Summer Reading Project This project is for all incoming freshmen who will be enrolled in English 1 Pre-AP for the 2014-2015 school year. Welcome to Westside High School! Your English teachers are eager to meet you and start working toward a meaningful, productive year. Summer is a great time to rest up, rejuvenate, and get ready for high school, and a big part of getting ready for success at Westside means completing a summer reading assignment. Our reading assignment for you is not optional. Here s what you need to do: 1. Read Ender s Game by Orson Scott Card 2. Complete the Reading Guide Dialectical Journal by Monday, September 8th 3. Choose one of the following four projects to complete by Monday, September 8 th Please keep in mind that you are expected to complete this two-part assignment for a grade. The project will not be accepted after the due date, and failure to turn in the project will result in a grade of 0 being given in the grade book. We will be discussing Ender s Game throughout the first six weeks of school, so doing this summer reading assignment is imperative to your success in the beginning of your high school career. Your local Half-Price books is a great place to find gently used books at an affordable price, and if you call ahead, a staff member is usually able to locate the book you need or let you know which location does have it in stock. Another great option for buying books is Amazon.com. Ender s Game is available on Amazon.com for under $10. We hope you choose to read beyond this wonderful selection and have a fabulous summer filled with good books!
Part of your summer reading experience includes keeping a dialectical journal. During the first six weeks of school, several of the objectives we ll cover include many elements of plot, characterization, and character analysis. In order for us to be prepared for those endeavors, it is your job to choose one quotation for each character listed in the chart below. The character in question can either speak the quotation, or the quotation can be in reference to that character. Provide a chapter and page number for each quotation you write down in your chart. Once you have written down a quotation for each character listed in the chart, answer the following question in the box across from where you wrote the quotation: Your response should be 2-3 sentences in length. For your reference, an example has been provided for you in the space below: Character: Stilson It was Stilson, of course. He wasn t bigger than most other kids, but he was bigger than Ender. And he had some others with him. He always did. Citation: Chapter 1, Page 6 Stilson acts as a bully toward Ender. The quotation I chose says, He had some others with him. This tells me that even though Stilson is a bully, he might not be as tough as he wants everyone to think because he isn t trying to fight Ender when it s just the two of them alone.
Feel free to complete the dialectical journal right onto the pages in this packet! If you prefer to write on lined notebook paper, that s fine as well. Character #1: Ender Wiggen Character #2: Valentine Wiggen
Character #3: Peter Wiggen Character #4: Colonel Graff Character #5: Alai
Character #6: Bean Character #7: Petra Arkanian Character #8: Dink Meeker
Character #9: Bonzo Madrid Character #10: Mazer Rackham You re all done with the dialectical journal! Your next step is to choose one of the projects on the following pages to complete by Monday 9/8/14.
1. LETTER/MOVIE POSTER ***Please note, if you choose to do this particular project, the actors and actresses you choose may not be a part of the actual movie version of either Ender s Game or The Fault in Our Stars. All words and artwork on the poster must be your original work and bear no resemblance to the actual movie posters used to promote the film versions of each of these books. *** Pretend the book is going to be made into a movie. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to persuade them to do this, and create a poster promoting the film. The Letter Introduce yourself. Tell the movie producer what your favorite part of the book was and why you enjoyed it. You should also explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc. would make an entertaining and interesting film. Suggest a filming location, actors and actresses to play the roles, and predict who will go see the movie and why. You may handwrite or type the letter. Either way, it should be at least one page long. Separate your ideas using paragraphs, and make sure you pay attention to conventional standards of spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The Poster You have the freedom to be creative with you poster, but make sure it has the following key features: Title of the book/movie A picture of the author of the book and a short description of them Pictures of actors/actresses who will be in the movie (at least 2, but you can have more) At least one short movie review (2-3 sentences) Release date Your name 2. Main Character Model/ Interview Make a 3-D model of the main character in your book. Then, write an interview with that character. The Model Create a 3-D model of the main character that accurately depicts the character s physical traits. You may use any materials you like. The Interview Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his or her thoughts and feelings about their role in the story. The questions you ask you elicit more than a one-word answer, and each one should reveal something about the character s mindset, emotions, point of view, thoughts, feelings, etc.
3. SCRAPBOOK WITH JOURNAL ENTRIES Make a scrapbook with items and pictures that are important to the life of the main character and to the story. Within your scrapbook, you will also include at least five journal entries written from the point of view of the main character in the story. The Scrapbook Your scrapbook may be filled with pictures, small items, artifacts, collectibles, or anything else that best represent your character s motivations, feelings, perspective, and thoughts throughout the story. The Journal Entries Within your scrapbook, you must have at least five journal entries that the main character might have written before, during, or after the book s events. Remember, the main character s personal thoughts and feelings are important in a journal. Use your creativity to come up with ways to express how your character felt during the events of the story. Journal entries should be at least half a page long. ***The scrapbook and the journal can be in one book together, or you may choose to make the scrapbook and the journal two separate items. Either way is fine! *** 4. CHARACTER ANALYSIS ESSAY Prompt: Explain how the main character of this novel does or does not fit in with other people and how that affects their life choices, interactions with others, and/or personal feelings. Length requirement is 3-4 pages. It must be typed, double-spaced, and in 12-point Times New Roman font. Make sure your name is at the top, along with the date and an original title for your paper. Cover page not necessary. Make sure you have an introductory paragraph where you briefly summarize the book and the personality of the main character. The entire paper should not be a summary, but it is important to establish the plot and introduce the character before you begin analyzing. In the following paragraphs, make sure you support your assertions with text evidence (quotations from the book) and supporting details and commentary. At the very least, you should have two quotations from the book to back up your ideas, although having more is perfectly okay! Remember to address both HOW this character does or does not fit in with others, and how this AFFECTS their life. It is advisable to write a rough draft on paper first, but the rough draft does not need to be turned in with the final paper. It s just a good idea to edit your writing for spelling, grammar, and punctuation before you type your final copy.