8th Grade English Language Arts

 Moodle Posts 101

• Moodle Post Format:
• ONE prompt written across the top
• Moodle Post # - (who the post is written for)
  
• Greeting (Dear [friend OR teacher name],)
• Salutation (Sincerely [your name])

• Moodle Post Prompts (Choose 1 for each letter):
• What character is your favorite?  Why?
• Is there a character you dislike?  Why?
• Describe the cover art/images of your book. Do you think they represent the story well so far? Why? Would you change anything? Why or why not?
• Out of the 5 elements of fiction (characters, setting, plot, point of view, theme), which one stands out the most in your book? Why?
• Describe the setting of your book. Would you like to live where this story takes place? Why or why not?
• If you could ask any character in your book a question, who would it be and what would you ask them? What do you think their answer would be?
• Was there ever a point in your book when you felt like putting it down? Why or why not?
  
• What do you think motivates the antagonist?
• What advantages does the protagonist have over the antagonist?
• Do you see any of your own personal traits in the main character of your book?
  
• Does the story remind you of someone or something you know?
• Do you see a quality that you would like to develop in yourself?
• Does the character make good decisions?  Why or why not?
• Does the author have a strong opinion or belief?  How can you tell?  Explain.
• Can you predict the ending?  What makes you think it will end that way?
• (If you've finished the book) At the end, did you feel satisfied or disappointed by the ending?
• Did you find a favorite line or passage?  Quote it and explain.
• Would you read another book by this author?  Why or why not?
• What point of view does the author use (first, or third person)? Is it effective?
• How would the book change with a different narrator?
• If you could jump into the book and change any event, what event would you change?  Why?
• What do you think caused a central conflict in your book?  What do you think it will take to resolve it?
• If you could give advice to one of the characters at this point in your book, what would it be and why?
• If you could be any character in your book, who would you be and why?  Would you do anything differently?
• What do you think the characters in your book are motivated by (fear, love, hatred, greed, peer pressure, fame, etc)?  What evidence from the book shows that motivation?
• Have you seen a good example of a character who acts with integrity in your book?  Explain.
• Did something or someone in your book shock you?  Why?

• Moodle Post Prompts specifically for non-fiction books:
• What background knowledge do you already have about this topic?
• Does the main topic of the book relate to your life today?  Why or why not?
• Is the author objective (just factual) or subjective (giving his/her opinions)?
• Does the author support his/her claims with examples?  Explain.
• Why do you think the author chose to write this book?  Explain.
• Do you think you will read more on this topic?  From what source?
• Holocaust Reading Prompts:

• What are the thoughts and feelings of the main character about the war and all the changes it brings at the beginning of the story?

• How do other family members think about, and react to, the war?

• What character qualities do you observe that helped your main character survive?

• What connections are you making between your book and other similar stories you have heard? (books, movies, Arn Chorn or other articles)

• What is the impact of the genre chosen by the author to tell his or her story? (poetry, graphic novel, memoir)