This class will meet once a week for 8 weeks.  During that time we will read and discuss the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz.  This will be an integrated unit of study that involves reading, writing, examining history, and connecting past events to present day.  Class sessions will be structured to include some shared reading, discussion, and in-depth study of literary techniques.  Students will need to do some assigned reading on their own, outside of class, as well as journal entries and occasional assignments.  Students enrolling in this course should have a passion for reading, history, and social justice.  Materials required will be a copy of the book, Refugee (can be found on Amazon.com), and a journal for writing.

Schedule for our 8-week course:
Week 1:  Please read pages 1-33 BEFORE class.  During week 1 we will familiarize ourselves with the 3 main characters in our book, discuss the reasons families might choose to leave their home countries and seek refuge elsewhere, and set up our journals for recording assignments throughout the course.  
Week 2:  Please read pages 34-73 BEFORE class.  During week 2 we will create a timeline for each character that we'll use to keep track of the main events throughout the novel.  Students will also create a fictional character that is a refugee.  We will complete weekly journal entries from the perspective of that character, detailing what events he/she is experiencing.    
Week 3:  Please read pages 74-109 BEFORE class.  During week 3 we will examine our characters' traits more in-depth.  Students will select traits for each of the 3 main characters, and support them with evidence from the text.  We will continue to add to our timelines and complete journal entries.
Week 4:  Please read pages 110-163 BEFORE class.  During week 4 we will focus on a task called, "The Terminator."  For this assignment, students will select figurative language (similes, hyperboles, idioms, etc.) used by the author in our novel.  We will discuss the meanings of these expressions, and students will begin to use figurative language in their weekly journal entries.  We will continue to add to our timelines and complete journal entries.
Week 5:  Please read pages 164-196 BEFORE class.  During week 5 we will focus on a task called, "Question Commander."  For this assignment, students will generate thought-provoking questions to ask of their classmates, regarding what is happening in our reading.  Students will take turns asking their questions and leading the discussion.  We will continue to add to our timelines and complete journal entries.
Week 6:  Please read pages 197-235 BEFORE class.  During week 6 we will focus on a task called, "Line Illuminator."  For this assignment, students will select passages from the text that are meaningful, and explain their significance to the novel.  We will continue to add to our timelines and complete journal entries.  
Week 7:   Please read pages 236-284 BEFORE class.  During week 7 we will begin preparing for our culminating activity, "Character Chair."  Together we will generate a list of questions to ask our 3 main characters.  Students will begin thoughtful examination of how they, taking on the role of one of our main characters, will answer said questions.  We will continue to add to our timelines and complete journal entries.
Week 8:  Please read pages 285-317 BEFORE class.  During week 8 we will discuss the ending of our novel together, complete character timelines, and write final journal entries.  We will celebrate the end of our novel with the activity, "Character Chair."  Each student will have the opportunity to ask and answer questions of our 3 main characters, taking on their perspectives and answering the questions as they anticipate the characters would.