Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
“Think ing while Reading”
Worksheets for Any Nove l
Context Clues Setting
Character (2) Theme
Conf l ic t Point of View
Plot
Mood (2) Figurative Language (3)
Symbolism Summary
http://talesofmiddleschooleveryting.blogspot.com/
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Context Clues
Student Directions: When you see a new word you do not know, you can usually find the meaning by looking at the surrounding words and sentences. The clues within these surrounding words and sentences are known as context clues. Look at the different types below:
http://jmurphy.gsrj.net/5contextclues.pdf
Context Clue Type
Definition / Meaning
Student Found Example in Novel One
Student Found Example in Novel Two
Definition/ Explanation
The meaning is given in the same sentence.
Restatement/ Synonym
A word that has similar meaning is used near the difficult word.
Contrast/ Antonym
A word that has opposite meaning is used near the difficult word.
Inference Words that explain the meaning through examples or clues.
Punctuation Specific punctuation marks like quotes, commas, dashes, and even italics that enclose the meaning.
Example Specific examples are used to define the difficult word.
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Context Clues Two Student Directions: Choose 10-15 vocabulary words from your vocabulary list. Search them in the book. Read the words and sentences surrounding the vocabulary word to determine which type of context clue is being used. Write the vocabulary word in its respective category.
http://jmurphy.gsrj.net/5contextclues.pdf
Context Clue Type
Definition / Meaning Vocabulary Word in Novel
Definition/ Explanation
The meaning is given in the same sentence.
Restatement/ Synonym
A word that has similar meaning is used near the difficult word.
Contrast/ Antonym
A word that has opposite meaning is used near the difficult word.
Inference Words that explain the meaning through examples or clues.
Punctuation Specific punctuation marks like quotes, commas, dashes, and even italics that enclose the meaning.
Example Specific examples are used to define the difficult word.
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Setting Student Directions: As you are reading, keep track of the “clues” that hint to the year and time period. Record them in the graphic organizer below, then get on a computer to look up more nonfiction information about that clue.
Page Quote or Summary Clue about setting
What this tells the audience (us!)
Type of Setting (time, place, where, when, culture, etc.)
3
“Down by my feet I had laid out all the Japanese army souvenirs Dad had shipped home from the war.” (WWII) Dead End in Norvelt
His dad was in the war while the son was alive, so the war must have been recent. WWII was from 1939-1945 Time period
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Character Analysis
Student Directions: As you begin a new novel, you always want to keep track of the key elements of the plot, including the characters. Start with the character descriptions. Fill out what you can and we will add to the list as we read. Use page numbers and quotations to defend your answers.
Character Physical Traits Personality Traits
Flat/Round; Static/Dynamic; Protagonist/ Antagonist
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Analyzing One Character
Student Directions: Choose one character in the novel to analyze. Use evidence from the text to describe the character in detail.
Character’s Name: _____________________________________
General Quality
Specific Character Traits
Textual Evidence with quotes and page numbers
Flat/ Round
Static/ Dynamic
Protagonist/ Antagonist
Physical Characteristics
Internal Personality
Traits
External Personality
Traits
Conflict(s)
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Theme
The theme is the underlying ________________________ or the main __________________ of a passage.
Student Directions: As a group, brainstorm what you think some of the theme(s) of the novel, Dead End in Norvelt are. Then explain why you think each of these is important. Use evidence from the novel. Use the key bank of common themes to help you.
Theme Explanation with Evidence
honesty loss of innocence conflict with parents/ adults
importance of family prejudice peer pressure journey man vs. society growing up overcoming adversity friendship pregnancy and addiction man vs. nature illness and death love
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Conflict
Student Directions: First complete the list of conflicts. Then use this list to describe three instances of conflict in the novel. The different types of conflict include: Internal External Character vs. Character vs. Character vs. Character vs. Character vs. Character vs.
Character Vs. who/what? Type of Conflict Explanation of Conflict
Have any of these conflicts been resolved? If yes, describe how they are resolved.
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Plot Diagram
Student Directions: Label the five stages of the plot. Use synonyms for each stage (there are two terms for each of the five stages). Below, describe one or two events that happen in each stage of the plot in the novel.
1. ________________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________________ 4. ________________________________________________________________________ 5. ________________________________________________________________________
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Point of View
Student Directions: Fill in the “Key Words” in the chart below. Write the type of point of view in the sun, using the key bank to help decide what type of view the novel uses. Then, find excerpts from the book and write those examples on the arrows. Include quotation marks and page numbers.
POV Type first person second person
third person limited
third person
omniscient
third person
objective Key Words
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Mood (One)
When we talk about the mood, we are describing how you, the audience, __________________________ while reading a piece of writing.
Student Directions: Below, quote and write different excerpts from the novel and describe the mood you feel while reading them. Answer the question that follows.
Page Key Words Mood (Complete Sentences) 3
first day, grinned, scanning the mob, interest, milling about, calling names, pointing, summer –tanned faces, poured inside, new student, spectacular blonde from CA, full-bodied woman, ten week miracle
Reading the first page, the mood is anxious. There is excitement in the halls as everyone gossips about their summers and how people look coming back for a new school year. The mood is also full of mystery as the reader wants to find out whom everyone is talking about. The author uses dialogue, questions, and details to give off this mood.
Why is the mood important? ___________________________________________________________________________
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Mood (Two)
Student Directions: Randomly flip to a page in the chapters we have read so far. Record all of the descriptive words you find on that page.
Chapter: ___________Page(s): ____________
1. Complete the chart to help you decide which are the important key words. Imagery and mood go hand in hand, and by being descriptive through the five senses, you are able to provide a mood for your audience. You can draw a picture next to each of the five senses. Look in your book, and look for words that describe how something feels, smells, tastes, looks, or sounds.
See Taste Feel Hear Smell
2. Describe the mood of the excerpt with details and examples, using complete
sentences and evidence. What key words used are the most important to help describe the overall mood of the page?
3. Is the mood you feel intentional by the author or accidental? Why?
4. How do authors create specific moods for people to feel when they write?
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Figurative Language Terms Student Directions: Refresh your memory with the different types of figurative language. Write a few keywords to remember the definition and one example you can think of each time you hear that type of figurative language. Think of a question to ask yourself as you are analyzing the different types. Then draw a quick picture to represent your type of figurative language.
Type of Figurative Language
Example Sentence
Question you ask yourself Picture
Idiom It’s raining cats Can this happen Keyword(s): and dogs. literally? Does not make sense Metaphor Keyword(s): Hyperbole Keyword(s): Repetition Keyword(s): Personification Keyword(s): Onomatopoeia Keyword(s): Alliteration Keyword(s): Simile Keyword(s):
Allusion Keyword(s):
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Figurative Language
Student Directions: Assign each person in your group a chapter to hunt for figurative language. See who can find the most, or help each other along the way. Reference your first Figurative Language Activity if you need help!
Figurative language found in chapter ________.
Type of Figurative Language
Sentence(s) in the Novel Use quotation marks and page # Literal Meaning
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Repetition
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Alliteration
Idiom
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Figurative Language Hunt
Directions: Assign each person in your group a chapter to hunt for figurative language. See who can find the most, or help each other along the way. Reference your first Figurative Language Activity if you need help! Figurative language found in chapter ________.
Page # Sentence(s) in the Novel: Use quotation marks
Type of Figurative Language Meaning
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Symbolism Student Directions: Symbolism in reading can be determined by finding an image or object that __________________________ a noun or idea in the novel. Create symbols to represent each of the following nouns. Explain why you think this is an ideal symbol for each noun.
Noun in novel Symbol Reasoning
1. Mr. Gantos airplane
Mr. Gantos brings home an airplane in the beginning and spends the entire novel putting it together. We learn about his personality through his actions and experiences building the plane. Dead End in Norvet
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Summary Student Directions: Make a list of the components of a high quality summary. Then write a summary about your novel. An effective summary:
Should be _______________ sentences Will explain ____________________________________________________________ Will not include your ____________________________ Will give hints about what happens, but will not spoil the
__________________________!
Write your summary below: Would you recommend this book to someone else? Why or why not? What type of person would enjoy reading this book? What lesson have you learned from this novel?
Name ___________________________________ Date ________________
Fill in the Blank Worksheet Answers !) THEME: The theme is the underlying message or the main idea of a passage. 2) CONFLICT: 3)
PLOT: 1. Introduction, Exposition 2. Rising Action, Period of Conflict and Crisis 3. Climax, Turning Point 4. Falling Action, Denouement 5. Conclusion, Resolution
4) MOOD: When we talk about the mood, we are describing how you, the audience, feel while reading a piece of writing. 5) POV
POV Type first
person second person
third person limited
third person
omniscient
third person
objective Key Words I, me, we you he, she, he, she, he, she, they, we they, we they, we
6) SYMBOLISM: Symbolism in reading can be determined by finding an image or object that represents a noun or idea in the novel. 7) SUMMARY:
Should be 4-6 sentences Will explain setting, characters, key details Will not include your opinion. Will give hints about what happens, but will not spoil the ending! (whatever the class decides)
Internal External Character vs. self Character vs. Man Character vs. Nature Character vs. Machine Character vs. Society Character vs. Technology
