Introduction to My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

You are about to begin your literary journey of reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. To get you focused for your reading, you are asked to do the following assignment:

1. Begin your first blog post by introducing the novel with a short bio and image of Jodi Picoult and a brief overview of the fictional novel.  Please site both image and info sources at the bottom of the blog post. Also, what are your expectations of this novel based on things that you have read or heard?
2. Add some sort of "gadget" to the homepage that pertains to the novel.

Have fun blogging!

Are You Somebody's Keeper?

Do you consider yourself someone's "keeper" in your family or group of friends?  Write a one-paragraph journal explaining why you feel this way, but leave out last names to "protect the innocent."

Character Profile Assignment

Today, you will choose one character that you want to follow more closely for the rest of My Sister's Keeper.  You will need to set up a Character Profile document (in chart form, category/bullet, or  paragraph form) by answering the questions below and adding to them from time to time as you continue to the end of the novel.  You will need some direct quotations and you should include the page number in parenthesis after the quote.

  At some point, you will work with other classmates also working on your character to compare notes and increase your Character Profile.  At the end of the novel, you will post your entire Character Profile on your English blog to be graded.  be assigned to work in a small group to follow one of the main characters of My Sister's Keeper.  The information and quotes that you include should show direct and indirect characterization of your character.  You may choose from Anna, Kate, Sara, Brian, Jesse, Julia, or Campbell.  You will need an image too at the end for your blog post.

Character Profile Info Needed:

• Name of character and family relationship
• Approximate age and physical description of character
• Profession in life
• Personality traits
• Interests and hobbies
• Quirks
• Who character is closest to in story
• A good direct quotation from the character himself/herself that gives a clear look at the character's thoughts.  Remember page number.
• Anything thing else that you find interesting and unique

The Character Groups are the following:  Sara, Brian, Kate, Jesse, Anna, and Campbell

Figurative Language in My Sister's Keeper

Although My Sister's Keeper is written in easy-to-follow, every day language, Jodi Picoult does use some beautiful figurative language to make the story more meaningful and memorable.  Two types of figurative language that Jodi Picoult uses often are similes and metaphors.  To focus on these two types of figurative language, please do the following blog post for any of the chapters that you have read or will be reading soon.

1.  Define "simile" and "metaphor" using a trusted literary terms sight.  Include the website of your source.
2. Create a list of 5 similes and 5 metaphors (in their complete sentence) that you come across as you read My Sister's Keeper.  After the quote, write simile or metaphor, and then please include the page number in parenthesis after the sentence.
3. Finally, write your opinion on how using similes and metaphors affect the way the story is told.  Do these types of figurative language give you a deeper understanding and how?

Live News Feeds on Plot Development

hMy Sister’s Keeper

By  Jodi Picoult

Plot Update News Feeds Assignment

            As you read My Sister’s Keeper, you will keep a running  “news feed” of current plot events, with all of the twists and turns in the novel, that seem to be most important in the story.  You will list the chapter and then bullet 3-5 significant plot development events per chapter.  Your plot event news feeds most likely will contain an action verb. You will be required to meet the following deadlines with your plot news feeds:

First Deadline                      April 29                     Pages 1-115 (140)

Second Deadline                May 11                      Pages 116 (140) -200 (242)

Since I have found several students copying or paraphrasing plot summaries from Sparknotes.com, I will no longer accept and grade plot news feeds beyond the above deadlines.  Instead, I will create questions and reading checks for the rest of the novel.  This is a sad reflection on John Carroll, and I apologize to the hardworking students who did their own written work.  

*You can set up a chart with chapter and page columns and then bullet the plot events.  Keep the wording down, but be specific and use action verbs since you are updating your viewers on how the plot is moving along in the novel.

Example of Plot News Feed:

            Chapter                    Pages

            “Anna”                      10

Ø Anna, the main protagonist of the novel, reveals that her sister Kate has a rare cancer called acute promyelocytic leukemia and Anna is an allogeneic donor, a perfect sibling match.

25 Random Facts About You

Read the article about the ever popular "25 Random Things About Me" chain mail on Facebook on the link below. You will find the article interesting. Have you ever gotten one of these lists from your friend or have you already created one? If not, now is your time to tell your selected classmates and teacher "25 Random Facts" that people don't really know about you. Take your time and be reflective. Think about how characters from our novel would answer this same blog assignment.

Article in New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/fashion/05things.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1


To get you started, you just start brainstorming and typing a list of at least 25 random facts about you that others might not know. Think! Then, once you have your list, go back over it and proofread it and tweak your statements. Some might be funny and others will be serious and reflective about your life so far and your desired future. Have fun creating the list!


Mrs. Zurkowski's 25 Random Facts
1. I love my family.
2. My husband is my best friend.
3. I was a tom boy when I was a child who loved to build forts and play neighborhood touch football.
4. I was captain of my varsity cheerleading squad at Joppatowne High School.
5. I sang and danced in many high school musicals.
6. Not a day goes by that I don't think about some life lesson that I learned from my grandmother and I still miss her deeply.
7. I became a teacher because I love learning.
8. I like to iron and watch movies at night.
9. The hair on my arms stand up when I see or talk about snakes.
10. I talk to God every day.
11. When all else fails, I pray.
12. My favorite place to be is a hot beach overlooking a sparkling ocean.
13. I love punk rock music.
14. I am obsessive compulsive when it comes to a clean house.
15. I am a morning person.
16. My favorite meal is breakfast, especially homemade waffles.
17. I have eight pets.
18. I love teaching 9th graders at John Carroll.
19. I have helped a thoroughbred foal be born.
20. I love mowing the lawn and working outside.
21. I go to at least two rock or alternative concerts a year.
22. I can't live without chocolate, except when I give it up for Lent.
23. My three favorite books right now are To Kill a Mockingbird, The Kite Runner, and My Sister's Keeper.24. I have been married for 22 years.
25. I look to God for everything - forgiveness, creativity, loving relationships, and eternal life.

Discussing the Novel Part I

Add your thoughts on Discussion Questions #1 and #2 for My Sister's Keeper so far. 


Add an image too.  

What's in a Name

The characters in My Sister's Keeper have names that are popular today and could be anyone of our friends or people that we know.  To make some connections between our lives and the fictional lives of these characters, write a one-page journal telling the story behind your name.  You should consider the following questions or statements as you investigate and retell your family story about your name:

v Why your parents chose that name?

v Who are you named after and why?

v What does your name mean?

v What other names were under consideration?

v How you feel about your name?

v The ways other people respond to your name.

v Anything else you can think of that is significant about your name.

Your teacher will share her/his story in class.

Also, check out this link from a recent article about popular names:

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2010/05/10/1117244/twilight-names-top-2009-popular.html