Before the Ever After Novel Study
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can reading and analyzing 'Before the Ever After' deepen our understanding of real-world themes, character development, familial and communal roles, and personal beliefs about change, family, and friendship?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- What themes are explored in 'Before the Ever After' and how do they relate to real-world situations?
- How does the author use language and literary devices to develop characters and themes in 'Before the Ever After'?
- In what ways do the events in 'Before the Ever After' reflect the experiences and challenges faced by the characters?
- How can we connect our own experiences with those of the characters in 'Before the Ever After'?
- What role does family and community play in the narrative of 'Before the Ever After', and how is this significant to our understanding of the story?
- How does 'Before the Ever After' challenge or support your beliefs about family, friendship, and dealing with change?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will be able to identify and explain the main themes in 'Before the Ever After' and relate them to real-world situations.
- Students will analyze how language and literary devices are used by the author to develop characters and themes.
- Students will compare and contrast the experiences and challenges faced by different characters in 'Before the Ever After'.
- Students will connect their own personal experiences and societal issues with the experiences of the characters.
- Students will evaluate the role of family and community in the narrative and its significance to the story's themes.
Common Core Standards
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsBrain Injury Awareness Campaign Challenge
Challenge students to create their own awareness campaign on brain injuries using multimedia resources. Launch this by showing powerful real-life stories of athletes affected by brain injuries, then link it to the novel's narrative to deepen understanding.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Theme Hunters
In this activity, students will dive into the text of 'Before the Ever After' to identify and understand the main themes. By analyzing specific passages, they will connect these themes to real-world situations, enhancing comprehension and engagement with the text.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA thematic analysis paragraph with supporting quotes from the text.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2 - Determine a theme of a story from details in the text.Character Clash
Students will explore the complex personalities of characters in 'Before the Ever After' by comparing and contrasting them. This activity teaches students how to analyze character interactions and developments over the course of the novel.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comparative character analysis using a Venn diagram and a written argument.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3 - Compare and contrast two or more characters in a story.Language Lens
This activity will engage students in identifying the use of figurative language such as metaphors and similes in 'Before the Ever After.' Understanding these literary devices will deepen their comprehension of character development and thematic elements.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA written analysis of the book's figurative language with examples.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.Perspective Peek
Students will analyze how the point of view in 'Before the Ever After' influences their understanding of the story, characters, and events. This activity enhances critical thinking and narrative comprehension.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn essay discussing the influence of the narrator's point of view on the story.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6 - Describe how a narrator’s point of view influences how events are described.Family Ties
In this culminating activity, students will evaluate the role of family and community in 'Before the Ever After,' analyzing its significance to the themes and plot. This activity synthesizes their understanding of the entire novel in relation to personal and societal contexts.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA multimedia presentation linking the book's themes of family and community with real-world contexts.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1 - Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioBefore the Ever After Portfolio Activities Rubric
Thematic Understanding
Assessment of students’ ability to identify and analyze themes in 'Before the Ever After'.Theme Identification
Ability to accurately identify themes from the novel and connect them to real-world situations or personal experiences.
Exemplary
4 PointsIdentifies multiple themes with exceptional clarity and connects them insightful to complex real-world situations or experiences.
Proficient
3 PointsIdentifies key themes and connects them appropriately to real-world situations or experiences.
Developing
2 PointsIdentifies basic themes with some real-world connections, though clarity may lack depth.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to identify themes or make meaningful real-world connections.
Thematic Analysis
Ability to analyze and explain themes using evidence from the text.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a comprehensive analysis with detailed supporting quotes, demonstrating sophisticated understanding.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear analysis supported by relevant quotes, showing thorough understanding.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic analysis with some supporting quotes but lacks depth or clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to provide clear analysis or supporting quotes from the text.
Character Literary Analysis
Evaluation of students’ ability to compare and contrast characters in the novel 'Before the Ever After'.Character Comparison
Ability to compare and contrast characters using textual evidence.
Exemplary
4 PointsOffers a nuanced character comparison with well-chosen textual evidence, highlighting significant similarities and differences.
Proficient
3 PointsPresents a coherent comparison with appropriate textual evidence, showing clarity in similarities and differences.
Developing
2 PointsPresents a basic comparison with limited textual evidence, lacking depth.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to compare characters or provide textual evidence.
Character Analysis Argument
Ability to argue the significance of character contrasts to the novel's themes and plot.
Exemplary
4 PointsConstructs an insightful argument connecting character contrasts to the novel's central themes and plot.
Proficient
3 PointsOffers a clear argument connecting character contrasts to themes and plot.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic argument with weak connections to themes and plot.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to formulate an argument or make connections to themes or plot.
Language and Literary Devices
Assessment of students’ comprehension of figurative language and literary devices used in 'Before the Ever After'.Figurative Language Identification
Ability to identify figurative language and explain its meaning in the context of the novel.
Exemplary
4 PointsIdentifies and explains multiple examples of figurative language with exceptional clarity and contextual insight.
Proficient
3 PointsIdentifies and explains figurative language clearly within the novel's context.
Developing
2 PointsIdentifies figurative language with some explanation but lacks contextual clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to identify or explain figurative language within the novel's context.
Literary Device Analysis
Ability to analyze how figurative language contributes to understanding characters and themes.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides an in-depth analysis of how figurative language advances character development and themes.
Proficient
3 PointsClearly analyzes the role of figurative language in character and theme development.
Developing
2 PointsOffers a basic analysis of figurative language's role but lacks depth.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to analyze the contribution of figurative language to characters and themes.
Narrative Perspective
Evaluation of students’ understanding of narrative perspective in 'Before the Ever After'.Narrative Point of View Identification
Ability to identify the narrative point of view and its impact on storytelling.
Exemplary
4 PointsIdentifies the narrative point of view with precision and explains its significant impact on the portrayal of events and characters.
Proficient
3 PointsAccurately identifies the narrative point of view and discusses its impact adequately.
Developing
2 PointsIdentifies the narrative point of view with limited discussion of impact.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to identify the narrative point of view or discuss its impact.
Perspective Analysis
Ability to analyze how the narrator’s perspective influences the interpretation of events.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a comprehensive analysis of how the narrator's perspective deeply influences interpretation and understanding of the story.
Proficient
3 PointsOffers a clear analysis of the influence of the narrator's perspective on the story.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic analysis of the narrator's influence with limited detail.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to analyze the narrator's influence on event interpretation.
Family and Community Evaluation
Assessment of students’ ability to evaluate the role of family and community in the novel and connect it to real-life contexts.Role of Family and Community
Ability to evaluate the significance of family and community in the narrative.
Exemplary
4 PointsOffers a deep evaluation of the role of family and community, linking to real-life situations with nuanced understanding.
Proficient
3 PointsEvaluates the role of family and community effectively, with clear, real-life connections.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic evaluation with some real-life connections but lacks depth.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to evaluate or connect the role of family and community to real-life contexts.
Multimedia Presentation
Quality and depth of the multimedia presentation reflecting understanding of family and community influences.
Exemplary
4 PointsCreates a sophisticated multimedia presentation demonstrating an in-depth understanding with creative and thorough incorporation of quotes, analysis, and personal reflection.
Proficient
3 PointsDevelops a well-structured multimedia presentation with clear use of quotes, analysis, and personal reflection.
Developing
2 PointsProduces an adequate multimedia presentation with some use of quotes and reflection but lacks depth.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to create a coherent multimedia presentation and to incorporate quotes and reflection effectively.