We’ve been doing a lot of talking recently about historical fiction. For example, you read my historical fiction version of Margru’s story. We’ve also read a lot of picture books about forced immigration that are historical fiction, say Veronica Chambers’ Amistad Rising. What make these books good historical fiction?
You have all just read what I consider to be good works of historical fiction. For your next blog post you will be writing about why they are. But in order to do so you need to first think about what elements are necessary for a work of historical fiction to be good. So let’s make a list here. We will then look for specific quotes and/or examples from Amistad Rising to prove these points and write a blog post using this information to explain just how and why Amistad Rising is a good work of historical fiction. You can then use the same process to write your own blog post tomorrow.
RUBRIC FOR GOOD HISTORICAL FICTION
HISTORICAL ELEMENTS:
- Includes authentic language (from the time/place) – might include some words in foreign language
- references real places, ex. New London, New Haven, etc.
- references real people, ex. John Quincy Adams
- references authentic objects, belongings, clothing, etc. – ex. sugar cane knives
- references specific dates, ex. 1839
- includes quotation from person of the time
- authentic ways of daily life based on research
FICTIONAL ELEMENTS:
- includes description using several senses
- might include a theme
- uses poetic devices ex. alliteration
- uses figurative language ex. metaphors, similes
- includes a range of emotions
- style – format (journal, letters, story)
- point of view -first, second or third person “Stand here with me…”
- has interesting plot development
- includes great characters you care about
- might include believable dialogue
Veronica Chambers’ fictionalized telling of a true event in Amistad Rising is a fine example of historical fiction. In this case, Chambers has mostly stuck with the facts, embellishing them with some imagined speeches and thoughts. She begins the story very compellingly asking the reader to imagine him/herself back in 1839 when the story took place. “Stand here with me on the shores of New London, Connecticut. Feel the cool breezes on your face. Feel the dirt on your feet; this land is far from ordinary.” (1) Her facts are carefully researched. For example, she writes of John Quincy Adams defending the captives. Her use of figurative language is excellent as in the following passage: “Savoring the word, he let it melt like sugar on his tongue.” (20) For those interested in an introduction to the Amistad story, I would recommend this book.
So now, it is your turn. Write a good post about the work of historical fiction you read. It must have at least one paragraph, three reasons and examples, and a wrapping-up sentence. Then read it over, revise as necessary, proofread (and spell check), and then when it feels ready — publish!
Today you are going to begin to write comments. First we will look at some comments on this post on Ms. Edinger’s blog and make a list of characteristics of good comments.
Here they are:
- good comments agree or disagree with ideas
- good topics generate good comments
- good comments generate a real conversation
- good comments ask questions that make people want to read and think more
Next get your laptop and go read the blog posts of others who read the same book you did and write some really smashing comments!
Questions to ask yourself as you read their posts:
- did you learn something new?
- do you agree?
- do you disagree?
- if you find something that is interesting, can you explain why?
- is there something that you don’t quite understand? do you need more details?
- what can you add? what can you suggest? can you make other connections? (try not to repeat their ideas)
What to remember when commenting:
- check for audience (security) and proofread your comment (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sense)
- ask yourself the questions above
- be respectful: politely express different opinions
- respond to the ideas, not the person
- be sure you are in the right blog
- write as if you are speaking to the individual in person–do not use IM speak
So, you’ve finished your book. Bravo! Now you are going to collect information and then use it to write a great post showing us just how the book you read is a good example of historical fiction.
First of all, I will model for you how to collect the information with a book called Amistad Rising. (Here’s what we did last year.) Then I will show you an example of a rough draft last year’s class helped me write about that book. My hope is that should give you enough to do this with your own book. So here are the steps:
1. Look in your book for good examples of historical research and literary devices and mark those places with post-its.
2. Choose the best ones and write them on your worksheet (3 for each)
3. Get a laptop and in MS Word, write a rough draft paragraph explaining why your book is a good example of historical fiction.
4. Revise your paragraph.
5. Check for spelling, capitalization, sense, punctuation, grammar, security, and audience.
6. Have an adult check your paragraph.
7. Post it on your blog.
Today Ms. Nickles and I will show you how it is possible to develop a conversational thread in the comment section of a blog post. Some of you have done this already, but most of you have not. To give you an idea of how it works go here. As you will see, I made some mistakes! It is just as important to check your comments (for sense, punctuation, spelling, and capitals) as you do with all your other writing. If you make mistakes people won’t want to come visit again. And remember, we want to make your blogs public very very soon!
Once we have gone over this with you, please visit the blogs of classmates who read the same book as you did and write comments. (That will be two or three blogs depending on the book.) Try to think about some questions that will get a conversation going! And then don’t forget to go back to visit and add another comment. It can be fun!
Ms. Edinger
1. Look in your book for good examples of historical research and literary devices and mark those places with post-its
2. Choose the best ones and write them on your worksheet (3 for each)
3. Get a laptop and in MS Word, write a rough draft paragraph explaining why your book is a good example of historical fiction
4. Revise your paragraph
5. Check for spelling, capitalization, sense, punctuation, grammar, security, and audience
6. Have an adult check your paragraph
7. Post it on your blog
Here is the rough draft of a paragraph that we wrote together using our examples of historical research and figurative language:
Amistad Rising by Veronica Chambers is a historical fiction book about Mende captives from Sierra Leone who rebelled against the slave traders to win their freedom. Veronica Chambers uses lots of good descriptions and figurative language to make the story come to life, to explain the feelings of the captives, and to help you feel like you, the reader, are really there. Veronica Chambers used great language, which included personifications, similes, metaphors, etc. For example, when the captives were in jail in New London, CT, she describes Cinque so well with personification such as, “fear gripped him (page number),” that you feel like you’re sitting next to him in the cell. Another reason why this is a good example of historical fiction is the way the author uses similes, such as “When the rain falls it’s like tears of happiness” (page number goes here). Amistad Rising also includes many historical facts. One example is when the president, Martin Van Buren, forces an appeal and sends the case to the Supreme Court. There, former president John Quincy Adams, backs them up with a very lengthy argument. This is a great example of historical fiction.
Here is an example from the book we read together, Amistad Rising:
