ENGLISH 4C - INDEPENDENT STUDY OUTLINE

The Grade 12 Independent Study is a complex project you will undertake in this course. The
project requires organization, curiosity, a commitment to reading, creativity, communication
skills, and an ability to think on an abstract level.

Essentially you will be studying a novel and its movie version to provide a thoughtful analysis of
the contrast between the two forms. You will also be applying your knowledge of media studies.
Your work will be evaluated in a mixture of models and methods. However, formal essay
writing will comprise the largest part of your ISU assessment.

* These dates are subject to change

Checkpoint #1:THE NOVEL

Your first task will be to choose a ​grade appropriate​ novel to read. The novel you choose must
have an accessible movie version. To avoid pitfalls later in the project, your novel choice must
be approved by your teacher. In addition, you may not choose a novel that you have already read
or core novel from another English course. Once you have selected your book, ​you may not
change your mind!​ Read the novel!

Novel Request Due By: ​Friday, October 4th

Checkpoint #2: BOOK TALK

By this point, you should be well into the reading of your novel (at least half way through it).
You will be asked to do a short, but well organized presentation in which you discuss the novel
you are reading with your classmates. Your book talk can be presented live, in class, or can be a
digital recording of you presenting. ​Your task is to assemble a presentation to share and
promote your novel​, according to the following criteria :

1. Introduce the book in a creative way. State the title, author, and genre of the novel

2. Briefly summarize what you have read so far. Provide information that will make your
audience want to read it too! ​Read an interesting section out loud​ (this can be an
important sentence, quote, paragraph, etc…)

3. Describe the main characters from the book. Who are the protagonist and antagonist?
What was their role within the story?

4. Describe the setting of the story. Tell us when and where the story takes place.

5. Tell about some ways in which you connected with the novel (text-to-text, text-to-self,
text-to-world, text-to-media, etc.)

Book Talk Presentation Date: ​Thursday, October 10th

Checkpoint #3: Logbooks

By the date listed below, you should have finished reading your novel. While you are reading,
you should keep reading logs - you will be responsible for completing ​THREE ​logbook entries.
(a task that will be explained in class). These logs will be of GREAT help to you during your
personal essay. You will hand in your logs with your personal essay. Your responses should
respond to the following questions, but in full paragraph form. You may choose as many or as
few questions from each section as you like, ​but all questions in bold ​must​ be answered​.

Log responses due: Tuesday, October 22nd

1. Response 1 (for the early chapters of the book)

a. What is the time and place of the book? What evidence from the book tells
you this?

b. Name and describe the main character in the book. Describe them physically
and describe their personality and history, if known. Then, give your
impression of them.

c. Name and describe a secondary character in the book. Describe them physically
and describe their personality and history, if known. Explain how/why they are
important to the story.

d. Describe the relationship between these two characters. Include their history
together and details of their relationship. Why is their relationship important to
the story?

e. Describe one important event in the story and explain why it is significant to the
story (to the plot, to the characters, to the ideas of the book…)

f. Define the word ​culture​ in your own words. Then, give one example of
something to do with “culture” in your novel. Is this ​cultural trait​ similar or
different to one in your own world?

g. What are your thoughts or feelings about the novel so far? Why?

h. Find one specific idea, event, or behaviour in the book that relates to your life.
Explain how it relates to your life.
 i. Explain one connection you made with the story (text-to-text, text-to-self,
text-to-world). Explain how this connection helps you understand the story better.

2. Response 2 (for the middle chapters of the book)

a. If the time or place of the novel changes during the book, explain how it changes.
How does this switching affect the story?

b. What is the general feeling or mood of the novel? Give 2 examples that
connect or create this mood.

c. Compare and contrast the behaviours and personalities of two characters. Do their
physical descriptions match or differ with their behaviours and attitudes?

d. Give an example from your novel of 3 of the following conflicts : i) Two

people; ii) A person and themself (Internal Conflict); iii) A person and
society; iv) a person and an animal or nature; v) a person and a
supernatural/spiritual being

e. Who is the narrator of the story? Are they inside or outside the story? How
are they connected to the story?

f. What is your reaction to a relationship, event, behaviour, or message/theme of the

book? Be clear about what you are reacting to and why it makes you feel this
way.

g. Choose a sentence or phrase that you liked. Explain why you chose it, what
its value is to the novel, and what its value is to you.

3. Response 3 (for the final chapters of the book)

a. Is there any special language used in the novel (slang, dialects, foreign words,
etc.)? Give 3 examples of this and explain why you think it is used.

b. Does the author use humor, irony, symbolism, or metaphors? Give examples and
explain the effect of them.

c. What is the climax of the novel? What major conflicts lead up to this, and
what is the resolution afterwards?

d. What are the theme or themes in the novel? How does the author show this/these
ideas? Give an example. How does this theme connect to your world?
 e. What did you learn from this novel? In answering this question, you may
comment on any aspect of the novel that you’d like.

4. Checkpoint #4 GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

By the date listed below, you need to have viewed the movie version of your novel. Upon
viewing, you will create a graphic organizer outlining the contrasts (that means difference)
between the novel and the movie. You will be given a worksheet that outlines the differences
between the two along with any deletions, additions, and accuracy.

Graphic Organizer due date: Monday, October 28th

Checkpoint #5: PERSONAL ESSAY​ ​OUTLINE

Your next step is to create an outline for your personal essay describing which forum you liked
more. Your teacher will be going over the essay writing process and structure in class. The
outline must be handed in with all of your rough notes.

Outline due date:​ ​Tuesday, November 5th

Checkpoint #6: PERSONAL ESSAY

This is the longest piece you will write for the ISU. You will formulate a thesis and write a 5
paragraph essay in which you prove that thesis. Using your log book reflections, your essay will
explain your understanding and insight into the novel. You must strive for clarity and precision
in how you present your ideas. The essay must be handed in with all of your rough notes.
Essays without all rough work will not be accepted.

Essay due date: Friday, November 15th. NO ESSAYS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS
DATE