4H P2a The Reading Quest Project
The Story Behind This Task
You are…
You are a reader in 4H and need to read 3 books this year. To make this enjoyable, you will discuss your reading experiences with your classmates. This will help you find deeper meanings in your novels, learn about yourself and others, and hopefully enjoy reading more.
Stay on your reading schedule to fully enjoy the novels and participate in discussions during novel week sessions. These sessions will help you prepare for a written test where you reflect on your discussions. Being prepared and participating with classmates will help you do better on the test.
Duration
This project spans a large part of the year (until the Spring Break) and is done alongside other tasks and projects.
Rewards
You will earn XP/GEMs and a grade for this task.
Vocab
Vocabulary related to talking about novels.
Grammar
- Modal Verbs
- Passive Voice
- Conditional Sentences
- Reported Speech
- Cohesion and Coherence
- Complex Sentences
- Hedging Language
Learning Goals
This Literature assignment is made to meet the final exam criteria for “Eindtermen havo / vwo.” There will be one major assessment and several smaller formative activities (novel week sessions). The major assessment is a written test in February. You can also choose to do a speaking assessment in January. For the February written test, which happens during Test Week 2, you will need to connect your reading experiences with your classmates’ experiences, world events, and other literary works. You’ll practice this during novel week sessions, which you’ll reflect on in your written test.
Click me to open the learning goal overview
CEFR
Glossary:
- Cram: To try to learn a lot of information in a short amount of time.
- Pre Exam Year and Exam Year: The years leading up to your final exams, including the year you take the exams.
- A1, A2, B1, B2, C2: These are levels that show how far you are at learning a language. They come from a system called the CEFR.
- Lower Form Years: The earlier years of your schooling, before you get close to the final exams.
- Detailed Breakdown: A more specific list or explanation of something.
- Skill: Something you can do well, like reading, writing, or speaking a language.
- Learning Journey: The process or path of learning you will go through.
- Levels B1 through C2: Different stages that show how well you can use a language, from lower-intermediate (B1) to very advanced (C2).
- Ace: To do really well on something, like a test.
B2 Learning Goals
Hey there! If you look to your left, you’ll see a handy picture listing all the B2 learning goals. Don’t worry, you don’t need to cram all of it into your head! This picture breaks down what you’re going to learn for each of the five skills in your pre exam year and exam year. We’ve also got similar pictures for the A1, A2, and B1 levels. A1 and A2 were dealt with in your lower form years such as 2 havo and 2 vwo.
Now, underneath the picture, we’ve got a more detailed breakdown of what we will work on this specific project. Here we talk about each skill and how it’s used in this project. Check these out to get a clear picture of how your learning journey will look in this project.
Oh, and one more thing! For your exams, you’ll need to show off your skills at levels B2 through C1 for a bunch of these skills. Check out this page to see what levels you will have to achieve. So it’s really important to understand how this project is setting you up to ace your school exams and the big Centraal Schriftelijk Examen. So, get stuck in and let’s ace these exams together!
Descriptor
B2: I write notes: I make notes
during lectures,
webinars, debates,
discussions, …/I
write summaries
of literature I have
read, …
Activity
In order to prepare for the novel week sessions you will take notes summarising the novel you have read. Finally, during the novel weeks you will take notes based on the recorded novel week sessions in which you and your group discuss prompts.
Descriptor
B2: I write creatively: I write articles for
school newspapers/
review films, books,
…/funny or exciting
stories, poems, …
Activity
In a way, you are reviewing books when you discuss their impact on you as a reader, which is what you will do during this project.
Descriptor
B2: I write a report,
proposal
or essay: I write project proposals/accounts with
pros and cons/solutions to problems/
personal opinion of present day topics/
well-structured essays, …
Activity
In a reflective essay-styled report, you will share your personal opinion, which often relates to the experiences of reading accounts from your classmates.
Descriptor
At B1 level: I read for information: I understand specific information in brochures, …/understand the main ideas of an
article in magazines, newspapers, websites/
understand subtitles of short videos/lyrics
of a song/teenage novels, …
Activity
In this project you will have the option of reading teenage (coming of age) novels, although a little more is expected at 5 havo and 5 vwo level.
Descriptor
B2: I read for information: I understand book-, film
reviews, newspaper columns,
articles on social themes,
biographies, conclusions of a
study, …*
Activity
*only if you are ‘going the extra mile’: those who do research to dive deeper into their read novels will also read secondary works about their novels to gain a more profound understanding of the novel and how it relates to, for example, the human experience or current social or political issues.
Descriptor
B2: I read for
orientation: I understand detailed information in
textbooks, newspaper articles, internet
news groups, research reports, …
Activity
*only if you are ‘going the extra mile’: one may find newspaper articles published about the novel or find and read entries on, for example, Reddit, about their novel.
Descriptor
B2: I describe something
or an experience: I describe progress
on projects, study,
work experience/
report on important events, internships, projects, … At B1 level*: I describe excursions, learning
experiences,
what happened during
meetings/describe dreams,
expectations,
ambitions/tell a
story, …
Activity
In your presentation you will relate novel week experiences and the progress you have made (since the written test) developing your reading preferences.
*You will mention specific examples of what happened during the novel week sessions (meetings) and who said what.
Descriptor
B2: I have an informal
conversation: I actively participate in discussions about
current topics, personal feelings, problems,
… At B1 level: I exchange personal information/share
opinions, feelings/discuss solutions to
problems/points of view, …
Activity
During the Novel weeks you will participate in small group discussions about the novel you have read. You will discuss your personal feelings towards the book or problems that are discussed in the novel. These discussions are held using prompt cards.
Descriptor
B2: I listen as a member
of a live audience: I understand the
main ideas of
presentations,
research results,
talk shows,
interviews, …
Activity
During the presentations in March, you will listen to the findings of classmates.
Descriptor
B2: I listen to a
conversation between
other speakers: I understand a
conversation
between peers about
current topics, new
computergames,
studyplans, …
Activity
During the novel weeks you will listen to, as well as participate in, conversations between your group members.
Descriptor
B2: I listen to someone
who talks English
to me: I understand in detail what is
told during excursions, guided
tours, group events, … At B1 level: I understand stories about travel
plans, school/work experiences,
personal opinions, …
Activity
You understand all remarks made and information shared during the novel weeks. You understand group members’ opinions about the novels they talk about.
Literature
Activity = throughout novel week sessions, the written test and the presentations.
Can-do descriptors (reflect on the level you have reached after you end the TRQP):
Expressing a personal response to creative texts (including literature)
Analysis and criticism of creative texts (including literature)
Mining Expeditions
There is an optional speaking test that you can do (Prepare it before the 18th of January of 2025). More information about it can be found in ‘4H TRQP Task Info’ below.