A+Long+Way+Gone,+Ishmael+Beah

=**Literature Circle Activities:**=
 * Each week you will read certain assigned pages of the text. You will meet to discuss the literature and focus on specific literary elements during your conversation. You should also share connections to the literature with your other group members. These connections can be text to self, text to text, and/or text to society. Once you have completed your literature circle meeting, you should update the wiki under the appropriate weekly meeting. Each member should take turns updating the material weekly, while the other group members help identify correct response to the material. In the end, you will have a great resource for other individuals who have read or wish to read your selected novel. Please type your responses in regular font (no bold or italics).**

**Meeting One: Setting and Characters**

 * Title :**
 * Author :**
 * Page Numbers Read :**


 * What is the setting of the text ?**
 * Time :**


 * Place :**


 * Social Context :**


 * Who are the main characters in this text? Provide names and descriptions of the characters role, physical appearance, attitude, and relationship(s) with others. Label the characters as protagonist, antagonist, static, or dynamic as well .**

**Meeting Two: Problems/Conflicts/Rising Action**

 * What is the MAJOR conflict within the story? Identify whether the conflict is external or internal. Briefly explain the problem and the implications of that problem .**


 * Major Conflict -**


 * Characters involved -**


 * Internal or External (be specific- character vs. self, character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society) :**


 * Brief Explanation of Conflict -**


 * What makes this conflict THE MAJOR conflict in the story ?**

**What are some other minor conflicts within the story? Identify whether the conflicts are external or internal. Briefly explain how these minor conflicts help the plot and characters to develop.**

**Meeting Three: Themes**
**Each group member should identify one of the many themes from within your selected text (use your resources and refer back to the list of themes I provided you with in class). Develop the ideas behind that theme. Analyze the theme and explain as many aspects of that theme that you can- how it relates to the character, how it relates to society, how it drives the plot. How does this theme promote understanding vs. ignorance? How does this theme help readers relate to the text? Label your response with your identified THEME at the top of your response. Provide examples from the text and cite using MLA format.**

**Meeting Four: Author Biography, Author's Purpose, and Style**
**How does the author's biography help to understand their piece of literature? What connections can be made between the literature and the author's life? Explain thoroughly.**

**Why did the author write this text? Review your notes on author's purpose. Identify the genre and sub-genre for the literature. Why might the author have written this text? Who is the intended audience? Why and how do you know?**


 * What is your author's style of writing? Consider the following: tone, figurative language, imagery, point of view, organization, and repetition. What techniques did the author incorporate to make this literature stand out from other texts you have read? Explain completely. **

**Meeting Five: Book Reviews**

 * Review the following websites for book reviews. Based on what you learn about book reviews and their content, create a review for your selected novel. Each group member must create his/her own review of the text. You may complete this review in any format- written, iMovie-movie trailer, podcast, blog/journal entry, etc... Be creative and remember, content is important! Upload your final product below. **


 * [|Teen Book Review Blog] **
 * [|Teen Ink Book Reviews] **
 * [|Novel Teen Book Reviews] **
 * [|Teen Video Book Talks] Must use a home computer to view as these are from YouTube.com; See me if you'd like to view a couple at school on my computer. **