Within this packet, you will find the instructions to the Reading Journal and a sample entry for guidance.

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Geraldine Preston
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1 Dear Students and Parents, Current 7 th grade/incoming 8 th grade Summer Reading Assignment As the year comes to a close, it is time to start preparing our seventh grade Language Arts students for eighth grade. Part of that transition is to ensure that students are aware of and complete the required assignments over the summer to be ready for the first day of school. Each incoming eighth grader will be required to read The Raft by S.A Bodeen and complete a Reader s Response Journal. The journals will be collected, and students will be tested on the novel within the first two weeks of school. Within this packet, you will find the instructions to the Reading Journal and a sample entry for guidance. If you have any questions, please feel free to the eighth grade Language Arts teachers. Ms. A Green: GreenA@lake.k12.fl.us Mr. Miller: MillerM1@lake.k12.fl.us Please complete and detach bottom portion Student Name: Date: I have reviewed and understand the summer reading requirements. I further understand the importance of completing this assignment prior to the start of the school year. Parent Signature Student Signature 1

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3 Requirements for the Reader s Response Journal You will complete a total of five (5) entries for the Reader s Response Journal. After reading approximately 50 pages, you should stop to record in your journal. If you are in the middle of the chapter after reading 50 pages, feel free to finish the chapter first. Your journal should have two columns, Cornell Notes style. Your journal must be legible. Handwriting is allowed, but typing is encouraged. Each entry will include a: A. Heading B. Summary C. Quote/Passage D. Reflections (2) A. Heading: Place the HEADING in the top left corner o Your Name o Title of the Book o Entry # o Date o Pages read for this entry B. Summary On the LEFT side: o Write the word Summary On the RIGHT side: o Write a summary of your reading in complete sentences. Include essential information of who, what, when, where, why and how of the action. C. Quote/Passage On the LEFT side: o Copy a meaningful quote/passage from the reading section and indicate its page number. o This passage should show something important to a theme, a character s development, plot advancement or personal connection. On the RIGHT side: o Write your response to the quote/passage s significance. Explain why this passage is important or meaningful and why it caught your attention. D. Reflections (2) Each journal entry should have two (2) reflections in that section. The reflection should begin with one of the reflection starters listed on page 4. Once you have used a reflection starter, it cannot be repeated in any of the other five journal entries. o On the LEFT side: Copy the reflection starter o On the RIGHT side: Complete the reflection starter. 3

4 Reflection Starters I do not understand I noticed that I wonder about I predict A question I have is I now understand I see, I hear, I feel, I think (Choose just one (1) to begin) The (story, event, character, phrase) makes me (feel, think) Draw a picture in your response (be sure to explain what your picture be sure to explain what your picture represents). Identify the author s viewpoint, his or her attitude toward the subject, what you think the purpose is behind the piece of writing. I (agree/disagree) with because This character reminds me of myself (or someone else) because If I were (name of character) at this point, I would. I would like to give the following advice to (name of character). If I could change anything in this story, I would change because The author is creating conflict between and by. The setting seems to be OI think the setting is important because I really (like/dislike) this (idea, person, attitude, or party of this book) because This scene reminds me of (my own life, a movie, a TV show, or another character in another novel) because Something I (noticed, appreciate, don t appreciate or wonder about) is because I now (realize or think) that. A phrase or line I like is because. Why does.. List all the things you know about a character at this point that you did not know before. 4

5 Jane Gator To Kill a Mockingbird Entry # 2 July 14, 2012 Pages Summary At school, Scout starts a fight with Cecil Jacobs because of what he says about her daddy. Atticus has to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of assaulting a white woman. It is a case he cannot hope to win, but he tells Scout that he has to defend Tom because it s the right thing to do. One day, a mad dog appears, wandering down the main street toward the Finches house. Atticus shoots the animal, hitting the dog with his first shot despite his considerable distance from the dog. Later, Miss Maudie tells Jem and Scout that, as a young man, Atticus was the best shot in the county One-shot Finch. Scout is eager to brag about this, but Jem tells her to keep it a secret, because if Atticus wanted them to know, he would have told them. Quote/Passage Mockingbirds don t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...but sing their hearts out for us. That s why it s a sin to kill a mockingbird. Page 90 This is where the book s title comes from. It also seems important to theme. Tom Robinson is like a mockingbird- innocent and yet is on trial for something he didn t do. That s why Atticus has to defend him- it would be a sin not to. Reflections 1. I think the setting is important I wonder about because it shows the way people acted in South during the 30 s. 2. Why Atticus calls Mrs. Dubose brave? Is it brave to overcome an addiction? Maybe since everybody makes mistakes, the important thing is how we react after we mess up. 5

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