Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Can i get a plot summary for Lyddie by: Katherine Patterson?? book report due tomorrow and i didnt read the book.

Instead of frantically searching the internet for a
summary and a last minute "wing-it" book report (the kind you turn in hoping and praying
it doesn't sound like you didn't actually read the book) I think most teachers on this
site *we question answerers are pretty much ALL teachers* would encourage you to go to
your teacher tomorrow and confess that you have not read the
book.


I'm not speaking for everyone when I say this, but as
a teacher who has dealt with the students who turn in the "Sparknotes version" of a book
report and those who come clean and just ask for more time, I'm more apt to forgive and
provide an option of redemption for the second student.  What you need to understand is
that your teacher will know that you did not read the book.  Even if HE or SHE has not
read the book, most, if not all literature teachers are pretty good at analyzing tone. 
If you have not read the book, this will come out in the tone of your book report.  Your
teacher might not even directly address it, but he or she will
know.


Now, if you do choose to take the road of integrity
here, understand there is (believe it or not) a bad and a better
approach.


BAD approach: addressing your teacher one-on-one
JUST before or JUST after the bell rings to start class.  You've already screwed up -
don't take up your TEACHER'S class time to fix it.
BETTER: email your teacher
tonight and explain the situation.  Own up to laziness if that is the only excuse.  As
cliche as it sounds, honesty truly is the best policy.
BETTER: wait until the
end of the day (or perhaps the down time at the end of class) and ask to talk to your
teacher one-on-one.  Explain in person.


Be prepared to
receive neither forgiveness NOR redemption.  After all, your entire class had the same
amount of time and how is it fair to give you an extension?  However, most reasonable
teachers will look at such a situation and work out a plea bargain (as they say in the
legal world).  If I was your teacher, I'd ask for a reasonable amount of time for you to
get the book read.  Let's say you can do it over the weekend.  I'd then say, "Get it
done and blow me away with the book report.  You won't get full credit, but you won't
get a zero either.  We'll deal with the grade when I see the report... AND YOU BETTER
READ THE BOOK."  I would say the last part with a stern voice and
smile.


Don't fake it.  Just don't.  Even if you do get away
with it this time, it isn't worth the reward that will tell you "It worked last time it
will work again."  Because faking it rarely works, and it's when it counts the most that
it will get you.

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