Activities

1. Complete a four-square Frayer Model for a selected literary genre.
   
   
2. Make a picture book that shows a sample of literary forms and genres.  Include a glossary that defines each literary format and genre and lists characteristics of each. 

3. Using selected graphic novels, categorize the graphic novels under the correct genres.
   
   
4. Using a chart, determine why an author might use various formats or genres to write about a historic topic. 

5. Using an excerpt from a novel that is also written as a graphic novel, analyze the similarities and differences.  Explain why differences are seen between the authors’ presentations of the texts.
   
   
6. Compare and contrast a poem and a short story on the same topic.  Compare and contrast the similarities and differences.  Analyze the author’s craft and what the author had to do in each genre to convey his message. 

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student completes a four-square Frayer Model for a selected literary genre.  Student correctly completes the Frayer Model giving a definition of the selected genre.  Student correctly completes the Frayer Model by giving the characteristics of the selected genre.  Student correctly completes the Frayer Model giving examples of the selected genre.  Student correctly completes the Frayer Model by giving non-examples of the selected genre.  Boxes are filled in correctly and have adequate examples, characteristics and non-examples.

2. Student makes a picture book that shows a sample of literary forms and genres.  Student includes a glossary that correctly defines each literary format and genre and lists characteristics of each.   Student locates and includes a sample of each format or genre in the picture book.  Some formats or genres included may be graphic novels, poetry, historical fiction, realistic fiction, drama, fantasy, mystery and so forth.

3. Student uses selected graphic novels and correctly categorizes the graphic novels under the correct genres.  Student understands that graphic novels are not a genre in themselves, but a format.  Student understands the characteristics of various genres.  Student understands graphic novels can fit under many genres.  For example:

• Smile by Raina Telgemier - Memoir
• Maus by Art Spiegelman – Biography
• Bone by Jeff Smith – Fantasy
• Baby-Sitters Club Graphix by Ann Martin – Realistic Fiction

4. Using a chart, student determines why an author might use various formats and genres when writing about a historical topic.  Student understands that various genres and formats have strengths in their ability to present information.  Student correctly states benefits of using various formats and genres to portray historic topic.  For example:

5. Student uses an excerpt from a novel that is also written as a graphic novel and analyzes the similarities and differences.  Student correctly notes similarities.  Student correctly notes differences.  Student articulates why there are differences in the authors’ presentations.  Student understands:

• When a novel is also written as a graphic novel, student understands that the novel was typically written first.
• Novels typically contain more details. 
• The graphic novel storyline may depart from novel or delete some scenes. 
• Graphic novels must be read using the illustrations as well as the text. 
• The illustrator of a graphic novel brings his unique interpretation of character’s appearance, expressions and events to the graphic novel and may depart from what the reader of the novel envisioned.   

6. Student compares and contrasts a poem and a short story on the same topic and compares the similarities and differences.  Student analyzes the author’s craft and what the author had to do in each genre to convey his message.  Student understands poetry is more concentrated than prose.  Poetry may depend upon a larger amount of figurative language or imagery.  Poetry may or may not be written in sentences.  Poetry contains line breaks.  Lines are written in stanzas and may take the form of various shapes.  The language in the short story may be more literal and wordy.  The short story will contain sentences and typically no line breaks.  Short stories are organized with paragraphs and look like a big block of text.  Short stories might give more details.