Reading Response Journals will be collected each quarter. Be sure to read and respond when you are assigned the task. This will usually be once a week. When you respond it should be elaborate and neatly written.

Second Marking Period Reading Response Entries

RR   #1

In Animal Farm, the animals had a spontaneous rebellion and overthrew Farmer Jones. What incidents lead up to the rebellion, and do you think that the animals were justified in overthrowing Farmer Jones? In a well developed response, state the name of the book, the author and be sure to cite textual evidence to support your response. Use the RATS format to answer your open-ended response.

RR#2

In chapter 7 of Animal Farm, the animals are betrayed by their leader Napoleon. What was your reaction to the purge? Why do you think that Napoleon committed the purge? Was he justified in his actions? Why do you think Boxer was the target of the dogs? If you were one of the animals witnessing the purge, what would your feelings be? Elaborate on your answer and use the RATS format to answer the response.

RR#3

The ending of Animal Farm was very disturbing. Write a reaction to the ending of the book. What were your feelings at the end of the book? Did you feel that George Orwell made his point about the "myth" of communism? Did you feel that justice was served for the animals? Were you angry, depressed, etc? What did you learn from reading this novel as a class vs. independently? Would the experience have been the same if you read this book independently?

In an elaborate paragraph, describe your reactions to the end of Animal Farm, and explain the experience of reading class novels. vs. reading a book independently.

RR#4

Today in your IR book, find something in your reading that has moved you and react to it in a well developed entry. Did you find the passage funny, disturbing, heartbreaking, adventurous? Explain why you felt this way. For example, when I read Jodi Picoult's book Vanishing Act, I was disturbed when the main character found out that she had been kidnapped from her mother, and the kidnapper was her very own father. The main character had always thought that her mother had died and had grown up with the idea that her mom was dead. Later on, she finds out that her mother was not dead and coud not understand why she was not told the turth by her father. The girl in the book was devastated by the fact that her father had lied to her all of her life. I too was very disturbed and then wondered why he did this. I started to question why he kidnapped her; for what possible reason would he have to take away a child from her mother? I also wondered what kind of man would do this to a child? The father and daughter appeared to be so close to each other. Also pending in my mind, was what the mother must have been like. How did the mother feel? Was she abusive?

In a well thought out entry, give a brief summary of the plot. Be sure to tell the author and title of the book you are writing about. Explain what in the passage moved you and how you reacted to this scene in your IR book.

Remember, use textual evidence to support your entry. (RATS)

RR #5

In your IR book, think about characterization. What type character is the main character? Who is the main character? What are his/her main attributes? Is he/she dynamic, flat, round static? Are there any minor characters that move the plot along in your book? Who are they? What method does the author use to discuss the characters? Is it direct or indirect characterization?

In a well developed paragraph, using exact details from the book, explain the characterization in your IR book.