1.+Assignment


 * Digital Learning Communities: Coming of Age in the 21st Century **

Thanks to the internet and smart phones, students have the whole world at their fingertips, and answers to their questions are only a few clicks away. Yet despite these advantages, today’s teens still face the same uncertainty and growing pains that have plagued teenagers throughout the ages. For this project, you will have the opportunity to read a ‘coming of age’ story that chronicles a teenager’s transition into adulthood and will work in a small group (Digital Learning Community) to create a wiki on your book.
 * OVERVIEW **

Students will be able to:
 * LEARNING OUTCOMES **
 * Recognize themes in their reading; assess how they contribute to the literary worth of their text; and draw thematic connections between their text and other selected novels;
 * Interpret characterization and compare/ contrast protagonists in different texts;
 * Select unfamiliar vocabulary, define it, and apply it in context;
 * Lead and engage in discussions on the novel which demonstrate a student’s ability to think critically, pose/answer relevant questions, and make personal judgments and connections;
 * Work collaboratively and gain familiarity with co-constructive web 2.0 technology by developing and contributing to a wiki.


 * THE BOOKS **
 * Haddon’s //The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time//
 * See’s //Snow Flower & the Secret Fan//
 * Knowles’ //A Separate Piece//Salinger’s //The Catcher in the Rye//Walls’s //The Glass Castle//
 * Kidd’s //The Secret Life of Bees//

Wikis <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">(wĭk'ē) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">are “user-editable” websites in which information can be added or changed by anyone granted access to the site. They provide a digital forum for collaborative authorship and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">function on the premise that “the greater the user base, the greater the potential for real knowledge” (Guth, 2007). <span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Wikipedia is the best known example of a wiki. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You will be collaborating with other students (your DLC) to create a wiki on your novel. Once your group is formed, I will send you an invitation to become a member of your wiki. Your DLC will work together over the upcoming weeks to create a digital study guide of your book with the following components:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">THE WIKI **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">HOME: The Home Page **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Although right now your Home page is pretty plain, but by the end of project your DLC will be responsible for decorating it in manner that is consistent with your book. Pretend you are trying to sell your book to someone who is unfamiliar with it. You might want to consider dominant images/symbols, colors, characters, themes, etc.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Please include on the wiki Home page a brief summary of your book as well as an explanation/justification of your design. //Why did you design it the way you did? What were you hoping to convey or express?//
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: Fri, Nov 11 (10 pts) //**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 1: Daily Assignment **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">It's the page you are looking at now.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 2: Reading Schedule **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Your group will create a reading schedule for you to follow. I have already posted a template for you to complete. You may want to print it out so that you will have a hard copy to keep in your binder. Plan on pacing yourself for 9 days of reading homework and do not finish early.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In addition to your daily reading assignments, please also assign each person a specific duty to complete along with the reading. Each member must take a turn performing each task (see wiki pages 3, 4, 5 & 6).
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: Fri, Oct 28. On wiki: Wed, Nov //**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 3: Vocabulary **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">If you are assigned to be the Vocabulary Builder for the day, it is your responsibility to find at least **three** unknown words from that day’s reading and post them to the Vocabulary page of the wiki.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Your vocabulary posts should include: 1) the word; 2) the page number on which it is located in your book; 3) the part of speech; 4) the definition; 5) a sentence using the word properly in context; 6) your name.
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: rotating each class //**
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Quiz: Fri, Dec. 2 (15 pts) //**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 4: Extender **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">If you are assigned to be the Extender for the day, it is your responsibility to extend your knowledge beyond your book, and post it to the Extender page of the wiki.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You have some freedom in how you make your connection between the book and the outside world. You might want to research an historical aspect of the text, or find a poem that is linked thematically, or post an image that is relevant. Pick something that piques your interests.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Your extension posts should include: 1) the actual extension- research, poem, image, etc; 2) a citation in MLA format of where you found your information; 3) a brief analysis of the extension—//why did you make this extension and how is it relevant to your reading?//; 4) your name.
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: rotating each class //**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 5: Themes **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I will provide you with a list of themes.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">If you are assigned to be the Theme Tracker for the day, it is your responsibility to identify examples of developing themes in your reading and post them to the Themes page of the wiki.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I have already posted to the wiki themes that I would like for you to track throughout your reading. On some nights you may encounter all of them, and on other nights you may encounter only one. It will vary.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Your theme posts should include: 1) the theme; 2) the quote (cited in MLA format) including the theme—a sentence or two is sufficient; 3) a brief analysis of the theme—//how does it contribute to the scene on a thematic level?//; 4) your name.
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: rotating each class //**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 6: Character Development **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I will assign your group a main character to track.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">If you are assigned to be the Character Tracker for the day, it is your responsibility to identify examples of the static/dynamic nature of the main character in your reading and post them to the Character page of the wiki.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Your character posts should include: 1) the character’s name; 2) the quote (cited in MLA format)—a sentence or two is sufficient; 3) a brief analysis of the quote—//how is this quote revealing of the character’s nature?//; 4) your name.
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: rotating each class //**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 7: Setting **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You will work with your DLC in class to analyze the main setting of your book and create a setting page.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Please include: author’s description from the book, interesting facts and information surrounding the setting, etc. Consider the question: //how does setting contribute to the book?//
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: Fri, Nov 4 (10 pts) //**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 8: Author **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You will work with your DLC in class to research your author and create a biography page for him/her.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Please include: author’s background, interesting facts about the author, information surrounding the writing of your book, etc.
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: Wed, Nov 9 (10 pts) //**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Page 9: Coming of Age **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You will work with your DLC in class to analyze your protagonist’s transition from child to adult.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Please include: a description of the character before, a description of an important formative moment in his/her life, a description of your character after. Consider the question: //how does my character change and mature over the course of the book?//
 * **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion: Fri, Nov 18 (10 pts) //**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Each class will begin with a DLC meeting to be facilitated by the day’s **discussion leader**. This is your time to share insights, make personal inferences, draw connections between books, ask questions, etc. This is also the perfect time to consult with your teacher. //In order to receive credit//, //the discussion leader needs to come prepared// e//ach day with questions or topics to discuss and needs to type up a detailed discussion summary. Discussion topics/questions and the discussion summary need to be submitted by the end of class//.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">CLASS DISCUSSIONS **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You will be graded on the following:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ASSESSMENTS **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Daily contributions to the wiki 20 pts (individual grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vocabulary quiz 15 pts (individual grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Author study 10 pts (group grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Home page presentation 10 pts (group grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Setting analysis 10 pts (group grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Comparative ‘coming of age’ analysis 10 pts (group grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Defining moment reflection 15 pts (individual grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Comprehension quiz 20 pts (individual grade)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Mid-process outline 50 pts (individual grade)