One Hundred and Twenty Seconds--Book Sharing/Reading Aloud -- The two minute book report. During the first minute, you introduce us to the book and give us the background for the passage you will read aloud. Your second minute consists of you reading aloud a stirring passage from the book.

1. Choose the book you've read in the past year that you like the best.
2. (First minute) Your intro should begin with title, author, and genre.
3. (First minute) Briefly tell us about the book. What's it all about? Why is it good? Try to sell us on the book.
4. (First minute) Set the scene. Give the context of the passage.
5. (Second minute) Read a brief selection from the book. At least half of your two minutes should consist of oral reading. Choose the selection carefully—grab our attention!
6. Practice! Uh’s and likes count against you! (No more than three!) Time yourself to make sure of the length.
7. It would help to write your intro out first.

Rubric

1. (1-6) Introduction-Presentation: How well done? Did reader give title, author, and genre of the book and brief setting of the scene? Did reader capture the audience's attention immediately?
2. (1-6) Mechanics: Reading Clarity and Inflection. Is the pacing good? Are words pronounced correctly and easily understood? Are words read slowly enough for the audience's understanding? Volume?
3. (1-6) Stage Presence: Does the reader appear confident? Does the reader establish eye contact with the audience? Are gestures, if any, natural and appropriate to the reading?
4. (1-6) Reading Interpretation: Are characters easily identified? Are characters well-differentiated by verbal inflection? Can you tell when it's a question? Can you tell when description ends and dialogue begins?
5. (1-6) Quality of Selection: Does it have an effective beginning and ending? Is it entertaining, whether dramatic, suspenseful, or funny? Does it lend itself to interpretation?
6. (1-6) Audience Appeal: Is the reader holding the listeners' attention?
7. (1-?) Level of Difficulty: A typical page from The Outsiders = 3
8. Three or fewer "uh’s" or inappropriate "likes." (Subtract ½ point for each after three.)
9. 105-135 seconds long, with at least half being oral reading.(-1 point for every 10 seconds too long or short)
10. Bonus? Judges may award up to 4 bonus points for performances above and beyond the call of duty.

We will have 5 people per day until we're finished. If we don't have enough volunteers, we will let the RaffleKing pick.
Each day we will need a timer, and an "uh" counter.
We will have four judges, including Mr. Coward.
Your score will be the average of the four judges' scores.
Click here for judges' ballots.