Banned Book Persuasion Paper Specifications and Due Dates •
Pick one book from the list of banned books and get written parent approval to read it by Tuesday, October 22. You, or your parents may know of other banned books that didn’t make the list. They are fair game for this assignment too. If your parents do not want you to read a banned book, then your alternative assignment, a book from the supplemental reading list and a paper on it following the parameters of the banned book assignment.
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Your book choice may not be a book you have read for a book report or a class assignment in the last three years. If you choose to read a book from an elementary or middle school series, you must read at least three of the books in the series.
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Read the book, noting questionable materials, ideas, words, etc. along the way. Finish reading the book by Wednesday, November 12.
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Research background information (on both sides of the censorship issue) surrounding this book. Complete research by Wednesday, November 12.
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Complete an outline of your persuasion paper, such as the one that follows, by Friday, November 14.
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Introduction Why has this book been banned? What is the history surrounding its banning? Thesis: Answer the question – Is banning appropriate in the instance of this book? II. Address the question “Should this book be taught in schools?” A. Reason 1. Support (details of your reason) 2. Examples from text B. Reason 1. Support (details of your reason) 2. Examples from text C. Reason 1. Support (details of your reason) 2. Examples from text III. Address the question “Should this book be banned?” Either: Three reasons with examples from the book A. Reason
1. Support (details of your reason) 2. Examples from text B. Reason 1. Support (details of your reason) 2. Examples from text C. Reason 1. Support (details of your reason) 2. Examples from text
Or:
IV.
One reason with three STRONG examples from the book A. Example and Why this should be banned B. Example and Why this should be banned C. Example and Why this should be banned Conclusion Restate thesis and main points. Last chance to influence your reader. Think globally. • After your outline has been approved (for completeness, not decision) you will need to write a rough draft of the paper •
After the rough draft has been approved and signed off on by a minimum of three readers (two classmates and one adult) it must come to me for final reading before the final draft is created. This will be done in class Tuesday, November 18.
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The final draft of the paper will be due Friday, November 21 to turnitin.com.
The final paper must be typed, double spaced (even though turnitin reformats it into single space.) All sources used must be documented in MLA format at the end of your paper on a separate sheet entitled Works Cited and internally cited in your paper. Minimum length of the paper accepted will be three pages (not counting cover page or Works Cited pages.) The paper will be graded on strength of argument (ideas), organization of thought, voice, word choice, sentence fluency and conventions (including MLA documentation.)
Banned Book Permission Slip _____ I have read the requirements of this unit my student will be doing, and I am aware of the due dates of assignments. _____ I will allow my student to read the following book off the banned book list. _____ I would prefer my student read the following book that has also been banned, but was not on the list. _____ I would prefer my child not participate in this assignment. Instead my student will do an alternate assignment The book my child will read ________________________________________________ Parent Signature __________________________________________________________ Student Signature _________________________________________________________