"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. Unscripted perfection." ~Scott Adams/d.millener
One-Pager Reader's Response
A One-Pager is a single-page response that shows your understanding of a poem, novel, chapter, artwork, excerpt, photography, or any other written or visual literature that you've read or seen. It is a way of displaying your individual, unique understanding. It also is an imaginative, honest, and effective response for you to make deeper connections to the literature, retain key concepts and own what you have read in a way that tangibly displays your well-rounded understanding in writing, in color, and with creativity. After all, we learn best when we are able to create our own connections!
The Rules
- Draw or create at least three or more images that represent themes, characters, conflict, and/or the setting of the text. These should be strongly connected to the text and should stand out.
- Create and answer two meaningful questions about the text. They must be Level 3 Questions and cannot be yes/no questions, but instead, how or why questions and the answers should cite text evidence from the text. (Click here for a review on Reading Levels.)
- Include a “border” that reflects the unit of learning or theme. This can include words, pictures, symbols, or quotes from the text. Fill the paper to the edges.
- Put the title of the text you’re responding to, the author’s name and the genre somewhere on the page where the reader will notice it (required). (This can be done as creatively as possible.)
- Include no less than THREE notable quotes, phrases or passages that are important to the understanding of the text. Include quotation marks and an MLA citation (authors last name and page number where you found the text). If your passage/quote is a part of dialogue, include the character’s name who said it.
- Write no less than three personal statements or connections about what you have read. These are not simple opinions or book review type statements. (Ex: NOT this: “I can relate to the main character feeling lost because I've been lost before." But LIKE this: “I can relate to the main character feeling lost in the text because it reminded me of when I got to middle school and didn’t know where anything was.”)
When you finish, your audience should be able to understand and relate to something about the literature from reviewing what you wrote/illustrated. You paper should be colorful and meaningful. Here's your chance to go as creative as your mind can wander!
Choice of Topic
Choose topics that reflect your personal interests. Topics may be based on any aspect(s) of the work(s) studied, including:
- the cultural setting of the work(s) and related issues
- thematic focus
- characterization
- techniques and style
- the author’s attitude to particular elements of the works (for example, character(s), subject matter)
- new interpretations of an idea from different perspectives
The Specs
- Use a lot of color, patterns, texture, writing styles, photographs, paintings, etc., to illustrate your thoughts and ideas clearly and creatively. Be neat, but your ENTIRE PAGE should be filled with these elements.
- If you find you have extra room, repeat any of the above steps/elements.
- No space should be blank or left in pencil (unless you’re using colored pencils to sketch).
- Your full name and class period should be on the BACK of the one-pager.
- Your artwork must fit onto ONE side of ONE sheet of copy paper, portrait or landscape, as long as all the specs are adhered to. (You will receive a zero if you change your paper or size.)
What NOT To Do
- Do NOT use both sides.
- Do NOT change the size of the paper. The specs are 8.5x11.
- Don’t merely summarize—you’re not retelling the story.
- Use unlined paper only, to keep from being restricted by lines.
- Don’t think half a page will do—it won’t be accepted. Period. Make the paper rich with “quotes” and images. FILL THE PAPER UP!
*Your answers must cite textual evidence using a citation (page number/s). If your passage/quote is a part of dialogue, include the character's name who said it.
Presentations
When you are presenting, make sure that you are:
Do not:
You have 2 minutes to talk about how the book was written and how your analysis is connected to that.
- Making eye-contact with your audience
- Enthused
- Engaged
- Alert
Do not:
- Give a summary of your one-pager or your presentation
- Bore your audience
- Mumble/Stutter
- Get off-track
You have 2 minutes to talk about how the book was written and how your analysis is connected to that.
Peer Evaluations
While your classmates are presenting, make sure that you are actively engaged. You will be given a presentation worksheet on which to take notes with specificity throughout the presentations.
After all presentations are completed, you will share your critiques and discuss the analysis of your overall presentations. You will be graded on the level of feedback you offer on your worksheet and orally.
After all presentations are completed, you will share your critiques and discuss the analysis of your overall presentations. You will be graded on the level of feedback you offer on your worksheet and orally.
