Honors English 9 Summer Reading DUE: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 DEADLINE: Tuesday, September 11, 2018

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1 Honors English 9 Summer Reading DUE: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 DEADLINE: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 The first semester of 9 th grade English focuses on writing as a craft. The first unit focuses specifically on narrative writing skills and analysis. Lessons in the class will model successful writing through excerpts from published texts. This summer reading assignment will help students to start paying attention to the craft of narrative writing as they read, and the quotes in the summer reading assignment will serve as a starting point for this analysis. Students entering Grade 9 in Fall 2018 are expected to have read at least ONE fiction book which IS: NOT one of the books studied in ninth grade listed below at least 150 pages appropriate for classroom discussion approved by a parent or guardian suitable to the student s individual reading level For this assignment, students MAY NOT read a title which will more than likely be studied in Grade 9. Therefore, the following titles may NOT be used for the summer reading assignment: The House on Mango Street Of Mice and Men The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian A Raisin in the Sun Romeo and Juliet Speak If you need additional assistance in choosing titles, please contact your local public librarian or Blake s English Resource Teacher, Media Specialist, Resource Teacher for Special Education, or ESOL teacher. The MCPS Summer Reading List page can be found at: Part 1 Directions: 1. In your novel, find: o A passage that describes setting o A passage that describes a character s physical description o A passage that has dialogue (two characters talking to each other) OR one character thinking to him/herself 2. Write the passage AND THE PAGE NUMBER on the left side of the worksheet. Passages should not be longer than about 5 sentences. 3. On the right side of the worksheet, write what each passage reveals about the novel s plot, character(s), conflict, and/or theme. If there is not enough space on the worksheet, feel free to write or type on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to the worksheet.

2 Rubric : Top Section (name, author, title, signature, and phone number) is filled out Passage accurately shows the setting description Physical Description: Passage accurately shows a character s physical description Dialogue/Inner Thoughts: Passage accurately shows either dialogue OR inner thoughts Analytical Writing Claim Supporting evidence Embedded quotes TOTAL: /5 points / 25 points Example From The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Page number: 4 But the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it at all. It s small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you d think they were holding their breath. Bricks are crumbling in place, and the front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in. The description of the house emphasizes how tiny and run-down it is. It is a sad, depressing place to live. The description also demonstrates the narrator s disappointment. Her parents told her this would be a nice place, but instead of her dream house she is living in a crumbling home. For more information or if you have any questions, contact: Mr. Michael Kelley, English Resource Teacher or michael_d_kelley@mcpsmd.org

3 Your Name Grade 9 Summer Reading Part 1 Author of book Full Title of Book Parent Signature & daytime phone number Physical Description: Dialogue/Inner Thoughts: (TURN OVER FOR PART 2) >

4 Grade 9 Summer Reading Part 2 Next, you re going to do some writing about your book to display how you analyze text critically, something we ll be doing a ton of in the fall. You have to pick ONE of the three options below, and try to fill the entire lined section (on next page) with your response, or attach a separate typed document. Option #1 - In your opinion, what is the most significant passage from your novel? Choose a section between 1-3 pages and explain why it is significant to the text as a whole. Why is this section so important to the text? What does it show/reveal/explain? What would the text be missing without this section? Option #2 - Identify and explain an argument being made by the author of your text. What is a point the author is trying to make? How do you know the author is making this point? Do you agree with the comment being made? Why or why not? Option #3 - Identify and respond to a theme from your novel. What is a message your author wants to get across to the readers of the text? How does the plot and/or the characters actions contribute to that message? To get an A on this writing, you will: Write a claim that answers the question being asked Support your claim by directly quoting the text at least twice and analyzing insightfully Embed quotations fluidly into your own sentences, including a citation

5 Student name PART 2 WRITING Option you chose: #1 or #2 or #3 (<-- circle the one you chose!)