Directions for First Period English Creative Project

The students who have Ms. Shafer for first period (that's A-day, folks, not B-day, which begins with fifth period) have a creative project instead of a test for their current reading genre (which is of the genre of their choice).  Here are the directions for the project:

Students in first period English,
You need to become graphic designers for this project.  Your assignment is to create 3 promotional products for the book you are reading: a tee-shirt, a button with a slogan and/or design, and a bookmark.  You may not just use the cover design on the book to do this, but the 3 promotional items may use the same design modified to fit their different shapes.  You need to design something original that could be a new cover or show an intriguing scene from the book.  (Remember that the goal of a real graphic designer would be not only to sell the merchandise, but to promote the reading of the book or to hook new readers in.  You need to do that, too.)
The easiest way to do this is to use a digital camera and editing software.  If your computer can put photos into jpeg files, free and easy editing can be done at the picnik website (no downloading of software required, no registration, no money), or you can use your own software.  (Picnik makes it easy to put text over your photo so you can have words on your design.)  You can then simply e-mail your jpeg files to Ms. Shafer or put them on a flashdrive to hand in (be sure to use some masking tape with your name on it before handing a flashdrive in).
You may also, of course, choose to make the items, using fabric paint on an actual tee-shirt, and creating the button and bookmark out of posterboard.  (Yes, you'll get your stuff back, so be sure to choose a tee-shirt size for you!)  The one problem with this is the expense, as you have to buy the materials.
The third way will produce the least showy results, but it is likely the only option for those whose families  or neighbors do not own a digital camera and who do not wish to spend money on a tee-shirt.  You may simply draw or cut and paste the designs on paper and hand them in.  Be aware, though, that sloppy, poorly-planned work is unlikely to earn a high score.  If you choose this method, it still needs to look good.
Whichever method you choose, you must label your designs with your name, the book title, the author's name, and the book's genre in order to receive credit.  (Note: those items need not appear in the artwork, but they need to be attached physically or added to the e-mail for the digital items.)