Materials needed: (a) personal paperback OR e-reader copy of your novel (b) an inexpensive three pronged folder (used to organize your summer reading analysis, activities, book talk, and news article (c) highlighter 7th Grade summer reading options (please select one) Something Upstairs by Avi (lexile 580) mystery Tangerine by Edward Bloor (lexile 680) realistic fiction The Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang (lexile 780) historical fiction The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis (lexile 1000) historical fiction Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman (lexile 1170) historical fiction Definitions Mysteries are a sub-genre of fiction. They usually contain characters who attempt to collect clues in order to solve a mystery. Authors use specially crafted vocabulary and settings to create a suspenseful mood. On many occasions they use foreshadowing to enhance the plot. Historical Fiction is comprised of narratives that take place in the past and are characterized chiefly by an imaginative reconstruction of historical events and people. While the historical events may have occurred, the plot and characters may be fictionalized. Realistic Fiction is imaginative writing that accurately reflects life as it could be lived today. Everything in a realistic fiction story could conceivably happen to real people and in real settings. Criterion 1. We highly recommend that you purchase a paperback or e-reader copy, as you will be required to highlight passages and make notations in your text. 2. You must read your book in its entirety and complete the fourteen (14) summer reading activities by the first day of school. You will submit the activity packet/folder to your language arts teacher on the FIRST DAY of school. (-10 points/day the packet is late UP TO 2 days maximum). a. Students new to Indian Land schools will have until Friday, August 29, 2014, to submit work. 3. You are required to bring your book (either paperback or e-reader version) to your language arts class on the FIRST DAY of school and continue bringing the text with you each day until the we reach the conclusion of this literary unit. 4. You will compose and submit your first writing sample on the SECOND DAY of school. The prompt will include a comparative analysis of the article (activity #12) and themes from your novel. 5. During the first two weeks of school, you will be participating in and graded on a sundry of Common Core activities including - but not limited to - literature circles, annotations, literary analysis/writing, citing evidence, Readers Theater, simulations, Socratic questioning, etc. 6. In order for you to successfully pass these assessments, you will need to have comprehension of the characters, plot, setting, and conflicts associated with your summer reading text. *Students who do not have their selected novel completely read by the first day of school will have difficulty participating in the activities and passing the oral, written, and group assessments. **NO extra credit will be accepted. We are only requiring that you read one text in depth.**
Summer Reading Activity Guide Please submit the FIRST day of school. Student s Name Grade Book Title Author Directions: Write or type (size 12, Times New Roman font) your responses to EACH of these questions/statements. Please number and answer them in the order they are presented in the activity guide (fourteen activities). Please ensure that you answer all parts in complete sentences and paragraphs. We highly recommend that you highlight passages/make notations in the margins of your book. I. Literary Analysis & Activity Guide 1. Does the book perfectly represent its literary genre? Why or why not? a. The genre and definitions are listed on the first page of this document. 2. How is the book structured? Is it told in flashbacks? Is it futuristic? Is it told from multiple points-of-view or from first person point-of-view? Why do you think the author chose to write the book this way? 3. When/where (setting) did the story take place? Is the setting appropriate or nonessential to the plot, conflicts, and characters? Please explain your reasoning. 4. Is the author s diction (word choice) appropriate in terms of its genre and setting? Support your answer by citing one (1) example of how the author s diction represents either the genre or setting (include page and paragraph numbers). We suggest that you highlight the passages in your book. 5. Who is the protagonist (main character)? Please write a three to five sentence paragraph describing the protagonist. 6. In reference to your protagonist, cite two examples of indirect characterization (include page and paragraph numbers) AND cite two examples of direct characterization (include page and paragraph numbers). We suggest that you highlight those passages in your book. a. Indirect Characterizations (the author SHOWS things that reveal the personality of the character through speech, thoughts, actions, looks, and interactions with other characters) b. Direct Characterizations (the narrator TELLS /STATES what the personality of a character is DIRECTLY) 7. What is the primary theme of the text? Cite two passages from the text that best support the book s theme (include page and paragraph numbers). We suggest that you highlight those passages in your copy. 8. Cite ONE example (include page and paragraph numbers) of TWO DIFFERENT TYPES of figurative language (simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia). We suggest that you highlight those passages in your book. How does the figurative language impact the mood? 9. Write a complete summary of the book (two to three well-written paragraphs). Be sure to include all parts of the plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).
10. In a well-written paragraph, discuss the most significant conflict in the book. What specific type of conflict does it represent (man vs. man; man vs. nature; man vs. self; man vs. society; man vs. technology/science; or man vs. the supernatural)? How was the conflict resolved? What unanswered questions, if any, did the author leave? 11. In a well-developed paragraph, explain the significance of the book s title. Please justify why you think the author selected this particular title by citing two pieces of evidence from the text (include page and paragraph numbers). 12. If you could rename the book, what title would you give the book and WHY? 13. Using either a RELIABLE online or print news source, identify an article that reflects the themes of your selected text. Place the article in your folder and bring it with you to your first language arts class session. We will use the article in our first comparative writing assessment. 14. Write a book talk for your book. There are three key elements to a good book talk: the hook, the content, and the cliffhanger. The book talk should last between 1 and 2 minutes and should completely convince your audience to read your book! A. The Hook: Present something that will grab the listeners attention: Link the book to a particular movie. Read a gory / scary / funny section of the book. Use props, costumes, or sound effects. Get the audience to participate repeat / discuss key phrases, title, etc. Relate the events or feelings in the book to current events or feelings in the listeners lives. B. The Content: Tell about the characters, plot, setting or theme in an interesting way: Provide facts / details from the novel, then move on to something shocking or surprising. Know a secret? Talk about it, but don t reveal it. Copy dialogue to read or share as reader s theatre. Tie the plot or setting into a historical event or time period. Get into character: dress, act and/or speak like the main character. Show a great picture (especially for non-fiction). Tell something interesting about the author. C. The Cliffhanger: End it with your listeners wanting more: End your book talk leaving the audience wondering how the novel ends. Leave them wanting more so that they will want to read the book to find out what happens next. *Don t forget to participate in the Del Webb summer FIZZ, BOOM, READ programs.
Materials needed: (a) personal paperback OR e-reader copy of your novel (b) an inexpensive three pronged folder (used to organize your summer reading analysis, activities, book talk, and news article (c) highlighter 8th Grade summer reading options (please select one) Monster by Walter Dean Myers (lexile 670) - realistic fiction Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred Taylor (lexile 850) - historical fiction Delirium by Lauren Oliver (lexile 920) science fiction The Pigman by Paul Zindel (lexile 950) - realistic fiction The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (lexile 1039) - informational text Definitions Realistic Fiction is imaginative writing that accurately reflects life as it could be lived today. Everything in a realistic fiction story could conceivably happen to real people and in real settings. Historical Fiction is comprised of narratives that take place in the past and are characterized chiefly by an imaginative reconstruction of historical events and people. While the historical events may have occurred, the plot and characters may be fictionalized. Science Fiction speculates on a world that, given what we know of science, might one day be possible. It stresses the scientific laws and technological inventions, scientific plausibility, and future history. The world presented in science fiction may one day exist. Science fiction involves the interactions between humans and scientific laws. An Informational Text is a sub-genre of nonfiction. The primary purpose of an informational text is to convey ACCURATE information about the natural and social world. Informational texts often house descriptions and attributes of specific events or issues, specialized vocabulary, realistic illustrations/photographs, and navigational aids such as indexes, diagrams, and charts. Criterion 1. We highly recommend that you purchase a paperback or e-chalk copy, as you will be required to highlight passages and make notations in your text. 2. You must read your book in its entirety and complete the fourteen (14) summer reading activities by the first day of school. You will submit the activity packet/folder to your language arts teacher on the FIRST DAY of school. (-10 points/day the packet is late; UP TO 2 days) a. Students new to Indian Land will have until Friday, August 29, 2014, to complete the assignments. 3. You are required to bring your copy (either paperback or e-reader version) to your language arts class on the FIRST DAY of school and continue bringing the text with you each day until the we reach the conclusion of this literary unit. 4. You will compose and submit your first writing sample on the SECOND DAY of school. The prompt will include a comparative analysis of the article (activity #12) and themes from your novel. 5. During the first two weeks of school, you will be participating in and graded on a sundry of Common Core activities including - but not limited to - literature circles, annotations, literary analysis/writing, citing evidence, Readers Theater, simulations, Socratic questioning, etc. 6. In order for you to successfully pass these assessments, you will need to have comprehension of the characters, plot, setting, and conflicts associated with your summer reading text. *Students who do not have their selected novel completely read by the first day of school will have difficulty participating in the activities and passing the oral, written, and group assessments. **NO extra credit will be accepted. We are only requiring that you read one text in depth.**
Summer Reading Activity Guide Please submit the FIRST day of school. Student s Name Grade Book Title Author Directions: Write or type (size 12, Times New Roman font) your responses to EACH of these questions/statements. Please number and answer them in the order they are presented in the activity guide (fourteen activities). Please ensure that you answer all parts in complete sentences and paragraphs. We highly recommend that you highlight passages/make notations in the margins of your book. Literary Analysis & Activity Guide 1. Does the book perfectly represent its literary genre? Why or why not? a. The genre and definitions are listed on the first page of this document. 2. How is the book structured? Is it told in flashbacks? Is it futuristic? Is it told from multiple points-of-view or from first person point-of-view? Why do you think the author chose to write the book this way? 3. When/where (setting) did the story take place? Is the setting appropriate or nonessential to the plot, conflicts, and characters? Please explain your reasoning. 4. Is the author s diction (word choice) appropriate in terms of its genre and setting? Support your answer by citing one (1) example of how the author s diction represents either the genre or setting (include page and paragraph numbers). We suggest that you highlight the passages in your book. 5. Who is the protagonist (main character)? Please write a five to seven sentence paragraph describing the protagonist. 6. In reference to your protagonist, cite three examples of indirect characterization (include page and paragraph numbers) AND cite three examples of direct characterization (include page and paragraph numbers). We suggest that you highlight those passages in your book. a. Indirect Characterizations (the author SHOWS things that reveal the personality of the character through speech, thoughts, actions, looks, and interactions with other characters) b. Direct Characterizations (the narrator TELLS /STATES what the personality of a character is DIRECTLY) 7. What is the primary theme of the text? Cite three passages from the text that best support the book s theme (include page and paragraph numbers). We suggest that you highlight those passages in your copy. 8. Cite ONE example (include page and paragraph numbers) of TWO DIFFERENT types of figurative language (simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia) AND explain the relationship/impact each citation has on EITHER the plot, characters, setting, OR theme. We suggest that you highlight those passages in your book. 9. Write a complete summary of the book (two to three well-written paragraphs). Be sure to include all parts of the plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).
10. In a well-written paragraph, describe the most significant conflict in the book? What specific type of conflict does it represent (man vs. man; man vs. nature; man vs. self; man vs. society; man vs. technology/science; or man vs. the supernatural)? How was the conflict resolved? What loose ends, if any, did the author leave? 11. In a well-developed paragraph, explain the significance of the book s title. Please justify why you think the author selected this particular title by citing two pieces of evidence from the text (include page and paragraph numbers). 12. If you could rename the book, what title would you give the book and WHY? 13. Using either a RELIABLE online or print news source, identify an article that reflects the themes of your selected text. Place the article in your folder and bring it with you to your first language arts class session. We will use the article in our first comparative writing assessment. 14. Write a book talk for your book. There are three key elements to a good book talk: the hook, the content, and the cliffhanger. The book talk should last between 1 ½ and 2 ½ minutes and should completely convince others to read your book! B. The Hook: Present something that will grab the listeners attention: Link the book to a particular movie. Read a gory / scary / funny section of the book. Use props, costumes, or sound effects. Get the audience to participate repeat / discuss key phrases, title, etc. Relate the events or feelings in the book to current events or feelings in the listeners lives. B. The Content: Tell about the characters, plot, setting or theme in an interesting way: Provide facts / details from the novel, then move on to something shocking or surprising. Know a secret? Talk about it, but don t reveal it. Copy dialogue to read or share as reader s theatre. Tie the plot or setting into a historical event or time period. Get into character: dress, act and/or speak like the main character. Show a great picture (especially for non-fiction). Tell something interesting about the author. C. The Cliffhanger: End it with your listeners wanting more: End your book talk leaving the audience wondering how the novel ends. Leave them wanting more so that they will want to read the book to find out what happens next. *Don t forget to participate in the Del Webb summer FIZZ, BOOM, READ programs.