R.I.P. (Reading Is Power) Reports
Reading is a fundamental tool that can help students succeed in every academic course. To help
students develop a lifelong reading habit, the English department uses a reading program entitled
R.I.P. (Reading Is Power). Every student in 7th-11th grade English courses must read and report
on one book of choice per quarter.
Steps to follow:
1. Select a book that interests you and is at your reading level.
2. Get approval for the book from the teacher.
3. Begin reading your book.
4. Keep a Main Events chart while reading (see sample on the back). This should be a
hand-written, numbered list of at least 15 main points, more for a longer book, and
written with one complete sentence per number.
5. When you have finished your book and your Main Events chart, sign up for a one-on-one
discussion of the book with your teacher or you may wait until the required RIP week for
your class.
6. Bring your Main Events chart and the book to the discussion.
Grading explanation:
1. Each R.I.P. report is worth 100 points and will be graded according to how well you
have followed the above guidelines, how well you answer questions about the book, and
how well you communicate during the discussion with your teacher (i.e. eye contact,
good posture, proper English).
2. You must read the entire book and complete a Main Events chart in order to earn credit
for this assignment.
3. We keep a record of all books you read from 7th-11th grade. It is your responsibility to
make sure that you have not used a book for a past report. If you cannot remember what
books you have already given reports on, ask your teacher to show you the record of your
past reports.
4. If you duplicate a book report from a past year, you will not receive credit for the
current report and will not be allowed to redo the report.
Sample Main Events Chart
John Smith (student name)
The Hunger Games (title of the book) by Suzanne Collins (name of the author)
1. Katniss Everdeen lives in District Twelve and works hard to hunt food for her family.
2. Her younger sister, Prim, was chosen at the reaping to compete in the Hunger Games, but
Katniss volunteered to take Prim’s place.
3. Peeta Mellark is also chosen. They both say goodbye to their families and friends, meet their
mentor, Haymitch, and get prepped by their stylists.
4. They go to the Training Center to train and get ready for the Hunger Games arena.
5. In Peeta’s interview before the games, he confesses that he is in love with Katniss.
6. The games begin and 11 tributes out of 24 are killed right away, but not Katniss and Peeta.
7. Katniss camps out in a tree and hears Peeta with the Careers. She is dehydrated, but then a
fire comes.
8. Katniss releases tracker jackers onto the Careers and Peeta with Rue’s help. Katniss also gets
stung, but Peeta saves her unexpectedly.
9. Katniss forms an alliance with Rue, which is a good move. There are ten tributes left.
10. Katniss and Rue make a plan to capture the Careers’ food, but they get home and Katniss
loses her hearing in her left ear from explosions.
11. Another tribute kills Rue, and then Katniss kills the boy. There are six tributes left.
12. The Head Gamemaker announces that two tributes from the same district can win together.
13. Katniss finds Peeta wounded but helps him clean up and feeds him.
14. It is announced that there is a backpack for each tribute containing something that they
desperately need. Katniss sets off hoping for medicine for Peeta’s leg.
15. Clove almost kills Katniss, but Thresh saves her because Katniss helped Rue. Thresh kills
Clove.
16. Katniss makes it back to Peeta. They get food from sponsors and are beyond excited.
17. Katniss and Peeta are in love with each other. They are staying in their cave with only four
tributes left in the games.
18. Foxface steals their food, which includes poisonous berries that kill her.
19. Katniss kills Cato, and they announce that only one tribute can win.
20. They both put the berries in their mouths, and the Head Gamemaker announces that they both
have won.
21. Peeta and Katniss are loaded onto a hovercraft, fixed up, and get to go home after an
interview.
Hint:
It is best to write your main events chart while you are reading the book. That way when you
finish reading the book, you will also be done with your main events chart.