Name_________________________________________________________________________Date__________________________

Text(s)__________________________________________________________________Author(s)____________________________
5
th
Grade Independent Reading Project DRAFT ASSIGNMENT
A big part of being an excellent reader is being able to recommend your favorite books to a friend. For this
project, please choose your favorite independent reading book, series, or author that you read this year. You will
be creating a two part project to recommend this book to the class!
Please choose one nonfiction writing piece and one creative writing piece. This means choosing one project
from the first chart and one project from the second chart. Each written piece must incorporate technology
and/or art.
One project (or one half of your combined project) is due in class on April 25
.

The second project is due in class on May 16
th
.
Projects will be worked on both in class and at home. Your projects may be combined to make one
larger assignment. For example:
If you write a simpler version of the text, research and write a biography of the author to include in your picture
book, and illustrate the whole book. This would be a 100 point project.
If you research and write a report about the history of when your author was alive, you might then write a talk
show where you interview the author. You could then create a website where you post your research and show
a film of your interview. This would be a 100 point project.
Nonfiction Writing: This product is worth 50 points.
Research Persuasive/Opinion Expository
Research the time or place your story
takes place. Write a report about this
time or place. Be sure to include a
bibliography that lists the books and
websites where you found your
information.
Design the front page of a newspaper with
headlines and a story about what happened in
the book. There must be at least one picture
on the front page. Include at least four
articles. Look at other newspapers for
creative ideas for the layout and story.

Create a vocabulary quilt for the novel.
Write each letter of the alphabet in one
square with x,y, and z together in the last
one. In each square, write words that begin
with the letter and that are important to the
story. Each square needs to have at least one
word. This can also be written as an alphabet
book.
Research the author, and write a report
on his or her life. Be sure to include
key information about his or her
childhood, adulthood, and rise to
success as a published author. Be sure
to include a bibliography that lists the
books and websites where you found
your information.
Write a persuasive essay about one aspect of
your book. Express an opinion about the
novel, and support your opinion with three
good reasons. Each of your reasons should
be supported with good examples. Go
deeper with your thinking about the text,
brainstorm your own thesis, support your
thesis with examples from the text, and
organize your thinking into a thoughtful
essay.
Write a letter to the author explaining your
thoughts about the novel. Tell things like
what you liked, what you did not like, and
how you connected to one or more of the
characters. Be sure to discuss symbolism
and authors craft! If your author is still
alive, we can mail your letter to them and
see if we get a response!
Write a literary essay. Go deeper with your
thinking about the text, brainstorm your own
thesis, support your thesis with examples
from the text, and organize your thinking
into a thoughtful essay.

Rubric for Nonfiction Writing work
Exceeds Expectations Meets Expectations Approaching Expectations Below Expectations
Ideas
10 Points
______/10
Ideas are creative, insightful,
interesting, and thought
provoking. Gives a new
perspective on the text.
Ideas are very thoughtful and
appropriate to the task. Ideas are
well supported and clearly
expressed.
Ideas are somewhat
thoughtful and appropriate
to the task
Ideas are neither
thoughtful nor
appropriate to the task
Organization
8 points

_____/8
Writing is more than five
paragraphs, and is organized
to maximize the experience
of the reader. Where
appropriate, introduction,
details, and conclusion are
well crafted and flow
together.
Writing is at least five
paragraphs and organized into a
well written essay, letter, article,
or other genre. Where
appropriate, paragraphs include
an introduction, details, and
conclusion. Transition words are
used.
Writing is at least three
paragraphs and somewhat
organized into a story, essay,
letter, article, or other genre.
Paragraphs may include an
introduction, details,
conclusion, and/or transition
words.
Writing is disorganized
and less than three
paragraphs. Writing
lacks an introduction,
details, and conclusion.
Accuracy
7 points


_____/7
Information is accurate,
insightful, and reflects the
plot of the novels. Any other
research is thorough, accurate
and very well done. Precise
text support is given.
Information is accurate, and
reflects the plot of the novels.
Any other research is accurate
and well done. Good text
support is given.
Information is somewhat
accurate and somewhat
reflects the plot of the
novels. Any other research
is somewhat accurate. Text
support given.
Information and
research are inaccurate,
and barely reflects the
plot of the novels.
Little to no text
support.
Effort and time
management
5 points
_____/5
Maximizes time in class and
at home to spread out work
across the assigned time.
Uses time well, asks questions in
a timely manner, and works
steadily during class time
Sometimes uses time well,
asks questions in a timely
manner, and works steadily
during class time
Does not use time well.
Mechanics and word
choice 5 points
_____/5
Writing surpasses grade
appropriate language,
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
Writing uses grade appropriate
language, grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
Writing approaches grade
appropriate mechanics.
Writing does not use
grade appropriate
mechanics.
Artistic/Technological
15 points

______/15
Work is presented creatively,
beautifully, and appealingly.
Art materials or technology
were used in ingenious ways.
Work is interesting and
appealing to the viewer. Art
materials or technology were
used appropriately.
Work is somewhat
interesting and appealing to
the viewer. Materials were
somewhat appropriate.
Work is not interesting
or appealing to the
viewer. Materials were
used inappropriately.
Total ________/50= ________________%
Creative Writing: This product is worth 50 points.
Narrative
Write an imaginary talk show where
you/the host interviews the characters
from the book.
Write a play that condenses the plot of the
story into just a few key scenes.
Write a collection of poems that tell
about pieces of the story: the plot, a
character, the setting, or the conflict.
Write a brief explanation of each poem
and what it means to the novel. You
must complete at least 4 poems with
explanations to get full credit.
Write a series of letters from one
character to another. You might
include letters from both characters, or
include a series of letters from one
character. You should have at least 10
letters total.

Imagine you are an advice columnist. Write
at least four letters from characters asking for
advice based on events from the book. Then
write responses from the perspective of an
advice columnist, giving your advice on what
you think the characters should do.
Write a collection of songs. You might
pick a familiar melody or song and
change the lyrics so they tell about the
story or the characters (minimum of
two verses). You must complete at
least 4 songs with explanations to get
full credit.
Rewrite the story by changing the
setting to a different place or time
period.
Summarize the plot of the novel by creating a
cartoon or comic version of the book. Use at
least 40 frames to tell the story of the chapter.
Use color and words.
Pretend you are one character in the
book. Write a diary for the character
explaining the events of
the story as seen from their point of
view. Include what happens as well as
how they felt during this time. You
must have at least 10 diary entries.
Write a book trailer for your book.
Make sure your trailer summarizes the
most important aspect of the book,
without giving away the ending.
Summarize the plot of the novel by creating a
simpler version of the book that retells the
story for younger children.

Rubric for Creative Writing work
Exceeds Expectations Meets Expectations Approaching
Expectations
Below Expectations
Ideas
10 Points
______/10
Ideas are creative,
interesting, and thought
provoking
Ideas are thoughtful and
appropriate to the task
Ideas are somewhat
thoughtful and appropriate
to the task
Ideas are neither
thoughtful nor appropriate
to the task
Organization
8 points

_____/8
Writing is more than four
paragraphs, and is organized
in a way that maximizes the
experience of the reader.
Writing is at least four
paragraphs and organized into a
well written story, essay, letter,
article, or other genre. Where
appropriate, paragraphs include
an introduction, details, and
conclusion.
Writing is at least three
paragraphs and somewhat
organized. Paragraphs
may include an
introduction, details, or
conclusion.
Writing is disorganized
and less than three
paragraphs. Writing lacks
an introduction, details,
and conclusion.
Accuracy
7 points

_____/7
Information and research are
accurate, insightful, and
reflects the plot of the
novels.
Information presented is
accurate, and reflects the plot of
the novels. Any other research is
accurate and well done.
Information and research
are somewhat accurate,
and somewhat reflects the
plot of the novels.
Information and research
are inaccurate, and barely
reflects the plot of the
novels.
Effort and time
management
5 points
_____/5
Maximizes time in class and
at home to spread out work
across the assigned time.
Uses time well, asks questions in
a timely manner, and works
steadily during class time
Sometimes uses time well,
asks questions in a timely
manner, and works
steadily during class time
Rarely uses time well,
asks questions in a timely
manner, and works
steadily during class time
Mechanics and word
choice
5 points
_____/5
Writing surpasses grade
appropriate language,
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
Writing uses grade appropriate
language, grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
Writing approaches grade
appropriate language,
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
Writing does not use grade
appropriate language,
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
Artistic/Technological
15 points

______/15
Work is presented
creatively, beautifully, and
appealingly. Art materials
or technology were used in
ingenious ways.
Work is interesting and appealing
to the viewer. Art materials or
technology were used
appropriately.
Work is somewhat
interesting and appealing
to the viewer. Materials
were used somewhat
appropriately.
Work is not interesting or
appealing to the viewer.
Materials were used
inappropriately.
Total ________/50 = ________________%
Ways of showing your projects. Each Project must include an artistic or technological aspect!
Artistic + Technology Artistic Technology
Videotape your writing as a play, stop motion
film, interview, or book trailer.
Present your narrative or nonfiction writing
as a comic book, graphic novel, or picture
book.
Create a Weebly, google site or other
website to show your information.
Make an advertisement (poster, tv commercial,
radio commercial) for the book. Make your
advertisement visually appealing and
convincing. This can be recorded in a video or
shown in print.
Draw/paint/sketch several pictures to go
along with your writing.

Create a Glogster, prezi, scratch, or
Google Presentation. Please try to
use images from the book or of your
own creation instead of using images
from the movie.
Make a map of significant story locations to
include with your project
Create a series of collages using magazine
pictures, paintings, or drawings and words
that describe different aspects of the novel.
Fill the space well.

Create a podcast or recording using
garage band or blabbermouth