Introduction: We all like to pretend.  Reading a fantasy is just that, pretending.  By making believe the tale is true, or could really happen, the story becomes more real for the reader.  A good fantasy includes several things.  Read two of the following titles and decide what makes your novels good fantasies.

Task Objective(s):  To identify and research fantasies. (read classic and contemporary works)
To find similarities and differences across texts such as in treatment, scope, or organization.
To connect, compare, and contrast ideas, themes, and issues across text.
To produce research projects and reports in effective formats for various audiences.
To analyze published examples as models for writing.
To evaluate how well your own writing achieves its purposes.
To present information in various forms using available technology.
To follow accepted formats for writing research, including documenting sources.

Titles: 

Process: After reading at least two titles, think about how the stories compare/contrast with each other.   Next,decide on the product you would like to build to show your information.  Keep in mind your audience, your findings and how they would best be presented, and how you are going to be evaluated.   Check the product examples in the room for some suggestions.  Decide which will best fit your ideas or choose one of your own design.

Product examples: Produce a pamphlet showing your findings.
Using Microsoft Excel, make a table with a graph showing your findings.
Write a letter to the school newspaper showing your findings.
Present a PowerPoint presentation to your class showing your findings.
Post a web page representing all your findings.

Information:  When you compare things, you generally look at their similarities.  Ask yourself, "How are these things alike?"   When you contrast things, you generally look at their differences.  Ask yourself, "How are these things different?"  Record your findings.  If you have more similarities or they seem more interesting, choose comparing for the basis for your product.  If you feel that the differences are what you would like to evaluate, then choose contrasting.  Fifth and sixth graders, you may choose to do both, just please check with me before you begin.   I will want to know how you will incorporate the two areas.  BE SURE TO CITE YOUR SOURCES!!!

References:

Check out these sites for more information concerning the following areas:

comparing and contrasting:
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/Compare.html a good place to jog your memory about what we discussed in class
http://oregonstate.edu/cla/philosophy/sites/default/files/WRITING_GUIDE.pdf for a more detailed set of hints
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html **** site for reviewing comparisons/contrast  
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Grad/Teachweb/mbsteps.html site for reviewing the five steps to writing http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/tcomp.htm
for more tips on writing in general http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Writing/index.html

fantasy:
http://www.slco.lib.ut.us/scificuniorbklst.htm Science Fiction and Fantasy for Children: an annotated bibliography 
http://www.jkrowling.com/  official Harry Potter site

web writing samples:
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/guides.html#students building a webquest from scratch (they call it filamentality...)

Evaluation: Click on  the rubric link, print out the page, fill out the form and return to me.  You will also receive an evaluation from me.

Conclusion: Think about what you have learned during your comparing/contrasting.  How will you use this information when you read your next book?  Where else can you use your new knowledge?

Sources Cited:

http://www.angelfire.com/co3/teachhpotter/harry1.html for star bar