Cornerstone Christian School 16405 Clay Street, Bellevue, NE 68123 May 17, 2016 Dear Parents, At Cornerstone Christian School, we believe in preparing all of our students for college. With this principle in mind, we ask all of our students to engage in a summer reading assignment. We want our students to be reading and keeping their minds academically active during the summer. More than that, though, developing fluency and reading skills is essential to everything students will do in the future. To encourage continued learning during the summer months and to prepare students to begin the fall English program, Cornerstone has a required summer reading program for all students entering grades 9-12. While the summer months offer a much needed respite for our students and quality time with family, we believe that summer reading is necessary to keep students engaged with the learning process. Many of the literary works are challenging, and reading usually invites conversation, so I recommend reading the literature with your student to share in his/her learning experience. There are specific literary selections and reading assignments for each course, so carefully follow the instructions that are listed for the specific course. Assignments must be completed by Monday August 22, 2016. These assignments will be graded and be a part of the first semester grade. If you have any questions or concerns about these summer assignments please contact me at the following: adennis@ccsnebraska.org. Enjoy your summer reading! Sincerely, Alyssa Dennis High School English Summer Reading 2016_rs
Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming Freshmen Please read 1 book from each author below. Then complete a word processed book review as described in the following format. You will complete 2 reviews. Book Choice #1 Call of the Wild by Jack London White Fang by Jack London Book Choice #2 * The Pearl by John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck *These books deal with difficult subject matter. It may be helpful to read and discuss these situations together with your student. Summer Reading 2016_rs 1
For incoming Freshmen only Book Review Instructions Follow these instructions to write your book review. Reviews should be double spaced, and fully justified. Your Name Class Date Completed Original Title (not title of the book) The book that I read is. The author is. The book was published in (year). This is a story about. The type of story is. Paragraph 2 describes the setting. This should be no more than 5 sentences. Include a good topic sentences and then tell if it is city, country, small town, etc. Explain anything special about the setting that helps understand the story. Paragraph 3 should introduce the main character. Tell the name, age or school grade, special thinks about their appearance, their relationships, etc. Paragraph 4 should tell about the main character s personality. What kind of person is this? well organized, scatterbrained, careful, determined, etc. When you give a characteristic make sure to tell something in the book that shows (proves) you are right. What does the person like to do? Do they have some special goal in life? Paragraph 5 is about plot. Start with the main problem of the book. Tell about 3 other conflicts that occur along the way to solving the main problem. This paragraph is no more than 10 sentences long. Paragraph 6 tells the climax of the story and the denouement (resolution). You must tell the end of the book. How does the book end with an all finished feeling? Paragraph 7 tells if you did or did not like the book and why. In this paragraph you should state what type of reader may like this book. Summer Reading 2016_rs 2
Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors Sophomores Book #1 (everyone must read this selection) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Book #2 (pick one of the following) The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexander Dumas Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo Juniors Book #1 (everyone must read this selection) Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Book #2 (pick one of the following) Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston Night Elie Wiesel Book #3 (pick one of the following) A Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper Seniors Book #1 (everyone must read this selection) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Book #2 (pick one of the following) Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Gulliver s Travels by Jonathan Swift Book #3 (pick one of the following) 1984 by George Orwell Animal Farm by George Orwell Summer Reading 2016_rs 3
Book Projects for 10-12 grades *Projects may not be done more than one time, except for the literary analysis. Create a timeline that accurately places the main events and any historical events that coincide with the plot of the book. This should be done on size 11 by 17 paper or larger. Make sure that the events are placed as accurately and proportionally to the timeline as is possible from the description in the novel (i.e. if the events occur five years apart make sure that it looks so on the timeline but if the novel does not state specific times, fill it in to the best of your abilities.) Each event should be neatly placed, contain a description of the event and why it is important and use color. Also, pictures need to be added to illustrate the events of the timeline. Your timeline should have no fewer than 10 events. This project will be graded based upon the accuracy, detail, and visual appeal of the display, as well as the word-processed one page (approximately 750 words) summary. Grades will reflect the amount of effort and time given to creating your timeline. Design a mock photo album that captures the notable moments in the main character s life. Draw and color pictures to represent significant events on 3- by 5-inch index cards to resemble snapshots. Use a glue stick or double-stick tape and affix four cards to a 12-inchsquare piece of card stock sold at scrapbooking and craft stores. Write a caption beneath each picture that reveals its significance and the event's importance in the subject's life. Use a 12-inch-square piece of card stock to design a cover for the album that features a real photo of the subject. Create three holes along the left edge of the cover and each photo album page, ensuring that the holes on each page line up. Insert a metal brad through each hole to bind the report pages together, then spread the metal prongs open in back to secure them. Turn a recycled pizza box into a clever report that presents "slices" of the main character s life. Cut a poster board into a circle that will fit inside the pizza box and use scissors to cut the circle into even slices. Use a pen to write a significant fact about the subject on one side of each slice and illustrate the text by affixing a photo or creating a marker drawing on the other side. Decorate the box's lid with photos of the character that have been output on a home printer or color copy machine. Character Alphabet -Choose a character you liked form the novel and create sentences based on the alphabet scheme that demonstrate your knowledge of that character and the basic elements of the novel. (Plot, setting etc.)this must be typed. Words representing letter in sentence should be in ALL CAPS. Please skip a line between sentences. Please include your name first and last, the title and author of the book in the heading in the left top. Your title should be centered and read- (character s name) s Alphabet. What about X?! You may use the x in the middle of a word like expert or vixen etc. Yes, it must be included. Trifold Travel (setting) brochure - Include at least 6 major places of interest. You must include at least 5 sentences to explain why this is an important place in the book. Include at least 3 minor places of interest. You must write at least 2 sentences to explain why you Summer Reading 2016_rs 4
included these places. Include a summary. Back middle panel should contain a brief summary of plot including the following: main problem, at least 3 but no more than 5 complications in rising action, the climax and the denouement. Yes, I need to know the ending. Must include at least 9 pictures. Pictures should be consistent with setting (time period and place). Word processed, 10-12 point font for summary and descriptions- titles and headings may be larger. Must be printed in color. Spelling, punctuation, and creativity will factor in to overall grade. COMIC STYLE: Relate the highlights of the novel in comic book form. Besides using drawings, include significant quotes from the novel. Work objects of symbolic importance into your illustrations. Design an appropriate cover for the comic book. Make sure to include the following in the comic book: setting, main characters, conflict, key events, and resolution of the conflict. The comic book must be at least 3 pages in length. (3 separate cartoon pages GOIN' MOBILE: Create a mobile of the different components of the novel. Use note cards, cutout symbols or objects, etc. with a hanger and yarn. On each section of the mobile, write a paragraph to describe the component of the story. Include: setting, protagonist, antagonist, conflict, resolution, author's message, and opinion. The mobile should be colorful. SONG REMAKE: Take the words to a song that you know (Brady Bunch, Looney Tunes, etc.) and replace them with words to match your story. Include names of characters, main events, setting, etc. GAME: Create a board game that is based on the plot of your book. Include directions, title, question and answer cards, and needed supplies. Be colorful, creative, and make sure your game follows a sequence. TECHNOLOGY PRESENTATION: Create a presentation analyzing the characters in your book. Give descriptions for each character and show how they change throughout the book. Write a 2 page literary analysis. Don t remember what that is.look for help here http://www.roanestate.edu/owl/writinglitanalysis1.html Summer Reading 2016_rs 5