day of the performance, you must introduce the song first (explain its point of view and what it’s about) and turn in the lyrics to Miss Kruse. If the song is vulgar or crude, you will get a zero for Part B of the project. Create a VISUAL representation of this.

Adapted from Diana Mitchell’s “Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report (Teaching Ideas),” English Journal 87.1 [January 1998]: 92-95.