what's on the final thoughts test?
the four boxes
The "four boxes" includes:
1. The 4 MAIN characters.
2. The setting. This include the place and the time. The time is sometimes a specific year, but it is often more general. For example: modern days, during World War 2, during pioneer days.
3. The main problems. This is usually TWO main problems. This needs to be something introduced towards the beginning of the book and resolved at the end of the book. It isn't a small problem that possibly occurs only in one or two chapters.
4. The main solutions. There needs to be TWO solutions. Each of the problems needs to have a solution that matches.
the plot map
A novel has a LOT of events that happen! When we decide the plot map, it means we have to narrow down the events to only 7! That isn't easy!
It breaks down like this:
1. First event - happens in chapter 1 and basically introduces the main problem.
2. Second through fifth events are the "rising action." The most important actions that lead to the climax goes here. It isn't easy to figure out these. Ask yourself, "If this event disappeared does it completely change or crash the plot?" If you answer "yes" it might need to be included. Also, these events need to be listed in order.
3. Sixth event - this is the CLIMAX of the book and always happens close to the end of the book.
4. Seventh event - this is the RESOLUTION of the book. It definitely happens at the very end and kind of wraps everything up so we aren't left hanging with something not explained.
EXAMPLE FROM HOW TO STEAL A DOG:
1. OPENING EVENT: Georgina is living in a car and decides to steal a dog to get the reward money.
2. Georgina steals Willy, the perfect dog, and hides him. She waits for the reward posters to show up.
3. When no reward is offered, Georgina talks to Carmella, the owner. Carmella is heartbroken but Georgina has no sympathy and just forces her to write reward posters.
4. Mookie figures out that Georgina stole Willy. Instead of telling on her, he gives her 2 mottos and wants her to return Willy because it is the right thing to do.
5. Georgina can't stop feeling guilty. She thinks about "stirring the pot" and finally realizes she can't live with it any more.
6. CLIMAX: Georgina finally returns Willy and confesses to Carmella that she had stolen Willy.
7. RESOLUTION: Carmella miraculously forgives Georgina. And, the next day Georgina gets to move into a house.
HOW A CHARACTER CHANGES
Think about a MAIN CHARACTER.
FIRST PART: Think about how s/he was at the beginning of the book. Why were they like that?
This part is 1 to 5 sentences.
SECOND PART: Next, write about how s/he changed by the end of the book.
WHY did they change?
This part is the main part of the essay. You need to write enough to be convincing. You need to explains the events in the book that actually caused the character to change. This might be 7 to 10 sentences.
This is an example from How to Steal a Dog:
FIRST PART
In the beginning of the book, Georgina thought it was okay to do something wrong if you had a good reason to do it. So she decided to steal a dog because she believed it was the only way she could have a house to live in instead of living in a car.
SECOND PART
By the end of the book, Georgina realized that doing something wrong could never be okay. Because of that she returned Willy and confessed what she had done to Carmella even though it was hard.
THE REASON SHE CHANGED When Georgina stole Willy, she had to watch Carmella's sadness. She had not thought about that part. She even forced Carmella to offer a $500 reward which she could not afford. Gradually she began to realize that it was wrong to hurt someone no matter what the reason. Mookie shared his wisdom/mottos with her, which really made a difference in her thinking. Also, she realized she couldn't live with herself for doing that. Something wrong is always wrong, no matter what! So she finally had to right her wrong and confess.
write about the theme
A theme is a main message that the author keeps coming back to. Usually there are multiple examples throughout the book. It is never something that we only think about in one chapter.
The examples can be something that shows a character demonstrating it. Or, it can be a character NOT demonstrating it.
The final part is thinking about the author's purpose. Does it inspire readers to be brave? Or to choose to do something right even though it is hard? Or have compassion for people? There are lots of possibilities and I will help each book club with this.
An example from How to Steal a Dog:
FIRST PART
I think a good theme for the book is compassion.
FIRST EXAMPLE
In this book Georgina feels bad when Carmella is crying about Willy, her dog, being lost. Georgina starts feeling really sorry for Carmella and gradually starts to regret what she did. She finds out that Carmella lives alone and Willy is her only friend. She even tries to force her to write posters offering a reward. But, she can't ignore that her heart is starting to feel terrible about being so unkind to Carmella. Finally, her compassion wins the battle, and she returns Willy.
SECOND EXAMPLE
Also, Mookie shows compassion when he figures out that Georgina stole the dog because he doesn't tell on her. Mookie finds Willy and soon after that he sees the posters that have Willy's picture on them. He talks to Georgina and makes the connection that she's the one who stole Willy. He could have taken Willy back and told on her and then she would have been in BIG trouble. But instead he tells her two mottos and hopes she will do the right thing. That was a very compassionate way to handle this problem.
AUTHOR'S PURPOSE
When I read this book it made me think about how important it is to be compassionate towards others. Sometimes a little kindness is like a superpower that can fix things. I want to learn how to show compassion like Georgina and Mookie did.
Since we are reading different books for Book Club, the possible themes are not always the same.
Here are some specific possibilities per book.
Front Desk: True Courage, Racism, Right vs. Wrong
Stepping on the Cracks: True Courage, Right vs. Wrong, Heroism
Kite Fighter: Healing, Acceptance, Integrity
Week in the Woods: Forgiveness, Acceptance, Integrity
Wringer: Peer Pressure, Friendship, True Courage
Hatchet: Facing Adversity, Inner Strength, Hope
These are the parts of the essay:
1. State the theme you chose. 1 sentence.
2. Write the first example. 5 - 8 sentences.
3. Write the second example. 5 - 8 sentences.
4. Write about the author's purpose. 2 - 3 sentences. (What is the lesson the author is trying to teach you?)