Sourcebooks and Book Talks

Just a quick reminder that Book Talk #1 for eighth graders are due tomorrow and Sourcebook checks begin tomorrow for ALL students. If you do not have a Sourcebook by the time I collect them to grade, you will receive a 0 on the assignment. Please take this very seriously, as Sourcebooks and Book Talks are 40% of the grade in this class.

To put it another way, if you have a 0 average for Sourcebook checks and Book Talks, the highest grade you can achieve in my class is a 60. A passing grade is a 65. You will not pass this class without working in your Sourcebook or turning in Book Talks.

Here is the grading checklist I use for book talks:
The title and author are included - 5 points

The information about the author explains how the author’s life influences the text - 5 points

The summary covers the beginning, middle, and end of the book, discusses the main conflict and how it’s resolved, and briefly describes any subplots.
(In the case of non-fiction, the summary should mention the most important things the reader learned from the book). - 10 points

There is a text-to-self, text-to-text, or text-to-world connection to a specific incident in the book using details from the book - 1o points

There is an explanation of whether or not the book should be recommended to other readers. The recommendation focuses on a particular audience of readers. - 1o points

This is how the Sourcebook will be graded:
The Table of Contents is accurate and up-to-date
- 5 points

Every entry is clearly marked with a title and page number
- 5 points

Every entry begins on a new page
- 5 points

Every entry has complete, original work from the student
- 25 points

Good luck!