Reading Presentation: fiction

Reading Presentation: Fiction

Reading Analysis Guide for fiction

On the day that you present in front of the class you must also write your response to the questions below and hand in your answers. You must hand in your answers on the day you signed up for.

Guidelines for Reading Analysis Presentation

Sign-up on the presentation on the board at the end of class or during a break. Make a note of the chapters and presentation date that you sign up for.

You will be presenting your analysis in class along with other classmates. The class will be counting on you to be on top of the article you are covering, so please be prepared!

You will be graded primarily on your written analysis (breakdown of scoring below), but outstanding presentations will be rewarded.

Read the chapters or section that you will be analyzing carefully. On your first reading, just try to identify the main idea(s) and get a feel for the writer’s approach and the flow of the chapter. On your second reading, go over the text more carefully; notice how the writer creates characters and tells the story.

To prepare your written analysis:

Identify the author’s name and the title of the chapter(s) you are covering

1.    What is the central theme of your chapters? Your answer should be a complete sentence in your own words (not a quote!). Be as specific as possible, but remember that the theme of a book refers to the overall concerns of the author. Don't confuse this with the plot, which is what happens chapter to chapter as the book moves ahead.

2.   There are several parts to question two. What are the concerns of the characters in the chapter(s) you have read? This book is a work of fiction, but do you think the events in the book could happen in real life? Do you think the way the characters act is believable? If so, does it make the book less effective?

3.    Is the central theme expressed explicitly or implicitly? The claim is explicit if the writer spells out what it is. The claim is implicit if the writer only implies the claim but does not state it outright.

4.    Did the events and actions in your chapter(s) surprise you or change your mind about the characters in the book?

5.    What is the tone - the feel - of the chapter(s) you read?

6.    What things in the story give the most insight into human nature?

7.     Does the writer leave the opinions and feelings to the readers? If so, why? Is this approach effective?

8.    Make up a question to ask the class about your chapter.