This activity can be adapted to any lesson, to meet many objectives. A fictional letter asking for advice is written.
Students respond to the letter, giving a thoughtful response and well-reasoned advice.
The teacher prepares several letters ahead of time, as if written by the characters in the novel to be read. Teacher may or may not tell students the letters are from fictional characters, depending on the intended outcome. After distributing the letters to the students, they read them and then respond, as an advice columnist. Midway through reading, after students are well-acquainted with the characters, and know the main conflict of the plot, students choose one character to role play and write a letter seeking advice. Then the letters are distributed and advice given, finishing the lesson as in variation A. Warm ups to this activity would include keeping a character focused reading log, characterization study, and role playing practice.