Individual Reading project Ideas: Writing an Alternative Ending (2 of 3)

The individual reading project idea for the second installment of this topic is called an alternative ending. Other than having students write their document on Microsoft Word, this project does not require the use of technology.  Here you'll get directions for the project, and I will share the advantages and disadvantages I believe it has.

Directions

The title of this individual reading project leaves no question about the task at hand: for this project, teachers will assign their students to write an alternative ending to their novel.  

After completing their assigned novel, students would have to write an original alternative ending  that was 2-3 pages in length.  In addition, students would be required to write 1-2 paragraphs explaining their narrative and why they chose to make the specific changes they did (they didn’t like the original, they thought it could be better, etc.) and also if their ending would change the plot or theme of the novel, if at all.  Keep in mind that if you, as a teacher, want your students to write more, the page length can be adjusted.

Advantages

The two main advantages for this individual reading project are that it allows for personalized student learning, and the format of the project makes teacher assessment easy.

1. Opportunity for personalized student learning

Having students write an alternative ending to their novel allows for personalized student learning because it veers away from a standard book report, and students get a chance to express their ideas and interests.  By having students write an alternative ending, they are made to think critically and make deeper connections with their novel.

2. Project format makes teacher assessment easy

From the perspective of teachers, the format of this individual reading project is an advantage because it allows students' learning to be assessed easily.  This is because the project is all written.  Teachers can gauge what their students have learned based on their work.

Disadvantages

The one main disadvantage for the alternative ending project is that it could be done without completing the novel.

1. Can be done without novel completion

This project,while it involves much more writing than the movie poster project that I previously posted about, could be done without the student reading their novel entirely.  This issue could possibly be combated by requiring students to use textual evidence in the section of the project where they must reflect upon and explain their narrative.

This is the second of three options for individual reading projects.  Here's the full list.