Theme

What does the subject of your theme revolve around? What message or is the author communicating about that subject? Support your answer with examples from the book with actions, thoughts, questions, dialogue, etc.

One reoccurring subject or topic in my book is... because...

Therefore, I think one of themes in my book is...

For example, ...

Tom's Maturity

In the conclusion of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the author writes that this is the end of a boy's story. If it were to continue, it would turn into the story of a man. Do think this is true? Has Tom gotten more or less mature from chapter one to chapter thirty-five? Identify what qualities he possesses throughout the book that show whether he has grown in maturity. Describe the actions, thoughts interaction, reactions, dialogue, or emotions that prove he has had these qualities. Support your arguments with specific details from the book. I think Tom has grown/not grown in maturity because in the beginning of the book he shows __________ qualities. He shows these qualities when in the book he... Toward the middle of the book he shows qualities of ________________ness when he... Finally, at the end of the book he shows.... when he...

Mood Change

Mark Twain is known for using humor in his writing. Chapters 1 - 8 are filling with humorous scenes, scenarios, and anecdotes. Then, chapter 9 marks a turnning point in novel. Not only does the plot change, the mood changes from humorous to more scary and serious. First, identify some humorous scenes from chapters 1 - 8. Second, describe how the mood changes in chapter 9. Be sure to support your answer with specific examples from the book.

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer some humorous events that Mark Twain wrote about in chapters 1 - 8 are...

Then, in chapter 9 the mood changes to... Because the writing...

For example, in the book...

Time Travel Prediction 2

As mentioned before part of reading a historical fiction is to understand the historical setting of your novel. Your main character exists during a time period that is different from our own. This time instead of imagining what life would be like for your main character if he or she travel to the present, what would life be like for you if you traveled back to the setting of your novel. First, identify the time period of your novel. Second, describe how life would be different for you as a result of the historical setting. Finally, predict what characters you would or would not be friends with and why. Make sure to support your answers with specific examples from the book – examples of how their time period is different from ours and examples of your character’s personality, proving you would or would not get a long with him or her.

My book, _____________________, takes place during ___________,
If I were to travel back in time to this historical setting, some things that would be different are… because…

I predict I would (or would not) be friends with _________ because... For example in the book…

Chapter Title - What's in a Name

Part of being a good reader is determining the main idea or theme of what you read. Authors do this all the time for titles of the book and titles of chapters. After reading the article "Choosing the Right Name for Your Story." Choose a chapter in your historical fiction book. If it has a title, explain why or how that title is fitting for the chapter. If you think the chapter should have a different title, explain what title it should have and why. Or, if your chapter does not have a title, give it one and explain how it fits that chapter.

Time Travel Prediction 1

Part of reading a historical fiction is to understand the historical setting of your novel. Your main character exists during a time period that is different from our own. What would it be like for your character to travel ahead in time to the year 2012 and be a part of your class at Adams-Friendship Middle School? First, identify your main character and the time period of your novel. Second, describe how life would be different for your main character. Finally, predict who they would or would not be friends with in your class, which classes they might like best or least, and what activities or hobbies they might like. Make sure to support your answers with specific examples from the book – examples of how their time period is different from ours and examples of your character’s personality, proving who they would or would not get along with well.

In my book, _______________, which takes place during ___________,
the main character is ___________________. If he/she were to be part of our class today, some things that would be different are… because…

I predict ______ would (or would not) be friends with _________ because in the book… He/she would probably like (or not like) ________ class because in the book… And, I think they would enjoy doing … because in the book…

Mood

We have spent a lot of time talking about mood and how one can create a certain mood with words, descriptions, scenarios, etc. in writing. Identify the mood in one particular part of your mystery. Is it sad, happy, romantic, angry, scary, suspenseful? Describe what the author does to create this mood. What type of techniques is the author using to make the reader feel this way? What type of words? What type of scenes? What type of descriptions? Support your argument with triangulated (three) evidence (specific examples) from the book. Finally, discuss why your author might have chose to use this mood. Why does the author want you to feel this way at this particular part?"

In chapter ______ of my mystery titled _________________, I think the mood is... because the author... For example, in the book...
I think the author wants the reader to feel this way because...

Suspects and Motives

In learning about the mystery genre, we have learned that suspects are an important part to any mystery. Part of finding the solution to a mystery and figuring out which suspect is the perpetrator or maybe even accomplices. Motives play a large role in helping to narrow down the suspect list. You have already created a character chart for your book. Look at these characters and determine which are and which are not suspects thus far in your opinion. Who can you eliminate from the suspect list? Why can you eliminate them? What individuals are at the top of your suspect list? Why are they at they the most suspected? What are their possible motives? Make sure to back your theories or guesses up with support from the book and specific examples to illustrate this support.