Lackey's Class Links

Choose a Contemporary American novel. After reading your novel, prepare a 5-7 minute speech and 500-word essay that include the following:

Speech: Due April 23
1. Introduction
2. Oral reading - one to two page reading from novel including introductory or concluding explanation of context.
3. Author background - include reference to at least one critical source or review.
4. Your personal reaction/opinion/response to the novel.
5. Topic outline

Essay: Due April 30
1. Author background - include quotation from at least one critical source or review.
2. Conflict Analysis - refer to specific examples from your novel.
3. Theme - "Sometimes in life . . ."
4. 3-5 quotes from novel to illustrate conflict and theme.
5. Reaction/Opinion/Response
6. Works cited of primary and secondary sources.
7. Submit paper w/works cited to Turnitin.com

Independent Novel speeches and Rubric

The Big Read
Contemporary American Novels Summaries
Other Recommended Reading Lists
My Reading Life - Mrs. Lackey's Reading Blog

Reader's Bill of Rights

1. The right not to read.
2. The right to skip pages.
3. The right to not finish.
4. The right to reread.
5. The right to read anything.
6. The right to escapism.
7. The right to read anywhere.
8. The right to browse.
9. The right to read out loud.
10. The right to not defend your tastes.

From Better Than Life, 1999, Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers

Stranger Than Fiction: Dustin Hoffman Interview

Kurt Vonnegut in Defense of Reading