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4H P2a The Reading Quest Project B1-C1

Ask your teacher to discuss this page in class

The Story Behind This Task

You are…

All bold words can be looked up in the glossary.

This time, it’s all about you. This project lets you dive deep into the world of books and get to know your classmates in year 4 better.

One of the things you need to do for your havo exam is talk about at least three books you’ve read. So, in this project, you’ll start to figure out what kinds of books you like by reading three of them and talking about even more.

This project will be tough but also really rewarding, like a quest. That’s if you read the books on time and do your best when talking about them with your classmates during special book weeks.

This project is like a long, exciting trip of learning and exploring books. It’s a chance to feel lots of different emotions and think really hard.

You’ll go on a journey through all sorts of books, get to know the characters really well, explore big ideas, and learn new words.

It’s a way to understand how other people feel, to show you can stick with something, to prove you understand what you read, and to practice giving great speeches.

This project is more than just a job to finish—it’s a full-on experience. It’s a long story that you’ll live through and a special trip that helps you really understand books and how they can change things.

Transcript of the Video + Glossary (Click me to open)

Transcript of the video above

The Reading Quest Project: An Introduction
Hello, future literary critics! Are you ready to embark on an intellectual odyssey, a literary expedition? an enlightening exploration? an academic adventure? Well, you’re in the right place! This project is an all-encompassing novel exploration that will both challenge and reward you. Let’s dive in!

Stage 1: The Starting Line
Stage 1 is where your literary journey begins. Here, you’ll choose and read novels, participate in your first two novel weeks, and if you’re feeling ambitious, do some additional research on your selected novels. This research will not only enrich your understanding but also give you an edge in the later stages of the project such as reading the third novel, participating in the final novel week and last but not least, the presentation.

Stage 2: Put Pen to Paper
In Stage 2, it’s time to prove your mettle with a written test. This is your chance to show that you’ve mastered the material and are ready to advance. Your performance here sets the stage for what’s to come, and you’ll receive invaluable feedback for the road ahead, the presentation.

Stage 3: The Feedback Loop
Stage 3 is all about growth and refinement. You’ll apply the feedback you received after your written test while reading your final novel, in the final novel week and during the presentation. This is the perfect opportunity to deepen your understanding and showcase your growing literary prowess.

Stage 4: The Grand Finale
Finally, in Stage 4, the spotlight is on you. It’s time to create and present a comprehensive report that encapsulates your entire journey, from the novels you’ve read to your personal growth. The presentation is your platform to shine, and for those who wish to make the most of their learning, feel free to connect your novels to secondary works and intertextual references.

Compulsory and Optional Elements
Remember, you’ll encounter quizzes and steps tagged with an exclamation point throughout the project. These are compulsory and essential for a basic understanding of the material. However, there are optional elements that can give you extra XP and a deeper understanding. So choose wisely!

The Rewards: XP, Grades, and Gems
Completing this project is not just about grades; it’s primarily about growing as a reader. However, since there are grades, we have also added additional XP and Gems you can earn. XP serves as an incentive to keep you engaged and motivated. Gems are for those who go above and beyond, showcasing their mastery in both the written test and presentation; getting Gems are linked to your writing test and presentation grades. Therefore, the higher your grade the higher your gem reward will be.

Summary: What’s at Stake
To sum it up, this project is a comprehensive literature assignment that aims to deepen your understanding of novels and help you meet your final exam criteria. You’ll have two major assessments: a written test and a presentation. The written test will evaluate your ability to connect your reading experiences with broader themes, while the presentation allows you to delve deeper into the texts and your personal growth. The project provides a variety of exercises and materials to help you better understand discussions and prompts. It’s designed to engage you deeply with novels while giving you opportunities to improve and reflect, especially between the written test and the final presentation.

Let’s Get Started
So, are you ready for this literary rollercoaster? Buckle up, because it’s going to be a rewarding journey, both intellectually and in terms of the XP, Gems, and grades you can earn. Let’s make every word count and set the stage for an unforgettable literary experience!

Thank you for watching! Now, let the adventure begin!

Glossary for “The Reading Quest Project: An Introduction” (A-Z)

Academic Adventure: An exciting experience related to school or learning.
All-Encompassing: Including everything or everyone.
Ambitious: Wanting to achieve a lot, usually in terms of career or knowledge.
Assessments: Tests or evaluations.
Broader Themes: Wider or more general ideas or topics.
Comprehensive: Including all, or almost all, the items, details, facts, information, etc., that may be involved.
Compulsory: Required; must be done.
Criteria: Standards or rules by which something is judged or decided.
Delve: To look for information about something by searching deeply.
Edge: An advantage over other people or situations.
Encapsulate: To show or contain the most important parts of something in a clear and concise way.
Engage: To get someone interested or involved in an activity.
Enlightening Exploration: A journey that gives you new knowledge or understanding.
Enrich: To improve the quality of something, often by adding something to it.
Incentive: Something that motivates or encourages someone to do something.
Intellectual Odyssey: A long journey of learning or discovery.
Intellectually: In a way that involves the ability to think and understand ideas and information.
Intertextual References: Connections or links between different written works.
Invaluable: Extremely useful or important.
Literary Expedition: A trip focused on exploring books or literature.
Prowess: Great skill or ability.
Prove Your Mettle: Show your ability or courage.
Reflect: To think carefully about something.
Refinement: The process of making something better by making small changes.
Unforgettable: Something that is so good or unusual that you will not forget it.

[!]

[!] = Must-Do Tasks. Look for tasks and quizzes marked with [!]. You have to do these to understand the literature material better. They are very important.

Everyting else = Extra Practice (Your Choice). You will also find many extra tasks and exercises. You don’t have to do them if they don’t have the [!] label, but they can help you learn more. It’s up to you!

Earning Points = When you finish the tasks marked with [!], you will get at least 2400 XP points. If you do all the tasks, both the ones you must do and the extra ones, you can get even more XP!

📜 Important Exam Info

This is a Literature assignment designed to meet the final exam criteria outlined in “Eindtermen havo / vwo.”

Assessment Milestones
- There are two important parts to your assignment:
  - A written test in February.
  - A presentation in March.
Written Test in February
- This test happens during SE week 2 / Test week 2. What’s crucial here is your ability to connect what you read (the first two books) with your own (a) experiences, (b) what your classmates think, (c) events happening in the world, (d) and other books you’ve read.
- You’ll get feedback to help you get better at making these connections.
Presentation in March
- After the written test, you’ll get feedback and “feedforward.” Then, in March, you’ll do a presentation. This is your chance to show what you’ve learned from reading your three books an your feedback after the written test. You can show how you’ve improved. Your presentation should talk more about all books (3) you’ve read and how you’ve grown personally.
Taking Notes
- During the Novel Weeks, be sure to take notes when your classmates share their thoughts. This will be super helpful for both your written test and your final presentation.

We hope you enjoy this journey into literature and find it meaningful and enriching! 🌟

Learning Goals (PTA and CEFR)

Please read the PTA (examenprogramma) descriptors below. In year 4H and 5V, this project helps you prepare for important parts of your year 5H and 6V exams. In year 5H this project is part of SE (schoolexamen).

Click me to open the PTA examenprogramma descriptors.

1 Examenprogramma (PTA)-koppeling (focus)

Domein E: Literatuur

Subdomein E1: Literaire ontwikkeling
7 De kandidaat kan beargumenteerd verslag uitbrengen van zijn leeservaringen met
ten minste drie literaire werken.

2 Examenprogramma (PTA)-koppeling

Domein B: Kijk- en luistervaardigheid

2 De kandidaat kan:

conclusies trekken met betrekking tot intenties, opvattingen en gevoelens van
de spreker(s);

Domein C: Gespreksvaardigheid

3 De kandidaat kan:

adequaat reageren in sociale contacten met doeltaalgebruikers;
informatie vragen en verstrekken;
uitdrukking geven aan gevoelens;
zaken of personen beschrijven en standpunten en argumenten verwoorden;
strategieën toepassen om een gesprek voortgang te doen vinden.

Subdomein C2: Spreken

De kandidaat kan verworven informatie adequaat presenteren met het oog op
doel en publiek, en daarbij zaken of personen beschrijven en standpunten en
argumenten verwoorden.

Domein D: Schrijfvaardigheid

Subdomein D1: Taalvaardigheden

De kandidaat kan:

verworven informatie adequaat presenteren met het oog op doel en publiek, en
daarbij zaken of personen beschrijven en uitdrukking geven aan gevoelens en
standpunten verwoorden;
een verslag schrijven.

Click me to open the CEFR Learning Goal (descriptors).

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)

Timeline

Written Version of the Illustration above (click me)

Learn about the Project (August/September): First, you’ll get to know what the project is all about.
Select 3 Novels (September): Early on, you’ll choose three novels from a list that you’ll discuss during specific weeks.
Novel Weeks: These are special weeks set for diving deep into the novels.

4H Novel Weeks: WEEK OF 23 Oct 22 Jan 18 Mar

Use Prompts to Base Discussions on: During the Novel Weeks, you’ll have special prompts to help guide your discussions about the novels.
Discuss the Novels in January and March: In these months, there will be structured discussions about the novels.
Written Test (February): After the second Novel Week, you’ll take a written test during SE week 2 / Test week 2. The feedback and “feedforward” you get on the written test will help you make and report stronger connections between your reading, your peers’ experiences, world events, and other literary works.
After Novel Week 3: A Presentation (March): You’ll have one more Novel Week after the written test to apply what you’ve learned from the feedback and feedforward. Then, you’ll make a presentation that should go deeper than your written test. You’ll talk about how you’ve grown and applied the advice you received after the written test.
Domein E: Literatuur Goal: The final aim is for you to be able to clearly and strongly talk about your experiences with at least three literary works, as outlined in “Eindtermen havo / vwo.”
Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Practice: Throughout the project, extra exercises and materials will be provided to help you better understand the discussions and the prompts.

This plan is designed to help you engage deeply with novels while giving you opportunities to improve and reflect on your learning, especially between the written test and the final presentation.

Rewards

The Rewards of This Long-Running Project 🏆

We have an exciting project that can help you in your English journey. You can earn up to 2400XP over a few months. But, it’s not just about points – the real prize is getting ready for your exams.

Grades: The Clear Indicators 📝

Your grades are important too. They show how well you understand, learn, and participate. Everything you do in this project, like quizzes, reading, talking in discussions, giving presentations, and taking tests, affects your grades. Doing well in speaking and writing will boost your scores.

GEMs: Something Extra for High Achievers 💎

For those of you who love to excel, we have GEMs! You can earn these special points by using English regularly during the project. But here’s the exciting part:

Score a 7 in your presentation: Get 25 GEMs
Score an 8 in your presentation: Get 50 GEMs
Score between 9 and 10 in your presentation: Get 60 GEMs

The written test also offers GEM chances based on your grade.

Remember, while XP, grades, and GEMs are great, the most important reward is your progress and readiness for your exams. So, let’s start this fantastic journey together! 🌟

Vocab

Welcome, young English learners! 🌟 Get ready to embark on a year-long adventure in the world of literature and words! 📚

Why These Words? 🤔

We’ve carefully selected a special set of words that aren’t just random or tough. These are powerful words that will help you excel in your exams. 📝

Words with a Purpose 👑

Each word you learn is connected to the stories you’ll read. This means you won’t just know what they mean, but also how they make stories richer and help you explore important themes like society, culture, and psychology in literature. Imagine discussing “inequality” in a dystopian world or the “power dynamics” in a complex family with ease! 📖

For Everyone 🌍

Whether you’re just starting to enjoy English literature or you’re a seasoned reader, this list has something for everyone. The words vary from easy to more challenging, so no one feels left out. 🤗

Practice Makes Perfect 🎭

These words won’t just be on quizzes. They’ll come up in your readings, discussions, presentations, and even in written tests! You’ll use these words in real-life situations, not just memorize them. 🙌

In a Nutshell 🌰

📚 Boost Your Academics: Score well on your exams with confidence!
🎨 Words in Context: Explore themes in your books deeply!
🚀 Words for All Levels: Suitable for beginners and experts!
🌐 Real-Life Learning: Use these words in your everyday life!

So get ready, future language experts! This vocabulary journey will be a rewarding experience, helping you gain valuable knowledge and skills. 🌟

Let’s make every word count! 🎉

Grammar

🎯 What Will You Learn? We have many fun activities and tasks for you. These include:

Tenses: You will learn to talk about events in your books and how these books can change how you see life.
Adjectives and Adverbs: These will help you describe things in an exciting way!
Word Order: This helps your sentences to be clear.
Modal Verbs: Words like “Can,” “Could,” “Should,” “Would.” They are very useful to talk about what might happen, what someone can do, or to give advice. 🌠
Passive Voice: This is not a quiet way of speaking. It’s a different way to make sentences to focus on what happens, not who does it. 🎭
Reported Speech: You’ll learn how to tell what someone else said in the right way.

Mining Expeditions

🔍 The Great Treasure Hunt: No Need to Mine! 🔍

Hello, brave explorers! 🌟 Guess what? Our project is like a map to treasure, filled with great chances to learn. But there’s no need for an actual Mining Expedition. Why? Because each assignment, quiz, and discussion you take part in is a little adventure of its own! 🗺️

FAQ

Can I bring an e-reader / digital version of the book?

Hey students! Just a quick note about the test. You can’t bring electronic versions of the books, so leave your Kindles and other gadgets at home. You can bring a physical book if you want, but you don’t really need it to do well in the test. What’s most important is having good notes to help you.

I’m not comfortable speaking in front of the class. Can I do something else instead?

It’s normal to feel nervous, but avoiding things that make you nervous doesn’t help you overcome your anxiety. Having said that, exposure should happen in a safe and controlled environment. Good news, though! If you read the project rules carefully, you’ll see that you have choices for the presentation. You can make a video or a podcast ahead of time, and we can play it in class while you stay in your seat.

Yuk! Why do we have to read these boring books from a list and can’t we just choose our own?

Hey there! we totally get it—reading something you didn’t pick yourself can feel like a drag sometimes. But there’s a reason we have a list of books for this project. These books are carefully chosen because they cover important themes, styles, and perspectives that are valuable for your learning.

Remember, part of growing as a reader and a thinker is stepping outside your comfort zone and getting to know spaces you would not have chosen to visit based on your own frame of reference and interest. By engaging with different types of literature, you’ll gain a broader understanding of the world and even discover new interests! Plus, these books often have layers of meaning, so diving deep into them can be rewarding.

That said, we’re always open to suggestions! If you find a book that you think should be on the list, let us know. We might consider letting you read it regardless and we may add it to the list for other pupils to read as well; that also means that some books on the list are already student suggestions. Are you sure there is nothing on the list that you may like?

I missed a Novel Week session because I was not at school, what now?

In class, we have special times called “Novel Week Sessions” to talk about books. This makes it easy for everyone to discuss the books at the same time and place. You can also have extra sessions if you want to talk more about your book. In fact, having more than 3 sessions can help you get ready for tests.

You won’t always get to choose who you work with during these sessions; we’ll pick the groups for you. So, if you want to talk with your friends, you might want to have extra sessions.

If you miss a class, you MUST find a time to catch up. You should talk about the book with at least one other person, using the novel week prompts to guide your discussion.

Do we get to choose who we work with during novel week sessions or our presentations (if done together)?

Novel Week Sessions: no.
Presentations: yes.

Why?
Novel Week Sessions:
For novel week sessions you may be placed in a group with pupils that have the same or different novels, depending on the teacher’s strategy. This may differ per novel week session.
Moreover, the teacher may want to create diverse groups with people that normally do not interact to create a fresh exchange of ideas; friends know each other better than strangers so it could be refreshing to talk to classmates you normally do not talk to.

Presentations:
Creating videos, plays, interviews together is another deepening and creative activity that we encourage because this project is primarily about gaining reading experiences and sharing viewpoints and understanding with each other.

The presentations can be done alone or with people you choose (only within your own group* (e.g. 5Ha).
*Group presentations save time and are encouraged, but they do not save time if a video has to be watched by two different groups (e.g. 4Ha/4Hb). For this reason you cannot work with pupils from other groups.

Can we write in our books/put sticky notes with text on them in them?

No, you can’t write directly in the novel, but you’re welcome to jot down notes on a separate notesheet. This notesheet will be available to you only during specific weeks when we focus on the novel and during designated lessons. If you’d like to make notes while you’re reading, you can use sticky notes. Before the written test, you’ll have an opportunity to transfer these sticky notes onto your notesheet. Please note that some outdated instructions may say you can write in your novel; that’s incorrect and we’ll be updating it soon. For the test, books with sticky notes or any writing inside won’t be permitted.

Is there a playlist available?

Yes!