Multi-genre Writing Assignment for Peter and the Starcatchers Context: The following is an outline for the culminating project for the unit on Peter and the Starcatchers. This is a multi-genre project. After finishing the book, we will begin working on the different parts of the project. You will have time to work on the project during class, but you will need to do some work outside of class. It should not be difficult to finish on time. This is your chance to look at some of your favorite aspects of the book. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to help you master different genres that you will need to understand both inside and outside the classroom. It also provides you with a greater understanding of the book as a whole, the themes, setting, ideas, etc. Audience: The people who will be reading and responding to several of the different parts of your project are your peers. I will review several of your drafts, as will your peers, to offer suggestions for improving. I will grade this project both on completing the different parts as well as the final product. We will take time during class to share and look at all of the different projects that you and your peers turn in. Steps for Completion: Persuasive Essay 1. Your first step is to decide which of the following topics you want to argue. If you have a great idea for something you want to write about that isn t listed below come talk to me and we ll see if it will work. Should Peter have stayed on the island or gone back to England? If you were Peter s orphan friend, would you have stayed with
Peter or gone back with Molly and her father? Do you think that the Mollusk people will change their law about visitors to their island? What is Peter s personal treasure? 2. Next you ll want to outline; include your main topic, at least four supporting ideas, and details from the book and your personal experience to support your stance. 3. Then, before the due date, you ll need to write a rough draft of your paper. 4. In class, we will peer edit your paper. I will give you instructions during class. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR PAPER to be able to get the peer evaluation points. 5. Looking at what your peers have said about your paper, do your own editing, and write your final draft. Short Story 1. Like the Persuasive Essay, your first step is to decide what you want to write about. It doesn t matter what you decide so long as your story connects to the book in some way. 2. Next, you and I will have a conference about what you plan to write. I will give you suggestions and help you understand what I expect, but you need to have a really good idea about what you want to write about have an outline of your story (it can be in your head or on paper, but we need to have something to talk about). 3. Write a rough draft. 4. Using the ideas of editing you learned doing the peer editing for the Persuasive Essay, edit your own paper, and bring it to class to receive credit. 5. Make the changes to your first draft, and bring in your second draft. We will have a conference about your second draft. Come with questions either about your paper or the process. Be prepared to answer my questions too. 6. Make final changes. 7. Turn in final draft on due date.
Setting Presentation This project requires you to use your imagination. Throughout the book, there are a lot of different settings. For example, there is a carriage ride, a harbor, a lagoon, and more. 1. Pick one of the settings in the book (provide page numbers) 2. Research interesting facts about the setting. Be sure to include facts that help you better understand what it would be like to actually be in these settings with the characters. 3. Create a pamphlet (similar to the non-fiction children s book from class) which has the information you ve found in your research. 4. Include pictures, captions, explanations, quotes from the book, and a bibliography. Your pamphlet needs to be visually appealing. Genre This is entirely your choice! Chose three different things from the list bellow or come up with a new idea. Write a rational for why you choose the genre you did and how it helped your writing. Whatever you decide, it needs to be able to fit into your final book. Poem about anything in the book or your experiences with the book Article pretend you are a newspaper reporter and choose one of the major events in the book and write and newspaper article about it. Comic Strip take one of the major events in the book and turn it into a comic strip Resume pretend you are a sailor; write a resume about how you are worthy enough to stay on Black Stache s ship or about why you should be hired on The Neverland. Ad come up with an ad that advertises the book so that people will want to buy it! You re trying to sell the book so it needs to be catchy and visually appealing. Interview Write up a pretend interview you had with one of the characters of the book. Critique Write a short article about why this is a good book or bad book to teach in this class. This is your chance to explain how
horrible or great this book was to read. Travel Brochure write a brochure trying to convince people to travel on The Neverland or to the island of the Mollusks Other Remember to include three rationales for your three different choices. DUE DATES Topic: Due: Essay outline: Due: (in class) Essay first draft: Due: (in class) Essay final draft: Due: Setting Presentation: Due: Short story ideas: Due: (in class) Short story first draft with personal editing: Due: (in class) Short story final draft: Due: Final project including: Due: Finished book (Essay, Short story, Setting Presentation, Genre 1, Genre 2, and Genre 3) Drafts, Topic choices, and anything from your writing process Rationales for each of the three genres you choose Reflection Letter This is a letter to me explaining what you learned during the writing process of the different parts of the project Assessment Your project will be graded in three different ways Turning things in on time Having completed and kept all of the different parts of the writing process topic choice, outline, draft, and final draft The quality of the genres you choose and your rational The completed final project If you have more specific questions, refer to the Rubric. If the Rubric can t answer your question come ask me; I d love to help. I want you to do a great job.
Peter and the Starcatchers Multi-genre Writing Assignment Rubric PERSUASIVE ESSAY: / 100 Process: Completed the following (20) has stamped topic choice has stamped draft includes peer review paper shows thoughtful revision TOTAL (20) Product: Ideas (25) is interesting (gives surprising facts or ideas) follows assignment cites the book and personal experience Organization (15) has interesting introduction and conclusion uses well-structured paragraphs contains overarching thesis statement follows logical progression Voice (10) is interested, engaged, and informed (sounds like you) Conventions (10) has correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation Word Choice (10) uses effective, precise words throughout Sentence Fluency (10) shows interesting variety is like speech and has a smooth flow TOTAL (80)
SHORT STORY: / 100 Process: Completed the following (20) has stamped topic choice has stamped first draft with editing has stamped second draft shows thoughtful revision TOTAL (20) Product: Ideas (15) is engaging follows assignment connects to the book Organization (20) has interesting capturing beginning uses well-structured paragraphs is sequential in form has a resolution Voice (10) sounds like you Conventions (15) has correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation Word Choice (10) uses effective, precise words throughout Sentence Fluency (10) shows interesting variety is like speech and has a smooth flow TOTAL (80)
SETTING PRESENTATION / 60 Shows research and thoughtful selection of information / 20 Correctly follows genre format / 20 Is visually appealing / 5 Shows a unique perspective / 5 Contains a Bibliography / 5 Looks Professional: neat, correct spelling and punctuation / 5 GENRE CHOICE ONE: / 30 Includes rationale slip (5) Shows a unique perspective and/or gives in-depth information (10) Correctly follows genre format (10) Looks professional: neat, correct spelling and punctuation (5) GENRE CHOICE TWO: / 30 Includes rationale slip (5) Shows a unique perspective and/or gives in-depth information (10) Correctly follows genre format (10) Looks professional: neat, correct spelling and punctuation (5) GENRE CHOICE THREE: / 30 Includes rationale slip (5) Shows a unique perspective and/or gives in-depth information (10) Correctly follows genre format (10) Looks professional: neat, correct spelling and punctuation (5)