Better Book Jackets
"Wow, these are better book jackets!"
Ready to find out more: Click on the introduction.
Webquest created by Jill Dailey, Library Media Specialist
(Webquest based on model from Bernie Dodge: For more information on Webquests go to http://webquest.sdsu.edu/)
ClipArt from: "Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com" (See link: http://school.discovery.com/clipart/)
Introduction: Listen to this conversation that happened just the other day in our library. Two students, Nate and Kelli-Rose, were checking out their pleasure reading books and wanted to know more about the authors of the books they chose.
"But the book jacket doesn't even tell about the author!" said Nate.
"Mine does, but only says where she lives, and she has two cats." said Kelli-Rose.
"I like this author, I've already read three of her books, I wish I knew more about her." Nate stared at the inside of the book jacket.
"Maybe she's written more books we don't even know about. I think we could make a better book jacket," Kelli-Rose suggested.
"I agree." Nate closed his book.
***
Nate and Kelli-Rose bring up a good point, some book jackets have very little information about an author. Please go to the Task to continue this Better Book Jacket Webquest.
Your task is to design a better book jacket. A book jacket that will give the reader more information about the author you chose. You will answer frequently asked questions about authors and questions of your own. For this project you will focus on the author section of the book jacket, not a summary of a particular book. Your book jacket should include an illustration of the author or one of his or her books.
A better book jacket will help you and others get to know more about the background and interests of the author. It will provide a "bigger picture" of the author's work. The book jacket can be done on the blank template or by using computer programs like Microsoft Publisher in brochure form. Also, see the extensions section of the process if you would like to include even more on your book jacket. Teachers may modify the rubric to include other sections.
Please go to the process section next.
Previewing book jackets: Before you start the webquest, you may want to look at a selection of book jackets from favorite books in your library. Your class may want to discuss how they might make some of the information given on these book jackets better.
Webquest:
1. Select an author from the Author Website Page or use a search engine to locate the author's website.
2. Print out the Better Book Jackets question/answer sheet: Question/Answer Sheet.
3. Check out how you will be evaluated for this webquest.
4. Visit the author's website and answer your questions.
5. Print out two copies of the book jacket template. One for a draft of your jacket. Draft your text and sketch in a sample illustration.
6. Meet with a teacher or a class-mate to help revise and edit your draft.
7. Complete your final draft and illustration on the final draft book jacket template. Final draft 0ptions: You may use a brochure format for example in Microsoft Publisher, if your teacher includes this as an option.
Extensions: Teachers may copy the book jacket in double-sided format or use Microsoft Publisher, brochure format, if available. Students may also research a list of the author's works, include summaries of particular books, or include additional images on their book jackets.
Previewing book jackets: Gather a selection of books with a variety of book jackets styles from your library.
Template - book jacket template.
Resource extensions: If desired, you may extend the research to include books such as biographies, periodicals, and reference sources such as Something About the Author by the Gale Group.
| Beginning 1 | Developing 2 | Accomplished 3 | Exemplary 4 |
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Question & Answer Sheet:
Considerably incomplete.
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Question & Answer Sheet: Partially completed 1-7, missing some answers and some student created-questions with accompanying answers. | Question & Answer Sheet: Completed 1-7 and evidence of some well done student-created questions with accompanying answers. | Question & Answer Sheet: Completed 1-7 and well done student- created questions with accompanying answers. |
| Insufficient information for one book paragraph on book jacket. | Translated Q& A sheet into organized and detailed text for one paragraph on book jacket. | Translated Q& A sheet information into well organized text with some details for two paragraphs on book jacket. | Translated Q& A information into well organized and detailed text for two or more paragraphs on book jacket. |
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Included a detailed illustration of the author or an illustration of a book by the
author.
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Included a detailed illustration of the author or an illustration of a book by the author. |
If you think Nate and Kelli-Rose would learn more about the author you chose from your book jacket, than you've done a wonderful job.
If you have produced a book jacket that helped you and others learn more about the author's life and how he or she works to create books, then you have successfully completed your task. Keep checking out great authors and great books! Perhaps there is another better book jacket in your future, you never know when you want to find out more about an author.