LIBS 4950 Design Awards Project
In this class we learn to recognize, analyze, and evaluate genres. Think of genres you have already read and studied in this class (picture books of various types, multicultural, traditional literature (including folktale, myth and fable), fantasy (including science fiction), historical fiction, realistic fiction (including survival and adventure fiction, mystery, and humorous fiction), Biography and informational books.
The American Library Association (ALA) is a professional organization that defines and promotes good literature within all categories and genres of literature. The missions for the ALA is “To provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”Based on elements of excellent literature, you will design and promote a new annual literature award to be given by the ALA to one deserving book.
Here are the steps:
1. Choose one genre you enjoy.
2. Create an award with a name that reflects that genre (ie: the Smaug Award for High Fantasy)
3. Create a statuette or medal incorporating a visualimage of something that symbolizes the genre (ie: A pewter dragon)
4. Bestow the first ever award on one of the books you love from that genre and explain why the “judges” chose it (ie: This year’s award goes to “The Unspoken Name” by A.K. Larkwoodbecause it is the best example of high fantasy for these reasons…)
5. Show this information in one of two ways:
1. Record a speech of you acting as a judge awarding the book, explaining the medal/statuette, giving genre information and why the book won.
2. OR you can record yourself giving a book talk about the book as if it just won the award and you want to sell copies of it at the bookstore. You will include the same information (explain the medal/statuette, give genre information, why did the book win).
This recording should be 2 to 4 minutes long. Show your knowledge of the genre by including lines about how the book met criteria for the genre.
Rubric.
10 points. Audio podcast/Video presentation includes specific criteria by which the new award is created and explains the characteristics of the genre. The presentation includes
• Name of the award,
• image of medal or statuette, (include image if your presentation is an audio podcast)
• Describe the book based on criteria for the newly created award.
5 points. Award medal or statue shall be a representation of your newly created award. For example, an informational book about climate control might show something that represents “Green Spaces”.
5 points. Technical quality of the video/audio file should be clear and easily viewed or heard. You may record yourself or have a friend record your “presentation”.
