Mr. Moshé’s Critically Thinking . . . Are You?

The Annual Approach Paper Assignment - Nonfiction

A Novel Study Homework Connection (ongoing)

Name:                         _______________________________________________

Start Date:                  _______________________________________________

The Approach Paper Formatting Requirements

• Typed/Word Processed
  • Times New Roman,
  • 12 pt,
  • Single Spaced,
  • Neatly Formatted

Proper Heading: Your Full Name, The Date, The Class/Block, The Book Title, The Author’s Name, The Genre.

II.                Summary Paragraph: A four or five sentence paragraph which explains the ENTIRE nonfiction book using as much detail as you can manage. To encourage your writing style, you may not use semi-colons or colons in this paragraph, and every sentence must start out in a different way. This helps make your writing more interesting to read. This is often the most difficult section of the approach paper to write. It will take some time to condense the happenings of the book/play into these few sentences which all start differently.

III.             Topic Focus Descriptions: This is a good time to think about vivid vocabulary words we use in class, check the dictionary, thesaurus. If you use a particular word to describe one individual, you may not use that same word to describe another individual.

1. If this is nonfiction on an individual, then . . .
   1. For this individual, supply: Individual’s Name; Four or Five words which describe the individual distinctly.
   2. For the time period in which this individual exists (or existed), supply: Four or Five words which describe the time period distinctly.
2. If this is nonfiction on a specific time period, then  . . .
   1. Choose three or four individuals involved with this time period/event, and for each individual, supply: Individual’s Name; Four or Five words which describe the individual distinctly.

IV.              Discussion/Essay Questions: Write three questions that a teacher might ask you about the topic focus of the book (Individual or Time Period/Event) either in class or for an essay. These questions should be high level and thought-provoking. They almost always take more than one line to type because they ask readers to combine more than one idea. Just writing these types of questions helps you to anticipate what questions might be asked of you in class discussions or on a test and encourages you to think more insightfully about the book or play.

V.                 Key Passage: Choose the most important passage in the book (in your opinion). Type it up word-for-word in the approach paper. Make sure to identify the speakers.

VI.              Key Passage Explanation: In a fully-developed paragraph, explain why your chosen passage is important to understanding the Topic Focus of your book. In your explanation, make sure you integrate quotes (actual words or phrases from the book) from the key passage to strengthen your explanation. Often, this selected passage will offer clues to the book’s themes. Explain any mentioned or inferred themes connected to the key passage.

VII.           Your Opinion: In two to three paragraphs, write about what you liked/disliked most OR least about this book. This can be about the author’s style, individuals, key events, themes, settings, literary devices, etc. Be sure to explain by using details to support your response. Tell why you would or wouldn’t recommend this book to someone.

Due Dates Below

Honors:                       September ____; October ____, ____; November  21^st, December 19^th; January 11^th, 25^th; February 8^th, 22^nd; March 7^th, 21^st; April 11^th, 25^th;May 9^th

Standard +                   September ____; October ____; December 19^th; January 18^th; 

                                    February 8^th, 29^th; March 21^st; April 11^th; May 2nd

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