May 25, Dear AHS Students and Family,

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1 Dear AHS Students and Family, May 25, 2016 Each year, Appoquinimink High School s Summer Reading Committee, which is populated by parents, students, and teachers, selects a summer reading book. While part of the goal of summer reading is to help stave off what researchers call the summer slide, which is a timeframe during the summer in which students suffer learning loss, our primary goal is to underscore the importance of reading and the benefits that come with it. This year, we are pleased that all students, grades 9-12, will choose between two novels: Saving Cinnamon by Christine Sullivan and The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen. Both books have been praised by readers from across the country and touch on important universal themes that are relatable to our students. Saving Cinnamon is a memoir about a military veteran s international search for a mixed-breed puppy who accompanied him during his service in Afghanistan. Described by Publishers Weekly as a story that draws the reader in, this tale of a soldier and a dog is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The Running Dream, a current best seller on Amazon.com, tells the story of a high school junior track star who suffers a crippling injury that she must overcome. Described as an upbeat book by Booklist, The Running Dream is a reminder of perseverance and to never judge people by their appearance. During your reading, we encourage you to take notes and jot down questions. This will better prepare you to complete one of the three reading assignments: a book jacket, a written 2-5 page proposal for the sequel of the book, or an alternative ending to the book. Details for each assignment are on our school website. You can purchase the book online at Amazon.com, a local bookstore, or a public library. The assignment is due in advisory class on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, and it is a graded assignment in the advisory class. The books will be discussed throughout the year in advisory class. Please contact Dr. Christiana Smith via or phone with questions. Christiana Smith, Ed.D Assistant Principal (302) Christiana.smith@appo.k12.de.us Regards, The Summer Reading Committee

2 Summer Reading Assignments: You need to complete one of the assignments below and turn it in for a grade on August 31, 2016 in advisory. At the top of your paper please include your name, your grade, the book you read, and what assignment you selected. All assignments should be typed in Times New Roman font 12 and doubled spaced (except for book jacket). 1. Book Jacket Assignment: Create a new book jacket for one of the two books choices. The jacket should include the title, author name, publisher information, a picture that relates to a main idea/event within the book, a summary, an about the author, critical reviews, preview of a sequel that includes the first paragraph of the book and its title. The book jacket must include the following: Typed Title, Author, Publisher information, picture Summary of the book o Type a minimum of a one paragraph summary of the book you read. The paragraph should include a grabber, topic sentence, and supporting details. About the Author o Type an about the author paragraph. The paragraph should include a grabber, topic sentence, supporting details, and a minimum of two sources that are cited using APA format. Critical Reviews o Research a minimum of three critical reviews written for this book. Type a paragraph summarizing the opinion of these reviews. The paragraph should include a grabber, topic sentence, supporting details, and a minimum of three sources that are cited using APA format. Student created sequel paragraph and title o Think about how your book ended and decide how a sequel would begin. Type the first paragraph of that sequel. The paragraph should capture the thematic ideas and tone of the book you read. Be sure to let us know what the title of this sequel would be. 2. Sequel Proposal: Create a 2-5 page proposal for a sequel to the book you read. Requirements: Well written essay that includes: introduction, multiple body paragraphs, and conclusion ½ page summary of the book you read Mention the title and the author

3 Rationale for why a sequel should be written Textual support with citations for the above bullets. Typed 2-5 pages Proposal topics (Discuss at least three of the items below): The topics the book would cover The themes Characters and their development Symbols Target audience Purpose of the book Plot development Other ideas 3. Alternative Ending: Create a 2-5 typed page alternative ending to the book you read. Requirements: Well written essay that includes: introduction, multi body paragraphs, and conclusion Mention the title and the author. ½ page summary of the book you read and how the book ended. Rationale for why this alternative ending is more appropriate or better than original Typed 2-5 pages

4 Summer Reading Proposal Assignment Student Name: Grade: Advisory Teacher: CATEGORY Exceeds Standards Above Standards Meets Standards Below Standards Attention Grabber Proposal topics Transitions The introductory paragraph has a strong hook or attention grabber that is appropriate for the audience. This could be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or question addressed to the reader. The position statement provides a clear, strong statement of the author's position on the topic. At least three topics from the list are discussed. A variety of thoughtful transitions are used. They clearly show how ideas are connected The introductory paragraph has a hook or attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling or inappropriate for the audience. The position statement provides a clear statement of the author's position on the topic. At least two topics from the list are discussed. Transitions show how ideas are connected, but there is little variety The author has an interesting introductory paragraph but the connection to the topic is not clear. A position statement is present, but does not make the author's position clear and/or only one topic is written about. Some transitions work well, but some connections between ideas are fuzzy. The introductory paragraph is not interesting AND is not relevant to the topic. There is no position statement. The transitions between ideas are unclear OR nonexistent. Closing paragraph Grammar & Spelling The conclusion is strong and leaves the reader solidly understanding the writer's position. Effective restatement of the position statement begins the closing paragraph. Author makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the The conclusion is recognizable. The author's position is restated within the first two sentences of the closing paragraph. Author makes few errors (3-5) in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the The author's position is restated within the closing paragraph, but not near the beginning. Author makes several errors minor in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the There is no conclusion - the paper just ends. Author makes distracting errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the Summer Reading is a PASS/ FAIL. To pass the summer reading assignment, students must receive scores of meets standards or higher.

5 Summer Reading Alternative Ending Assignment Student Name: Grade: Advisory Teacher: CATEGORY Focus on Assigned Topic Introduction Exceeds Standard The entire story is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic. First paragraph has a "grabber or catchy beginning. Above Standards Most of the story is related to the assigned topic. The story wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic. First paragraph has a weak "grabber". Meets Standards Some of the story is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic. A catchy beginning was attempted but was confusing rather than catchy. Below Standards No attempt has been made to relate the story to the assigned topic. No attempt was made to catch the reader's attention in the first paragraph. Creativity The story contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his imagination. Solution/Resolution The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is logical. There are no loose ends. The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his imagination. The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is somewhat logical. The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story. The author has tried to use his imagination. The solution to the character's problem is a little hard to understand. There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination. No solution is attempted or it is impossible to understand. Grammar & Spelling Author makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the Author makes few errors (3-5) in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the Author makes several errors are minor in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the Author makes distracting errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the Summer Reading is a PASS/ FAIL. To pass the summer reading assignment, students must receive scores of meets standards or higher.

6 Summer Reading Book Jacket Assignment Student Name: Grade: Advisory Teacher: CATEGORY Front Cover Summary of book Critical Reviews Includes an illustration, title of the book, and author's name. Font and colors fit the emotional content of the book. The graphic illustrates some scene from the book. Summary is well-written and includes all aspects of the story. Paragraphs are well formed. It is clear the student read the book and understood it. Includes a summary of three reviews of the book. Includes an illustration, title of the book, and author's name. The graphic illustrates some scene from the book. Summary includes all aspects of the story, but at least one paragraph is not well formed. It is clear the student read the book. Includes a summary of two reviews of the book. Includes an illustration, title of the book, and author's name. Includes a description of some of the things that happened in the story. lt appears the student read most of the book, but might not understand it. Includes a summary of one review. Does not include illustration, title, AND/OR author's name. Summary is too vague. Does not appear the student read or understood the book. Review is missing. Sequel Neatness and Effort Sequel is one paragraph in length and includes thematic ideas and tone. The book jacket has no distracting errors, typed, and is easily read. It appears the student spent a lot of effort getting things just right. Sequel is one paragraph in length and includes only one of the requirements: thematic ideas and tone. The book jacket has almost no distracting errors, is typed, and is easily read. It appears the student worked hard on it. Sequel is not a full paragraph and/or is missing the requirements of thematic ideas and tone. The book jacket is fairly readable but the quality is not too good on some parts. It looks like the student ran out of time or did not take care of it. Sequel is missing. Very messy and hard to read. It looks like the student threw it together at the last minute without much care. Summer Reading is a PASS/ FAIL. To pass the summer reading assignment, students must receive scores of meets standards or higher.