8th+Grade+Reading-Collection+7

__ Collection 7: Literary Criticism: A Biographical Approach __ Reading a diverse group of authors, we will examine the relationships between the writers' backgrounds and beliefs and the works they create. We will also learn how to differentiate between the voices of writers and their characters.

How does the author's life influence his/her work? We can answer that questions by reading a biography about their life and determining where they have used real life experiences and people in their stories and what came from their imagination.
 * Author Biographies**

Read the biography of the author of your choice. Then, write a paragraph that explains how the author's life has influenced his.her work.


 * Walter Dean Myers
 * Louis Sachar
 * Stephenie Meyer
 * Suzanne Collins
 * Gary Paulsen
 * R.L. Stein

__Week of 5/16: Listing and Categorizing Questions__ Read "Ribbons" (p.712) and jot down questions that come to mind while you read. For example, "Did most people living in Hong Kong speak English?" Then, categorize your questions using BK, T, R, D, and ? (we will discuss what these mean in class). Post at least five of your questions on Wall Wisher to share them with your classmates. We will use these questions for an assignment later.


 * Be sure to change your sticky note from "anonymous" to your name so you get credit for your work!

Period 1 Wall Wisher

Period 2 Wall Wisher

Period 3 Wall Wisher

__Week of 5/23: Ribbons Research__ In order to fully understand historical fiction text, readers need to have some background knowledge about the facts included in the story. Your task is to research ____one__ __ of the following details from the story. Determine what the historical facts are. Write a complete paragraph that explains how the history you researched influenced the story. Be sure to give enough detail so that the reader understands the background of the historical fact and details from the story as support.
 * Foot binding was once practiced in China.
 * Back in China, boys are everything.
 * The Communists took over China.
 * Many Chinese fled to Hong Kong.
 * In 1997, Hong Kong was returned to Chinese control.