Ender's Game Culminating Task

Today you received your instructions for the Culminating task. Similar to the last one, there is an independent part and a group part. Much to your delight, there is no writing for the group part, as we are looking for a creative showcase of our learning.

Remember that all the options in Part 1 have graphic organizers that need to be reviewed by one of the three of us before you start your draft.

While you could submit this after the deadline, that would mean that a) higher expectations; and b) work over the break.

This is our last assessment piece for the calender year. As such, and as a reward for the continuous hard work, we will scale back the math and science homework, focus more on in class learning activities and review, and the pick up the pace again in January.

--- Project Information ---

Success Criteria

1.     It is important to format your assignment in a clear and organized manner.  That can be clearly communicated during your oral presentation of your project. 

2.      Your approach will need to be creative and representative of your own strengths.

3.      The information included in your project is generated from the novel and the content should be detailed and descriptive. 

4.     Your written work should be typed, edited and free of errors (grammar, spelling, or punctuation)

5.     Your presentation will be 5 to 7 minutes long.  You need to be familiar with your project so that when you present you do so with ease and familiarity with the content included in your project. 

6.      Please ensure your project is visually appealing.

Part 1 - Individual Work

Choose 1 (one) option from the three categories. Your responses shall be typed, 3 paragraphs of 7-8 sentences each (it shall not exceed this limit). When submitting your work be sure to include a cover page that specifies what question you are responding to. Each of your paragraphs shall have evidence from the book to support your opinion. You will also be required to follow the same citation guidelines.

Option 1 - Themes and Characters in Ender's Game

Themes: Leadership, Conflict, Growth, Resilience, Imagination, Compassion

Characters: Bean, Petra, Peter, Dink, Valentine, Alai, Ender

Choose either 1 theme and 3 characters, or 3 themes and 1 character (each of these will form their own paragraph). You will need to have your outline/organizer approved prior to writing your draft. Discuss either how each of the themes are related to a character, or how three different characters are connected to a theme from the book. You are responsible for 3 paragraphs of writing.

Option 2 - Gaming

In this option you will reflect on the meaning and the purpose of three important games, the Fantasy Game, the Battleroom simulations, and the Command School Simulator. In the novel each of these games served a purpose for the children, and a different purpose for the teachers. In each paragraph (one per game, 7-8 sentences) you must discuss how the game was important to both the teachers and the children.

Option 3 - Character Contrast (2 paragraphs, 10-12 sentences per paragraph)

In this option, you will compare and contrast the similarities and differences between Anne Frank and Andrew Wiggin. You may consider how they interact with people, their own growth and maturity in the book, how they relate to adults, how they respond to difficult situations...there may be other topics for contrast. Be careful not to get carried away. You must have approval before writing a draft.

Part 2 - Group Work

We already spent some time doing a drama-language connection (and again, bravo to all). In your groups of 2-3, select one of the options.

1. Props and Objects from Ender's Game

Your group is to construct 2-3 objects found in the novel. Try to draw from your own inspiration rather than what you saw in the movie. You are not to consider clothing (that is another option)

Suggestions: 

Ø  Ender’s Desk

Ø  Valentine’s Star of the Order of the League of Humanity, First Class

Ø  Main Page design for the Fantasy Game

Ø  Poster advocating for the Battle School

Ø  Queen’s Silken Cocoon

Ø  Replica of the students lockers

2. Scene Dioramas

Similar to the Ecosystem project, you are to re-create a scene from Ender's game within a shoebox. Please use found materials as best as possible to keep costs low.

3. Costume Fashion Show

Create 1-2 items of clothing that you would find in the "Ender-verse." Please use found materials as best as possible to keep costs low. The costumes do not need to be life-size, or made out of the correct material (for example use construction paper). Your sketches of your costumes will need to be approved prior to starting the final product.

Presentation and Paper Due Dates: 19 December 2013 periods 7 and 8