Individualized Essays Questions: Assessing Independent Reading

Are you afraid your students aren't really reading during silent reading? Do you need a common assessment? Though the product is not common (students write on different topics); the process of writing an essay is. Use individualized essay questions based on students' independent reading. In Janet Allen's book, Yellow Brick Roads, Allen describes using individualized questions to assess students' independent reading habits. These questions are based  on her models.

<>To prepare for this type of assessment the teacher needs to
  
    -keep track of what students are reading
       - keep a list of books each student has "finished"
       -read what students are reading    OR
       -know something about the books students have read (or read summaries/reviews of them on amazon.com)

At the semester, collect all the titles a student has finished reading. Write an essay question that fits the reading that child finished. Use any of the examples below if they fit the themes/content of the books your students are reading.


December 2003

 <>Chris B.- Transall Saga; Ripley’s Believe It or Not;  ESPN:  The Answer Guy, Fingerprints & Talking Bones;  Time Machine; Five Minute Illiad; The Bluford Series:  Secrets in the Shadows, Lost & Found, The Gun, A Matter of Trust, The Bully, Someone to Love Me; The Demon in the Teahous, Bizarre Being;, Forged by Fire.In several of the books you have read this semester the main characters have needed take responsibility.  Some of the characters have had to take responsibility for their own actions; others have had to take responsibility for their own survival and still others have had to take responsibility for friends or family. Think about all of the ways the characters you read about are responsible.  Write to compare how at least two of the main characters from at least two novels you have read act responsibly.  In your conclusion you may want to comment on what you have learned about taking responsibility from your readings.  Be sure to cite specific examples from your readings in your response. 

<> 
<>Eric- Transall Saga, A Single Shard, Money Hungry, Downsiders, Breaking Point, ESPN:  The Answer Guy, The Time Machine, Outsiders), Hatchet, The River, Brian’s Winter. In several of the books you have read this semester the main characters have needed take responsibility.  Some of the characters have had to take responsibility for their own actions; others have had to take responsibility for their own survival and still others have had to take responsibility for friends or family. Think about all of the ways the characters you read about are responsible.  Write to compare how at least two of the main characters from at least two novels you have read act responsibly.  Be sure to cite specific examples from your readings in your response.

 <>Jason- Wrestling Sturbridge, Pet Force, Pet Force #2, Stormbreaker, Positively Paige, A Less Travelled Road, The Stone Cold Truth. Two books you have read this semester are about wrestling.  How do wresters think differently than other people?  What makes wrestlers better able to overcome odds than the rest of us?  Think about successful wrestlers and think about Wrestling Sturbridge and The Stone Cold Truth.  Now write to explain how wrestlers (unlike other types of characters or people) are better able to develop a winning outlook on life.  Be sure to cite specific examples from your readings in your response.<> 


<>Sean- Farenheit 451, Haunted America, Tony Hawk, The Bluford Series:  Until We Meet Again, The Bully, The Gun, Lost & Found, Secrets & Shadows, A Matter of Trust. In the Bluford Series many of the main characters have needed courage to face a problem. Write to compare the ways at least two of the main characters from at least two of the novels in the series use courage to overcome the problems that confront them.  Be sure to cite specific examples from your readings in your response.

 

<>Jeremy- Farenheit 451, Holes, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Touching Spirit Bear, Danger at the Fair, Dirt Rider, The Bluford Series  (Secrets in the Shadows, Lost & Found, The Gun, A Matter of Trust, The Bully, Someone to Love Me ) Summer Reading is Killing Me,A Little Sip of Chicken Soup for the Soul. In many of the books in The Bluford Series, teenagers face life threatening situations and have to learn to deal with them.  Based on your reading and your own life experiences, discuss how teenagers and children overcome life threatening problems.  Even if it means living with death, what do kids do to survive? Write to explain lessons can kids who are struggling can get from reading these types of books. Choose examples from the books you’ve read to support your response.  <>
 

<>AldrynnEnder’s Game, Speaker for the Dead, Transall Saga, Xenocide, The Cage, Soldier’s Heart, The Void, The House Next Door, Five Minute Illiad. What is the future of war for our world?  Will simulation take the place of actual combat? Will nuclear weapons force humans back to a primitive existence.  Write to explain the the future of war based on your readings this semester.  Use specific examples from the many novels to support your prediction.

Joshua- Transall Saga, The Bluford Series  (Until We Meet Again, Secrets in the Shadows, Lost & Found, The Gun, A Matter of Trust, The Bully, Someone to Love Me ) <>The Outsiders, Cirque de Freak #1, 2, 4, HolesIn many of the books you have read, teenagers face difficult situations and have to learn to grow and overcome them.  Based on your reading and your own life experiences, write to explain how teens can overcome the most difficult problems they face. Choose examples from the books you’ve read and your own experience to support your response.

<>Mike- Beyond the Millenium, The Last of the Mohicans, The Silver Chalice, Farenheit 451, Mysteries & Monsters of the Sea, Masters of Doom, The Five Minute Illiad, Byzantium, Shattering Glass, The Hunt for Red October, Red Rabbit, The Iron Lance: Celtic Crusades You have read a few books this semester that fall into the category of  historical fiction.  Based on the books you’ve read, what specific elements do you see making up this genre (type of writing)? What do these books all have in common? What do you think makes these books so interesting?  Write to explain the difference between a good historical novel and a bad one.  Cite specific examples for the books you’ve read this semester to support your response. <> 

<>Chino- Transall Saga, Mummies & Bones, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Who is Harry Houdini, Fingerprints and Talking Bones. Do monsters really exist?  Can we travel through time and space?  Is magic real?  You’ve read several books this semester that deal with unbelievable subjects or themes.  Unbelievable subjects from magic to oddities to time travel are fascinating!  Write to explain how books like these (Transall Saga, Ripley’s, Who is Harry Houdini, etc) make the “unbelievable” believable. Use examples from your readings to support your response.  
<>
Jon-
Guts, Red Mars, Spiders in the Hairdo, Holes, Pendragon:  The Merchant of Death, Pendragon:  The Lost City of Faar, Breathing Underwater, ,Pendragon:  The Never War, Ender’s Game, Sirena, Everest #1, 2 .What does it take to be a great adventurer?  You’ve read several books this semester that feature young adventurers/explorers.  Write to explain the traits successful adventurers have in common. Be sure to use specific examples from at least three of the novels you have read in your response. <>

Billy-
Transall Saga, Ender’s Game, Farenheit 451, Things Not Seen, Speaker for the Dead, Artemis Fowl #1, 2, Remember Me, Soldier X, BAD, A Single Shard. Several characters in the books you have read are searching for something:  answers, fathers, justice, etc.  Why do we search for things?  What do our searching journeys say about us as people?  How can we learn from the searching journeys of characters in literature?  Write to compare the searches of at least three characters from at least three of the novels you have read.  You may address of the previous questions in your conclusion.  Be sure to use specific examples from the novels you have read in your essay.

<>Christina- The Gift of the Magi, Tony Hawk, Who Was Harry Houdini, Charlotte’s Web, Zobemondo, Tails of a 4th Grade Nothing, Food Fight, Witness, Christine, Holes, Give a Boy a Gun, Hard Love, Breathing Underwater, Breaking Point, Downsiders, Cynthia Cooper, Mr & Mrs. Bo Jo Jones.You have read about characters who are prejudice in Witness, bullies in Breaking Point, a liar in Charlotte’s Web and others.  At least one character in each of the books you have read does something wrong.  How do they make up for their wrongs (some of which are actual crimes)?  What can you learn about making up for wrong doings from reading?  Write to compare how at least three characters right the wrongs they commit; conclude your essay by commenting on what you have learned about atoning for  wrongs from your reading.   Choose examples from the books you’ve read and your own experience to support your response.

 

<>Sarah- Memories of Summer, Who Was Harry Houdini, The Gun, Farenheit 451. In both Memories of Summer and It The Gun, teenagers face difficult situations and have to learn to grow and overcome them.  Based on your reading and your own life experiences, write to explain how teens can solve the most difficult problems they face.  Choose examples from at least two of the novels you have read and from your own experience to support your response.<>

Liliana
- Turnabout, Transall Saga, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, Beware Princess Elizabeth, Fever 1798, The House Next Door, You Hear Me, Harry Potter (1 & 2) , A Matter of Trust, Stop Pretending, Lost & Found, Secrets in the Shadows You have read several books this semester where the main character must survive.  Consider what each of the main characters in the novels you have read must survive (unaging, a murderous plot, a ghost, a plague, evil, etc).  How do they survive?  Do they use beauty, brains or magic? How is their journey and their survival different in each case?  Write to contrast how at least three characters survive the problems that face.  Use specific examples from the books you have read in your response.  <> 

<>Tatiana- Angel in the Square, God Isn’t Done with Me Yet, Walk Two Moons, Breathing Underwater, Who Was Harry Houdini, Transall Saga, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, The Bluford Series  (A Matter of Trust, Secrets in the Shadows, Someone to Love Me, Lost & Found, The Gun) You have read books this semester, which involve female characters who have to be strong in order to overcome hardship.  Using specific examples from your readings of What My Mother Doesn’t Know, Beware Princess Elizabeth, Fever 1798 and others write to compare how the central female characters overcome their hardships.  What strengths do both of the girls share?  How do their strengths enable then to learn something and to find some joy even in the darkest of times?  Use specific examples from the books you have read in your response.  <>
 
<>Quina- Am I Naturally This Crazy, Jumping the Nail, Breathing Underwater, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, The Miserable Mill  You have read several of the Lemony Snicket books this semester.  Critics argue that the 1.  Baudelaires are intelligent, resourceful children who enjoying inventing and reading. No matter what happens, they will always find some solution to their problems, even though more bad things are just around the corner.”  Critics also say that 2.  though the books portray bleak events, they are ultimately humorous.”  Choose either one or two and write to analyze and support the opinions of the critics.    Use specific examples from the books you have read in your response.

Kristen- Parallel Journeys, Witness, Stop Pretending, The Ghost Sitter, Dear America The Diary of Patrick Flaherty (Marine Diary), Farenheit 451, Damage  In several of the books you have read, characters have had to have courage to overcome trauma.  Some of the trauma your characters have encountered is based on real, historical events (the Vietnam War, the Holocaust), other traumas they have faced are fictional. Regardless of the basis, write to compare /explain how these characters face their fears, endure trauma, and overcome hardships.  Use specific examples from the books you have read in your response.

<>

 <>
Jessica-
What My Mother Doesn’t Know, Angst, Green Angel, Stop Pretending, Transall Saga, Kids Book of Questions, Newport News, Baby Bear Book of Rhymes You have read books this semester, which involve female characters who have to be strong in order to overcome hardship.  Using specific examples from your readings and your own experience write to explain how girls can be strong in order to overcome hardship.  What strengths do both of the girls share?  How do their strengths enable then to learn something and to find some joy even in the darkest of times?  Use specific examples from the books you have read in your response.


Ma<>tt- Transall Saga (more than once), Pendragon (1-3), Where the Red Fern Grows, Phineas Gage, House of the Scorpion, Time Warp Trio:  Tut Tut, Letters From a Nut What do you think our society will be like in another thousand years?  Will we have clones?  Time and space transport? Parallel worlds?   Will it resemble the societies in the books you have read? Using specific examples from at least three of the novels you have read, write to describe and predict what our future society/world might be like.  <>
 

<>YetsaidaAngst, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, Farenheit 451, Do You Hear Me, Lunch Poems, Time Machine, Forged by Fire, Indigo.  In Angst, Forged by Fire, Do You Hear Me, and What My Mother Doesn’t Know, teenagers face difficult situations and have to learn to grow and overcome them. Write to explain the  problems you feel are most difficult for young people as portray in these books. In your conclusion you might want to address how reading about these problems helps teenagers to overcome them in real life.  Choose examples from the books you’ve read and your own experience to support your response.

Natalie- Downsiders, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul (1 & 2), Farenheit 451, Food Fight, Holes, Chicken Soup for Teens on Tough Stuff, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, Someone to Love Me, Until We Meet Again, A Matter of Trust, Girl Coming In For a Landing, The Bully, Forged by Fire, It’s Not Easy Being Bad, Time Machine, Teen Ink, Secreats and The Shadows, Teen Ink 2

  <>You have read many teen story types of  books this semester (Chicken Soup series and Teen Ink series). These books have true-life accounts of people coping with a variety of problems.  Have you used any of the wisdom found in these novels in your own life?  Have you acted kinder toward others because of reading these stories?  Write to explain how could these stories help young people with their problems or help young people to live better lives?  Use examples from your readings and/or your own experience to support your response.  <>

Reggie- Xenocide, Ender’s Game, Children of the Mind, Time Machine, Ender’s Shadow, Artemis Fowl, Shadow of the Hegemon You have read several futuristic books this semester.  Based on your reading, what do you think our world will be like in one thousand years?  Will we have “virtual wars”? Will we rely on simulation to train us for war or other jobs? Consider these and other questions about our future world.  Write to explain and describe how you think our future world will be.  Use examples from the novels you read to support your opinions.

Period 1

Final Exam Essay Questions

Directions: Write a well organized, multi-paragraph essay in response to your question below.

(student name here...) , you have read several choose your own adventure novels this semester. Based on the variety of adventure books you have read, what specific elements do you see making up this type of writing? What do these books have in common? What do you think makes these books so interesting? What would be the difference between a good choose your own adventure novel and a bad one? Use specific example from the books you have read (Destination Brain, Time Machine, Under Dragon’s Wing, or Raid on Nightmare Castle) to support your response.

Jenni, and Bryan, you have completed the Harry Potter series this semester. In light of what we learned about the hero’s journey, what type of hero is Harry Potter? Does his status as a hero change throughout the series? Apply the three elements of the hero’s journey (separation, transformation, and return) to the Harry Potter series and discuss how and why these novels fit the journey pattern. Use specific examples from the novels to illustrate each step in Harry’s journey.

Levi, you have read a variety of books this semester but the books that seemed most engaging to you were the ones about scuba diving. Describe what you learned from The Safe Art of Cave Diving and Scuba Rescue and how you could apply what you learned during one of your own dives. Use specific examples from your books to describe a safe dive experience.

Jason, you browsed or stopped and started several books before finally settling into reading a variety of novels, plays and even nonfiction works (Tut Tut Time Warp Trio, The Pigman, Hamlet, Anthem, Othello and others). Based on your reading, what makes a novel appealing to you? What elements are common to the books you read? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading. Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Brady, you have read several books this semester related to the theme of the utopia or a perfect futuristic world. What do you think our society will be like in another thousand years? Will it resemble the societies in the books you read? Using specific examples from Anthem, Fahrenheit 451, and 1984 discuss elements from these novels that you feel may or may not actually become reality sometime in our future and give reasons as to why you feel this may be so.

Dejan, you browsed or stopped and started several books before finally settling into reading a variety of novels. Based on your reading, what makes a novel appealing to you? What elements are common to the books you read? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Jeroen, the books you seemed most engrossed in this semster were mysteries about teenagers who dealt with different types of social problems or crimes. Using What Jamie Saw, What Daddy Did, and the Remember Me series discuss criminal or social problems that confront teenagers today.

Tyrell, of the books you read this semester you seemed most interested in books about football or football stars. What have you learned about being a successful football player? Using specific examples from your readings of Herschel Walker, Running Tough, and Running Backs, describe what an athlete needs to do to become successful in the N.F.L.

Kenny, Dan Wiggins

Of the books you have read this semester, The Stars Wars series books seem to have interested you the most. Reflect on what we know about the hero archetype and the hero’s journey and compare and contrast two heroes from the novels you have read. How are they the same? What types of heroes are they? How are they different? Use specific examples from the novels you have read to craft your response.

Abe

You browsed or stopped and started several books before finally settling into reading a variety of novels, plays and even nonfiction works. Based on your reading, what makes a novel appealing to you? What elements are common to the books you read? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading. Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Vanessa

You have read an incredible number of books this semseter, most of which involve strong female charactes. Using specific examples from your readings of Julia of the Wolves, Lyddie, Helen of Troy, Warriors Don’t Cry or other novels, discuss the similarities of your favorite female protagonists. Also, describe from your readings what you think makes up an effective character in young adolescent novels written specifically for girls your age.

Randy

Several of the books you have read this semester (Remember Me, Remember Me 2, and Left Behind) deal with the idea of the afterlife or what happens to a person’s body and soul once they die . How are the views about the afterlife expressed in these books similar? Different? How do they fit with what you believe? Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

  <>
Shelley

Of the books you read this semester, the one that you seem most enthralled with was The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkan. Discuss why you think this is the best book you have ever read. What makes it a good novel? What could have made the book stronger or more effective? Use specific examples from the novel in your response.

Stephen, you browsed or stopped and started several books before finally settling into reading a variety of novels. Based on your reading of Canyons, 2095 The Time Warp Trio, and Animorphs, what makes a novel appealing to you? What elements are common to the books you read? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Mike B., you have read a few books this semester that fall into the category of fantasy. Based on the books you’ve read, what specific elements do you see making up this type of writing? What do these books (Realm of Chaos, Searching for Dragons, and Raid on Nightmare Castle) all have in common? What do you think makes these books so interesting. What would be the difference between a good fantasy novel and a bad one? Cite specific examples for the books you’ve read this semester to support your response.

Ted, you have read a few books this semester that fall into the category of science fiction. Based on the books you’ve read, what specific elements do you see making up this type of writing? What do these books (Martian Chronicles, Alien Secrets, Visitors,and Singularity) all have in common? What do you think makes these books so interesting. What would be the difference between a good science fiction novel and a bad one? Cite specific examples for the books you’ve read this semester to support your response.

Tiffany, you have read several books that deal with teens in difficult situations. Whether historical, true or fictional, the novels you read this semester have strong female characters who face difficult problems. Based on your reading of Annie’s Baby, We Are Witnesses Teenage Holocaust Stories, Silver and A Break With Charity , discuss the problems you feel are the most difficult for young people. Choose examples from any of the boks you have read as support for your response.

Chris, the novels you seem to have enjoyed the most this semester involve strong characters involved in wars or conflicts. Based on the books you’ve read, what specific elements do you see making up this type of action writing? What do these books (Marine Sniper, Hunt for Red October, and Black Hawk Down,) all have in common? What do you think makes these books so interesting. What would be the difference between a good action novel and a bad one? Cite specific examples for the books you’ve read this semester to support your response.

Jake, you browsed or stopped and started several books before finally settling into reading. Based on your reading of The Old Man and the Sea, and The Lions of Ireland, what makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Tim,

Two of the books you have read this semester (Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, and Left Behind) deal with Christian ideas concerning spirituality. How are the views expressed in these books similar? Different? How do they fit with what you believe? Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Darrell, you have recently read two nonfiction books that deal with social problems and issues (Alcohol and Violence and Sports). Based on your reading, discuss the social problems that confront young adults today. How are teens affected by alcohol and violence? What can teenagers do to solve such problems in their own lives. Use examples from your reading to support your response.

Brandon, you have recently finished reading The Watson’s Go to Birmingham. What racial issues or tensions from the novel do see still troubling today’s teenagers? How can racial tensions be eased? How can schools help teach students to overcome their own prejudices? Based on your reading and your own life experiences, discuss the problem of racism in today’s society or in our schools.

Gabby, you have read many of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books this semester. These books have true-life accounts of people coping with a variety of problems. Have you used any of the wisdom found in these novels in your own life? Have you acted kinder toward others because of reading these stories? How could these stories help young people with their problems or help young people to live better lives? Use examples from your readings and your own experience to support your response.

Josh, of the books you have read this semester (Buried Alive, and The Count of Monte Cristo) which has been your favorite? What makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? What are the essential characteristics all good books should have? Use specific examples from your reading to construct your response.

Raquel, you have really sped through many of the books in the Left Behind series this semester! Those books and the novel, Armageddon Summer, have specific views concerning the end of the world. Compare the two views of the world’s end. How are the beliefs of the two groups in the novels (Left Behind, Tribulation Force, etc., and Armageddon Summer) similar? How do their beliefs compare to your own? Use examples from your readings and your own experience when writing your response.

Jovon, you’ve read an assortment of books this semester. From Ella Enchanted to Captain Underpants to The Count of Monte Cristo. Describe what makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? What are the essential characteristics all good books should have? Use specific examples from your reading to construct your response.

Robby, you have read several science fiction books this semester. Based on your reading of Net Force, The Not So Jolly Roger, The Good The Bad and the Goofy, and Singularity describe how you think our world will be in the next five hundred years. Will we be able to travel through time? Will virtual reality be common place? What unique inventions from the books you have read do you think will actually become part of our society? Use examples from your readings when writing your response.

Ashley, you have read a wide variety of books this semester. You seemed most engaged by Just Ella and Of Two Minds. Using examples from these books discuss the characteristics of this type of romance novel. What do these novels have in common? What characteristics make up a good romance? Use examples from the books to support your answer.

Jamie, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Hatchet seem like very different types of books. However, both main characters have to survive a trauma. How are Kit and Brian similar characters? What do each have to survive? How do they manage? Using specific examples from the novels compare the two characters in your response.

Miguel, in each of the books you’ve read this semester (Fell Back, Call it Courage, The Cage, and The Count of Monte Cristo) the main characters have needed courage to face a problem. Compare the ways at least two of the main characters from two novels you read use courage to overcome the problems that confront them. Be sure to cite specific examples from your readings in your response.

Mario, you have completed the Harry Potter series this semester. In light of what we learned about the hero’s journey, what type of hero is Harry Potter? Does his status as a hero change throughout the series? Apply the three elements of the hero’s journey (separation, transformation, and return) to the Harry Potter series and discuss how and why these novels fit the journey pattern. Use specific examples from the novels to illustrate each step in Harry’s journey.

Joel, you have read several books that have also been made into movies. Both Sawshank Redemption and The Green Mile are set in prisons. How do the authors portray our prison systems in these novels? How are the prisons and prison systems the same in the novels? Different? What message do you think these authors are trying to convey about our prisons? Use specific examples in your response.

Alex, you’ve read an assortment of books this semester from Hatchet, and The Not So Jolly Roger to Inside Baseball, and Stealing Home the Jackie Robinson Story. Which was your favorite book and why? Describe what makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? What are the essential characteristics all good books should have? Use specific examples from your reading to construct your response.

Christian, you’ve read an assortment of books this semester from Jackie Robinson Stealing Home and Slam to Five Minute Mysteries and Armageddon Summer. Which was your favorite book and why? Describe what makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? What are the essential characteristics all good books should have? Use specific examples from your reading to construct your response.

<>

Nick, you’ve done a lot of reading this semester! Several of the novels you have read are considered classics (The Catcher in the Rye, The Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, and The Pearl). Based on your readings, what do you think makes a book a "classic"? What do these books have in common? Why do you think they have endured for so many years and remained popular? Use specific examples from your books to support your answer.

Sean, as you said, you have been reading a lot of science fiction. You’ve also read about Newton a famous scientist. Based on your readings, what do you think makes a book a science fiction? What do these books have in common? What makes a good science fiction novel as opposed to a bad one? Use specific examples from your books to support your answer.

Donny, you have read several novels that have "survival" themes: Hatchet, Brian’s Winter, and The River. What have you learned about the characteristics it takes to survive? Use specific examples from your novels to support your response.

Jon, you’ve read an assortment of books this semester Stangers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Wave. Which was your favorite book and why? Describe what makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading? What are the essential characteristics all good books should have? Use specific examples from your reading to construct your response.

Lucas, you have mainly browsed or stopped and started several books this semester. Though you finished Spider’s in the Hairdo, you seemed to start and abandon Hatchet, The Girl Who Liked Tom Gordon, Go Ask Alice, Canyons and others. Based on your reading or sampling of books, what makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading. Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Kiana, many of the books you have read this semester deal with teens facing difficult real life situations. Based on your reading (Remember Mog, Don’t Look Behind You, and What Daddy Did) and your own life experiences, discuss how teenagers deal with death. What can you learn from these novels about this difficult life experience? Use examples from your novels in your response.

Mike W., you have mainly browsed or stopped and started several books this semester. Though you finished The Invitation, Night Moves, Maximum Vigilance, Apollo 13, and Hardy Boys Mark on the Door. Which book was your favorite and why? Based on your reading, what makes a novel appealing to you? What makes up a good book that you would want to finish reading. Use specific examples from your reading to craft your response.

Bobby W., you have read two popular horror/suspense novels this semester Fear Nothing and Mutation. What do you think makes Dean Koontz’ books so popular with today’s readers? What do these books have in common? What did you like/dislike about them? Use examples from the two novels in your written response.

John, you have seem most interested in the most recent book you have been reading, Designing with Java Script. What have learned about program design from reading this book? What is Java Script and how is it used? How will you use what you have read about it in your own life? Using definitions or examples from your book, write about what you have learned from your reading.<>