Name: ______________________

Literature Circles
Of Mice and Men
For our novel study of John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men, you will work as part
of a group to explore, discuss, and analyze the novel. This will allow you to
obtain a deep and well-rounded understanding of the novel as you will hear
others thoughts and opinions.
Of Mice and Men is divided into 6 sections. Each group will be responsible for
completing activities related to Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 (we will explore Sections 1
and 6 together as a class).
Within your groups, you will take turns performing different roles for each section
of the novel. The roles are Summarizer or Illustrator, Connector, Luminary, and
Discussion Organizer.
Following discussions within your groups, each group will be responsible for
formulating ONE additional question that you will pose to the rest of the class.
These questions will become the foundation for some of our class discussions.
After we are finished our novel study, you will also complete a self-evaluation of
how well you feel that you performed your roles and worked within the group.
For each role that you perform, you will be assessed a mark out of 4 based on
the rubric below.
Summarizer OR Illustrator.
Connector ...
Luminary ..
Questioner/Discussion Director ....

/4
/4
/4
/4

Average of Self-Evaluation
and Teacher Evaluation

/4

Total:

/20

Rubric for Literature Circles

Role/Criteria

1 Limited

Summarizer
OR
Illustrator

Connector

Luminary

Questioner/Discussion
Director

2 Adequate

Provides an
undeveloped and
inaccurate written
or illustrated
chapter summary
Develops vague
connections
between text and
self and/or wider
world

Provides a partial
and basic written
or illustrated
chapter summary

Demonstrates
haphazard
selection of
passages, and
ineffective plan for
discussion
Formulates
irrelevant and
confusing
questions based on
the assigned
reading

Demonstrates
inappropriate
selection of
passages, and
simplistic plan for
discussion
Formulates
appropriate and
feasible questions
based on the
assigned reading

Develops simplistic
connections
between text and
self and/or wider
world

3 Proficient

4 Excellent

Provides a
thorough and
accurate written or
illustrated chapter
summary
Develops
thoughtful
connections
between text and
self and/or wider
world
Demonstrates
relevant selection
of passages, and
effective plan for
discussion

Provides a
comprehensive and
precise written or
illustrated chapter
summary
Develops insightful
connections
between text and
self and/or wider
world

Formulates logical
and effective
questions based on
the assigned
reading

Demonstrates
meaningful and
focused selection
of passages, and
skillful plan for
discussion
Formulates
insightful and
precise questions
based on the
assigned reading

Self-Evaluation (to be completed by student)

Participation
and Effort

1 Limited

2 Adequate

3 Proficient

4 Excellent

Participation is
limited, and work
contributed to the
group demonstrates
minimal effort

Partially
participates in
group discussions,
and contributes
work that
demonstrates basic
effort

Participates most of
the time, and
contributes work
that demonstrates
sufficient effort

Participates fully in
group discussions
and contributes
work that
demonstrates
optimal effort

Teacher Evaluation (based on observations of and discussions with the student)

Participation
and Effort

1 Limited

2 Adequate

3 Proficient

4 Excellent

Participation is
limited, and work
contributed to the
group demonstrates

Partially
participates in
group discussions,
and contributes
work that
demonstrates basic
effort

Participates most of
the time, and
contributes work
that demonstrates
sufficient effort

Participates fully in
group discussions
and contributes
work that
demonstrates

minimal effort

optimal effort

Literature Circle Role Sheet

Summarizer
Name _____________________________ Circle # _____________________________
Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________
Book ___________________________________________________________________
Summarizer: Your job is to prepare a brief summary (in your own words) of todays reading. Your group
discussion will start with your 1-2 minute statement that covers the key points, main highlights, and
general idea of todays reading assignment.
Summary:
In this section

Key Points:
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________

Literature Circle Role Sheet

Questioner/Discussion Director
Name _____________________________ Circle # _____________________________
Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________
Book ___________________________________________________________________
Questioner/Discussion Director: Your job is to develop a list of questions that your group might want to
discuss about this part of the book. Your task is to help people talk over the big ideas in the reading and
share their reactions. Usually the best discussion questions come from your own thoughts, feelings, and
concerns as you read. You can list them below during or after your reading. You may also use some of
the general questions below to develop topics to your group.
Possible discussion questions or topics for today:
1. _________________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________________

Tips: Consider
A discussion of a works characters: are they realistic, symbolic, historically-based?
What motivates the characters or leads them to make the choices they do?
An in-depth discussion of the works events
A discussion of any confusing passage or event
The historical context and/or events that occurred in a particular work
Commentary on the social, political, or economic context in which a work was written - how does the
context influence the work?
An analysis of a specific image, passage, phrase, etc.
An analysis of a recurring image, phrase, event, etc.

Literature Circle Roles

Connector
Name _____________________________ Circle # _____________________________
Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________
Book ___________________________________________________________________
Connector: Your job is to find connections between the book and you, and between the book and the
wider world. Consider the list below when you make your connections. Use your connections as part of
your groups discussion for the assigned section.
Your own past experiences
Happenings at school or in the community
Stories in the news
Similar events at other times and places
Other people or problems that you are reminded of
Between this book and other writings on the same topic or by the same author
Some connections I made between this reading and my own experiences, the wider world, and other
texts or authors:

Literature Circle Roles

Literary Luminary
Name _____________________________ Circle # _____________________________
Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________
Book ___________________________________________________________________
Literary Luminary: Your job is to locate TWO special sections or quotations in the text for your group to
talk over. The idea is to help people go back to some especially interesting, powerful, funny, puzzling, or
important sections of the reading and think about them more carefully. As you decide which passages or
paragraphs are worth going back to, make a note why you picked each one and consider some plans for
how they should be shared. You can read passages aloud yourself, ask someone else to read them, or
have people read them silently and then discuss. Remember, the purpose is to suggest material for
discussion.

Quotations and Page #s

Reason for Picking

Plan for Discussion

-------------------------------------------2.

--------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------

1.

Literature Circle Roles

Illustrator
Name _____________________________ Circle # _____________________________
Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________
Book ___________________________________________________________________
Illustrator: Good readers make pictures in their minds. This is a chance to share some of your own
images and visions. Draw some kind of picture related to the reading that you have just done. It can be a
sketch, diagram, cartoon, stick figure scene, etc.
Your illustration should tell a story in images. It should be a visual summary that depicts the major
events or feelings from the chapter that you have just read. You can even use words to label your
illustration if you wish.
You may use the remainder of this page for your illustration if you wish. If you use a separate sheet of
paper, be sure to attach it to this Role Sheet when you hand it in.
Presentation Plan: Whenever it fits into the conversation, show your illustration to your group. You
dont have to explain it immediately. You can let people speculate about what your illustration means,
so they can connect your illustration with their own thoughts about the reading. After everyone has had
a say, you may have the last word. Tell your group what your drawing means to you, and refer to the
parts of the text that you used.

EXEMPLAR (BASED ON SECTION ONE FROM OF MICE AND MEN)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Questioner/Discussion Director (example)
Name: Mr. Morden

Circle #: 3

Meeting Date: September 4th, 2014

Reading Assignment: Section One

Book: Of Mice and Men

Possible discussion questions or topics for today:
1. Why does George stay with Lennie is he says that life would be easier without him?
2. Why does Lennie like to pet mice and carry them in his pockets?
3. What would life be like for George if he wasnt taking care of Lennie?

Summarizer (example)
Summary:
In this section we are introduced to George and Lennie. These two characters are traveling to work on a
ranch, but have stopped by a pond to rest for the evening. George seems to be the leader of this duo,
while Lennie appears to imitate and follow George. Lennie does not appear to be very smart, but he is
described as a hard worker who is very strong. George doesnt appear to trust Lennie. He carries his work
card, and tells him not to speak when they meet their new boss. George and Lennie discuss their dream
of owning their own ranch, and how they are different from other ranchers because they have each other
for company. George tells Lennie to come and hide in the brush by the pond if he ever gets into trouble at
their new ranch.
Key Points:
1. George and Lennie are travelling to work on a ranch in Soledad.
2. George says that life would be easier without Lennie around, but then says that he wants Lennie to
stay with him.
3. Lennie carries a dead mouse in his pocket, and George throws it away once he finds out.
4. George and Lennie have a dream of owning their own ranch.
5. Lennie appears to be obsessed with getting to take care of rabbits on the ranch.
6. George and Lennie had to leave the last place they worked because they got chased out after Lennie
felt a womans dress.

Connector (example)
Some connections I made between this reading and my own experiences, the wider world, and other
texts or authors:
George and Lennies friendship in section one reminded me of how important it is to be connected to
other people. Without each other, George and Lennie would be lonely, and they wouldnt have the
support necessary to make it through their difficult lives. In my own life, my friends and family are very
important to me. If I were in Georges or Lennies situation, I wouldnt want to be alone either.
The way that George stays with Lennie also reminds me of the importance of forgiveness. Even though
George is angry at Lennie for getting them chased away from their last job, he seems to understand that
Lennie made a mistake, and he chooses to stick by his side.

Literary Luminary
Quotations and Page #s
1.
Guys like us, that work on
ranches, are the loneliest guys in
the world. They got no family.
They dont belong no place (13).

2.
Someday were gonna get the
jack together and were gonna
have a little house and a couple
of acres an a cow and some
pigs (14).

Reason for Picking

I picked this quote because I
thought that it showed why
George stays with Lennie,
despite being angry, and despite
saying that life would be easier
without him.

I picked this quote because I

thought that it was a good
description of George and
Lennies dream for the future.

Plan for Discussion

1) Read quote aloud.
2) Ask group members to say
why they think it might be
important in the story.
3) After each member has
responded, explain what the
quote meant to me.

1) Ask a group member to read

the quote to the rest of the
group.
2) Ask the discussion question:
why do you think it is important
for George and Lennie to have
this dream?
3) Listen to responses, and offer
own opinions as well.