How can we find out about books?

For the next two class periods, we're going to explore how websites, such as GoodReads and Amazon can help us decide if we'd like to read a book. You are going to investigate three different books and read both their summaries and their reviews to determine if you'd like to read those books. Two will need to be from the list I've given you, one will be free choice.

Complete directions are found on this project's google doc - Other Book Club Choices

The Civil Rights Movement

CCSS Addressed:  ELA W7.7 & 7.8, ELA SL7.1 & 7.6, ELA RI7.2,7.4,7.6 & 7.9

Several of the book options for our book clubs are about the Civil Rights Movement.  In this project, you will be choosing one of six different aspects of the Civil Rights movement to investigate.  We will talk about each option for a bit before you pick a topic to research.

You will be working in a group of 3 or 4 people who also want to research this topic.  After you do your research you will be presenting your topic to the class.  Complete instructions are on the sheet.

If you find out something that you think is really interesting, put it in a comment on this post.  Reply to other facts you find interesting!

Topics:
March on Washington
Marches from Selma to Montgomery
Ruby Bridges attends a desegregated school
16th Street Church Bombing - Birmingham, Alabama
Children's Marches - Birmingham, Alabama
Rosa Parks & The Montgomery Bus Boycotts

Should we read Three Cups of Tea?

ELA Common Core Standards W.7.1 A-E, RI.7.1,6&8

We've got copies of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson to use for book clubs, but should we really read them?  At first Greg was seen as a humanitarian and hero.  He was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.  All along, there were some parts of his story that didn't make sense to some people that were actually there.  In 2011, information came out that suggested Mortenson actually lied about what happened to him and his charity was misusing its money. 

So, now it's up to you.  Your job is to investigate what happened and decide whether or not this book will be one of our choices for book clubs.  You will write a written argument, and we will have a debate in class.  Together, we will decide if this book will be one that we read.

Videos we watched in class:

Short Film about the Book

60 Minutes Report on Three Cups of Tea

Greg's Interview on NBC

Greg's Interview with AP

Some interesting websites that can be used in addition to your own research:

New York Times Article - The Nation Article - Charity Watchdog Website

What you need to do the assignment:

Argument Document