Fahrenheit 451 Graphic Novel Independent Investigation Pack: 8 Wks, Theme Essay

Overview

This is a themed independent investigation packet. You should read the novel and use these sheets to guide your students with each homework assignment. Each sheet functions as preparation for a discussion in class the next day, especially the Reading Roundtable. I would suggest using the Roundtable twice, once at the beginning and once again at the end of the novel.

As a graphic novel, Fahrenheit 451 functions as much more than Bradbury’s language. The images have in themselves some of the fire that is a joy to watch burn. While reading, use literary themes to guide your students while they use their Independent Investigation Worksheets. Make connections across media, teach them about the Iranian Revolution, and try to ground this universal story in history and context.

Use the attached How to Read a Comic to become comfortable discussing visual media, such as comics and movies. Shots, angles, composition and dialogue work together to make meaning! Use the Digital Character Sheets to keep track of the players.

This packet includes a 13-page preparation packet for a Video Theme Essay using Graphic Novels, which can be used to work slowly on the skills necessary to prepare and successfully achieve a multimodal digital product.

Materials Included

• Whippoorwill Notation Sheet - Systematic note-taking activity for a single or multiple readings. (1 page)
• Comic Summary - Use this to sketch, cite, and explain a particular chapter. Summarizing the key takeaways of the action. (2 pages)
• Three Quotes-Three Memes - Digital worksheet for classrooms looking to connect slang communication to literature (2 pages)
• Quotes, Questions, Summary, Ideas - Summarizing should seek to both cover the action AND the key plot points we learned. (2 pages)
• Five Panels - Five Ideas - Practice frequent citations and using a text to solidify an idea. (2 pages)
• Quote, Claim, Explain - Practice using quotes to support claims! Perfect for preparing for writing an essay. (2 pages)
• Six Inferences, Six Defences - Students will prepare to draw inferences from a novel about the Fictional World being built. (2 pages)
• Quotes, Questions, Summary, Picture - Have students investigate the novel and try to visualize and reproduce scenes is a great way to teach descriptive writing. (2 pages)
• Whippoorwill Reading Roundtable - Each student is assigned a job, then they have a structured conversation around those jobs and the reading. (13 pages)
• How to Read a Comic Group Digital Workbook - Learn how to analyze shots, angles, and composition. (18 pages)
• Video Theme Essay preparation materials. (13 pages)
• Digital Character Sheets (3 pages)
• Vocabulary Bingo Sheet (1 page)

Skills

Using quotes to support claims, Citations

Systematic note-taking preparation for Academic discussion

Summarizing readings geared toward key takeaways

Building lexicon

Infering world-building from a novel

Interpreting a novel for themes