My Book

Students will create a mock social network page from the viewpoint of the protagonist or antagonist in a novel they are reading.

Engage

Begin by discussing the evolution and impact of social networking, emphasizing its role in modern communication.

Share a few business or professional social network sites and discuss what differences there may be between a personal social network page versus a professional or business page. Then, discuss how use of text, individual responses, photographs, and videos make an impression on the reader.

Ask students to reread a novel of their choosing, focusing their attention on the protagonist or antagonist. Have students complete a double-entry journal to take notes on the selected character and events. Remind students to include events that the character is directly involved in as well as what other characters in the novel say about them.

Journal Template

Create

Next, students will need to analyze the character and start to identify the important things to include in their social network page. The more they understand the actions, behavior, and events the character is involved in, the easier it will be to create a profile page from the character’s point of view. Having students complete a character trait analysis is a great way to help them gain a deeper understanding of the character.

Character Trait Analysis Template

Empower students to synthesize their character analysis by constructing a social network page from the character's viewpoint using the MyBook template. Encourage the creation of status updates, comments, and multimedia that reflect the character's personality and relationships within the story.

• Page 1 – MyBook Wall
• Craft a central profile page featuring character photos, status updates, quotes from the character's perspective, and responses from other characters.

• Page 2 – Information Page
• Some of this information may need to be created and should be relevant to the character’s actions, behavior, events, and relationships.

• Page 3 – Pictures and Photographs
• This page should contain images that reflect events important to the main character. Students may choose to illustrate some of the images.

MyBook Template

Share

Have students share their finished MyBook profiles in small groups with other classmates who have read the same book. Compare and contrast MyBook profiles across the class to explore the effectiveness of this medium of communication with writing and supporting illustrations and movies.

Consider showcasing these projects within the school's media center or library to encourage interest in the corresponding books.

Standards

Standards for English Language Arts - Grade 6-12

Reading Standards

Key Ideas and Detail
3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Craft and Structure
6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

Writing

Text Types and Purposes
3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Production and Distribution of Writing
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate task, purpose, and audience.
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.