Independent Study Project: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Grade 9 English: Course-Culminating Task

Toronto Prep School

Table of Contents

1. Study Schedule 2. Part 1: Curious Incident/Autism pre-reading 3. Part 2: Chapter Questions 4. Part 3: Board Game Assignment

Study Schedule

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 28th ISP HANDED OUT

29th

30th

1st

2nd FIRST TEACHER CONFERENCE Minimum due: Part 1 (ASD background), plus Questions 1-8

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

SECOND TEACHER CONFERENCE Minimum due: Questions 9-16

12th

13th

14th

15th

16th

THIRD TEACHER CONFERENCE Minimum due: Questions 17-24

19th

20th

21st

22nd FINAL TEACHER CONFERENCE Minimum due: All Chapter Questions

23rd

26th NO SCHOOL

27th NO SCHOOL

28th NO SCHOOL

29th NO SCHOOL

30th

NO SCHOOL 2nd

NO SCHOOL 3rd NO SCHOOL

4th NO SCHOOL

5th NO SCHOOL

6th NO SCHOOL

9th

10th ISP DUE

11th

12th

13th

16th

17th

EXAMS BEGIN

18th EXAMS

19th EXAMS

20th

EXAMS

*Note: Students who do not meet the minimum due dates at their teacher conferences will be placed in Saturday Club. However, students are encouraged to go beyond the minimum. It is possible to finish this ISP before Christmas break by completing all reading questions by December 16th, then spending the final week of school completing the board game assignment. While this ISP requires a substantial time-commitment to nightly reading, other homework for this class will be very light this month.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Culminating Assignment

Part 1 – Curious Incident/Autism Pre-reading

• Read the following article and answer the questions about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

• Answer in a separate, typed document. You may download this package from the wikispace if you wish to write your answers to this section underneath each question instead of re-typing all of the questions on your own.

- Total Marks: /17 marks (knowledge and understanding) - Total Percentage of ISP: 5%

Part 1: What do we know about Autism?

Read the article and using complete sentences, answer the questions below:

1. Why is the disorder referred to as “Autism Spectrum Disorder?

2. What is the predominant characteristic of all autism?

3. What is an autistic sauvant?

4. True or False?

a) People affected by autism are always developmentally delayed. b) Children always show signs of autism before they can walk. c) Girls are more likely to be autistic than boys. d) A reaction to vaccinations is the main cause of autism. e) People with autism have overdeveloped immune systems.

5. Is autism genetic? 6. When was autism first identified as a disorder? 7. Can autism be diagnosed by a blood test?

8. How is the disorder usually diagnosed? 9. What are three conditions that often accompany autism?

10. Is there a cure for autism? 11. Why are therapies so expensive?

12. Do children outgrow autism? 13. What is the future for most autistic children?

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Culminating Assignment

Part 2 – Chapter Questions

• Provide complete answers to the following questions as you read.

• Each answer will receive a knowledge/understanding mark out of four. Simple, one-word answers are insufficient; most questions require two to four sentences at minimum in order to be answered completely and in depth.

• Make sure you answer all aspects of each question.

• This section will receive an overall communication mark, so you must

answer using complete, proper sentences. • Answer in a separate, typed document. You may download this package

from the wikispace if you wish to write your answers to this section underneath each question instead of re-typing all of the questions on your own.

Total Marks /150

- Knowledge/Understanding (complete, thorough, detailed answers to all questions) /120

- Communication (effective grammar, language, and conventions of the English language) /30

Total Percentage of ISP: 45%

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time:

Chapter Questions Chapter 7

1. Can you offer an interpretation of the passage that Christopher quotes from a ‘proper novel’?

2. What appeals to Christopher about detective stories? Can you explain why?

Chapter 11

3. Comment on the sort of minute detail that Christopher notices. What do you make of this? I.e., what does it tell us about the way he sees the world and his responses to events?

4. What effect does the policeman’s questions have on Christopher, and why? How does Christopher try to find safety?

Chapter 13

5. Why are there no jokes in this book, according to Christopher? Yet why do we often find the novel funny?

Chapter 17

6. Why does Christopher feel calmer even though the police officer says he is under arrest?

7. Why does Christopher find scientific facts – e.g. about the galaxy – reassuring?

Chapter 19

8. How are prime numbers like life, according to Christopher?

Chapter 29

9. Why does Christopher find people confusing? Can you understand his confusion? Explain.

10. Why does Christopher find metaphors confusing?

11. Why doesn’t Christopher like his name?

• Chapter 31

12. Why doesn’t Christopher find similes as confusing as metaphors?

Chapter 37

13. Christopher always tells the truth, but this isn’t a matter of a belief in what is right and wrong. Why doesn’t he ever lie?

Chapter 47

14. How does Christopher explain the link he makes between seeing red cars and having a good day?

Chapter 59

15. How does Christopher justify his investigation into how Wellington died, even though his father has told him to stay out of other people’s business?

16. What character qualities does Christopher have that would make him a good detective?

• Chapter 67

17. Why doesn’t Christopher like chatting?

• Chapter 83

18. What makes Christopher think he would make a good astronaut? Do you agree that he would qualify?

19. What does Christopher discover about Mr Shears, from Mrs Alexander?

Chapter 101

20. How is Mr Jeavons wrong about Christopher’s love of maths?

Chapter 107

21. Rephrase the quotation from the ancient scroll in The Hound of the Baskervilles so that it would be easily understood by a modern reader.

Chapter 139

22. Find a dictionary definition and the orgins of the phrase Occam’s Razor.

Chapter 157

23. What insights do Christopher’s mother’s letters give us into family life with Christopher? How does the picture we’ve had so far change? What new elements are there, in terms of mood and situation?

24. In what ways are Christopher and his father actually alike in the way they react to Christopher’s mother leaving?

Chapter 163

25. Explain how Christopher thinks the human brain is just like a computer.

26. Do you agree that human feelings are just like a picture on a computer screen? Explain your answer.

Chapters 191-197

27. What are some of the ways Christopher finds to cope with the new and frightening situations he finds himself in?

Chapter 229

28. What is shocking or surprising about Christopher’s favourite dream? What is understandable about his dream?

Chapter 233

29. What makes Christopher decide he has to go back to Swindon?

30. Do you agree with Christopher when he says (on page 260) that ‘I think it is worst when you don’t know whether a good thing or a bad thing is going to happen?’

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Culminating Assignment Part 3 – Board Game

You will create a board game based on the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It is your responsibility to develop all aspects of the board game, including the board, the game pieces, the questions cards, the instructions, and whatever else you choose to include. While the rubric on the following page shows exactly how you will be marked, here are a list of questions that you should consider as you create your game.

1. The visual design of the board and the game pieces: Are the game pieces colourful? Is it easy to see the path the players will follow? What are the goals of the game? How many people can play the game? Hos is the game to be scored and the winner determined? Is the game fair? Does everyone have an equal chance to win? Look at the questions or clues given on cards that might be used. Do they help or hinder the game? Will you use dice or a spinner to move the players around the board or is it a ‘pull the next card’ kind of game? Can you use any ideas from other board games such as “Monopoly,” “Life” or “Clue” to give you ideas?

2. Content

Your game must include reference to characters, setting, plot and theme. Have you included all of the main characters in your game in some way? Have you included all of the important settings in your game in some way? Is your game related to the plot of the novel? Does your game incorporate any of the major themes of this novel? What are some of the major themes of this novel?

3. Test the game

We will be playing your game in class. If we all sit down to play the game and the game does not work, this will reflect very badly on you, the designer. Have you tested your game? Have you tested it using other people who might spot problems with the game that you did not notice on your own?

4. Instructions

One of the greatest challenges you will have is writing the instructions for your game. When testing your game, give your instructions to the person who is testing the game for you. Can they figure out how to play the game without your help? If you have to give them some oral instructions, is this because they are not very good at figuring out the rules of games, or is it because your instructions are not clearly written?

*NOTE: it is very, very important that your game makes numerous connections to the plot, themes, characters and setting of the novel. Whether you do this using your questions cards, the object of the game, obstacles on the game board, or some other method, you must not forget this critical aspect of the assignment.

Total Marks – 80 Total Percentage of ISP – 50%

Rubric for board game based on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

You may be very creative in your creation of the board game, but you must meet certain minimum requirements: the game, designed for 2 to 4 players, will include a board with an obvious connection to the story, 20 question cards, a set of clear directions, and game pieces. Your game will be assessed for content, creativity, and design, according to the rubric below. Board Game

Below Level 1 0-49

Level 1 L 50-52 M 53-56 H 57-59

Level 2 L 60-62 M 63-66 H 67-69

Level 3 L 70-72 M 73-76 H 77-79

Level 4 L 80-84 M 85-89 H 90-100

Design and object of the board game relates clearly to the novel Various aspects of the game are connected to plot, setting, character and theme (application)

very limited

limited some considerable high to very high

20 question cards are included (5 per member) All materials needed to play the game are included (knowledge/understanding)

very limited

limited some considerable high to very high

Questions selected are challenging and relate to plot, setting, character, and theme (thinking/inquiry)

very limited

limited some considerable high to very high

Directions for playing the game are clear, neatly presented, and free of spelling and grammar errors Game is creatively presented and visually appealing (communication)

very limited

limited some considerable high to very high