Book+Talk

Book Talk and Poster (200 pts)  Objective: Sell your book to the class! __**Part I: Book Talk **__
 * A book talk is the retelling of a story that stops just short of the book's ending.
 * The presenter retells the story by reading two or more interesting selections from the book and summarizing the rest of the story in his/her words.
 * By withholding the ending, you can create suspense and entice your classmates and teacher to read the book. Think of this as a commercial!
 * DO NOT EXPLAIN YOUR POSTER. It is just for show behind you.

__Directions for preparing your Book Talk__ 1. Choose your fiction book and have it approved by me. Begin reading it right away. If the book is a dud, select another. You can't “sell” us a bad book. 2. As you are reading, choose selections from the book that you will want to read to the class. Pick selections with plenty of action, suspense, humor, sadness, etc. Mark each place so you can find it again to copy the selection you wish to read. 3. Begin your book talk by stating the title and author of the book. 4. Write a script for your talk. Wherever you plan to read a selection from the book, copy the selections into your script. Please make sure you separate the selections from your narration using proper MLA format. (click here for a visual example) 5. Your script must contain no less than two (2) sections that you must read from your book. 6. Do NOT tell how the story ends. Stop your book talk just short of the story's ending, closing with one or more enticing questions about how the story might end. 7. End your book talk by re-stating the title and author of your book and where your audience can find it. (Examples : library, bookstores) 8. Your book talk should be 2 ½ - 4 minutes long. (About half of that time should be your narration and half reading selections from the book.) 9. You will have to hand in your script so please be sure to type it in proper MLA format. Spelling and grammar count.

The poster is going to be an advertisement for your novel. Pretend you work for an advertising company and you are responsible for promoting a new novel. Create a poster that “sells” the novel. The poster or slide should make people want to buy the book. __ Directions for the poster or slide __ (click here for a visual example)
 * Part II: Poster or Slide **

1. Use a piece of poster board or ONE PowerPoint Slide. (DO NOT ASK ANY TEACHER FOR A PIECE OF POSTER BOARD – ESPECIALLY MRS. ROBINSON) 2. The poster MUST include the novel's title and author. 3. The following objects MUST appear on the poster:
 * book title
 * author
 * a significant object or objects that relate to the story
 * ”stars” to rate the novel on how good you think it is
 * A catchy line to help “sell” the book (This can be a line from the novel itself if it makes sense outside of the book.) (i.e. The end of this book will shock you!)
 * A quote from a book reviewer about the book, including the author’s title and where s/he is from (i.e. Kathryn Shultz of New York Magazine)

Please do not use the reviews or catch phrases that are already printed on the cover of your novel! Remember – this poster or slide should be colorful, lively, and interesting.

This poster or slide will be displayed during your book talk as a prop. You will not refer to it. It will only be a background to your presentation.