Name:                                                                                                                                                     Date:

Grade:                                                                                                                                                     Literature

                                                                Project - Author Study

                                                Elissa Berkowitz – Reading/Literacy Teacher

An Author Study is a thorough examination of the works of a specific author or poet. After reading several novels or poems by the same author a good reader is able to:

·     Compare and contrast characters, settings, plots,  themes, and genres

·     Examine the author's writing style and purpose in each novel

·     Discover many things about the life of the author that may shed light on his/her work.

The Author Study project will be done after reading a minimum of four books written by one author. The following is a guideline for the project:

·    Each group will be composed of a pair (2) of students who have read the books of the same author.

·    The project will be displayed on a tri-board (Science Fair project board).

·    The display will be graded for neatness, content, penmanship, and eye-catching display.

The following sections must be included in this project:

·     The top of the middle board must announce the author's name.

·     The middle of the tri-board must have the following completed Author Study chart:

·         A picture of the author

·         A summary of each of the books

·         A persuasive essay explaining why one of the books is better than the others

·         A biography of the author

·         A map of an important area mentioned in one of the books. This map must be accompanied by a caption that explains the area's importance to the particular book

·         A Venn diagram comparing two of the books or a book to its movie

·         A test for each book

·         A letter to the author that includes:

o        A summary of this project and the purpose of this letter

o        Your personal reaction to his/her books

o        A question about his/her book(s) or character(s)

o        A personal question about his/her life

o        How his/her books have effected you

·         An art project that is connected to one of the books

·         An oral presentation of the project that includes:

o        A summary of each book

o        Reasons that you consider one better than the others

o        Parts of books that directly correspond with the author’s life

Other work that may be included for enrichment/extra points:

·         A picture of a scene of one of the books

·         A poem about a specific character, story, or feeling about a book

·         An original short story written in the same style as the books the author has written