SUMMER PROJECT FOR REGULAR ENGLISH LANUGAGE ARTS
7TH GRADE
INSTRUCTORS-SUE WENDEL
[email protected]
KATRINA DONHAM
[email protected]
SUMMER PROJECT IS DUE ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 28 (THE 2ND DAY)
PROJECT WILL COUNT AS THE FIRST FOUR (4) FORMATIVE GRADES
Dear Incoming 7th Grade English Parents and Students:
This summer we are offering the summer reading project to all 7th grade ELA
students. This is optional, and you will be given an extra credit grade should you
choose to participate. Please understand that you must follow all of the
requirements for the summer reading project (attached), and it too will be due on
the second day of school. If you are interested in participating, choose and read a
book from the 2012 Lone Star Reading List then complete a one-pager over your
novel. You should carefully follow the directions for completing your one-pager.
Please email one of the seventh grade English teachers if you have any questions.
It is imperative that you allow yourself enough time to thoroughly read the novel as
well as put effort into your project. Please remember that we, too, are on vacation
and will not be checking email on a daily basis. We will respond to any questions as
soon as we are able. Keep in mind, this will be our first impression of you and your
ability, so do your best.
We look forward to meeting you in person on Monday, August 27.
Texas Lone Star “One-Pager”
1. Heading: Your name, the title of the book, and author on the back of the page.
2. Title of the novel and the author should appear prominently on the front of the
page.
3. Summary: Briefly (approximately 500 words) summarize in sequence what
you’ve read. This should convey the gist, main conflict, and highlights of the reading.
Avoid too many details! It should not be the blurb from the back of the novel nor a
“book report”; it needs to be a true summary.
4. Quotations: As you read, find and copy two to three quotes (this means wording
taken directly from the novel, not just what a character says), that struck you as
powerful, interesting, puzzling, important, thought-provoking, informative,
confusing, well-written, etc. Be sure to put these in quotation marks! In addition,
write one to two sentences per quote about why you chose that particular quote. Be
sure to include the page number where the quote is found.
5. Visual Image: What visual images were created in your mind as you read? This
image can be of something that is discussed specifically in the reading, something
that the reading reminded you of, or a picture that conveys any idea or feeling you
got from the reading. Any sort of drawing, painting, or graphic representation is
acceptable. In other words, you are not writing what you imagined, you are
showing me what you imagined!
6. Vocabulary: Identify and define ten (10) words or terms that were puzzling or
unfamiliar to you. Give the word, page number, and definition for these words. Be
sure the definition properly defines the word as it is used in your book. If you can’t
locate ten words that you find puzzling, then find a more difficult book.␣
7. Connections: What connections can you make between what you read today
and the world outside of the story? There may be a connection to happenings at
school, the community or the world, to similar events at other times or places, to
other people or problems that you are reminded of, or to other stories/books that
you have read. Write three insightful, descriptive connections between you and the
reading.
8. Presentation: The one-pager is just that: written only on one page! Only your
heading will be on the back of the page. Use standard size 8.5” x 11” OR legal size
8.5 “ x 14” unlined white paper. This will allow you to be unrestricted by lines so
that you can write sideways, at an angle, upside down, vertically, horizontally, etc.
(Avoid circles, however.) Feel free to use colored pens / gel pens / type — the more
visually appealing, the better! BE NEAT! I must be able to read whatever you write.
If you type your content, please use 11 point font or larger! An example of a onepager is included. Please do not use pencil—ink or type only!
NOTE: Campus policies regarding late work apply. The assignment is due on
the second day of class.
Vocabulary dictum (p. 5) – noun; a law cogitated (p. 57) – verb; thought about petulant (p. 91) – adj.; pouting adduced (p. 214) – verb; guessed; reasoned out intrepidity (p. 133) –noun; adventurousness appurtenances (p. 198) – noun; stuff; tools Quotations “White Fang knew the law well: to oppress the weak and obey the strong.” (p. 98) This supports the idea of the survival of the strongest and partly shows why White Fang becomes so vicious. “And first, last, and most of all, he hated Beauty Smith” (p. 130) Beauty Smith treated White Fang brutally and used him for dog fighting. White Fang views Beauty Smith as the ultimate enemy. “Weedon Scott had set himself the task of redeeming White Fang – or rather, of redeeming mankind from the wrong it had done White Fang.” (p. 157) Weedon Scott rescues White Fang from the dog-­‐fights, and White Fang comes to know love. White Fang Jack London Connections Unfortunately, dog fighting is still going on and very few dogs are able to escape from their owners and be rehabilitated. Even famous people like Michael Vick get caught up in the violence. He says he is reformed and sorry for what he did and for letting down his fans. The ASPCA is very involved in animal rescue and being the voice for abused animals. Their ads on TV are very moving. Summary The main character in this story is a wolf-­‐dog named White Fang. He is born in the wilds of the Yukon during the time of the gold rush. Soon he is taken in by the Eskimo Gray Beaver who teaches White Fang that man is the “god” of dogs and that man was to be obeyed at all times. He is used for work and is never treated as a pet. Beauty Smith is a white man who tricks Gray Beaver into giving White Fang to him. Unhappily for White Fang, Smith’s sole use for him is to fight other dogs, for which White Fang becomes famous. But, he also learns to hate Smith and to distrust mankind in general. After nearly being killed during a fight, White Fang is rescued by Weedon Scott. Scott slowly gains White Fang’s trust and eventually even his love. Scott treats White Fang like a companion. When Scott decides to return to California, he finds he cannot leave White Fang behind but worries about how White Fang will adjust to civilization. White Fang surprises Scott by easily adapting to life in California and to being part of Scott’s family. White Fang even saves Scott’s father from a crazed criminal. White Fang spends the remainder of his life in California with Scott, Scott’s family, and a litter of puppies of his own. PRE-AP/GT SUMMER PROJECT FOR ENGLISH LANUGAGE ARTS
7TH GRADE
INSTRUCTORS-SUE WENDEL
[email protected]
KATRINA DONHAM
[email protected]
SUMMER PROJECT IS DUE ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 28 (THE 2ND DAY)
PROJECT WILL COUNT AS THE FIRST FOUR (4) FORMATIVE GRADES
2012 Lone Star Reading List
Author
Title
Erin Dionne
Notes from an Accidental Band Geek
Helen Frost
Stuart Gibbs
Belly Up
Adam Gidwitz
Ruby Red
Hidden
A Tale Dark and Grimm
Kerstin Gier
Will Hobbs
Take Me to the River
Andrew Lane
Death Cloud
Jonathan Maberry
Rot & Ruin
Joseph Monninger
Wish
A Monster Calls: A Novel
Patrick Ness
This Dark Endeavor
Gary Paulsen
Painting from the Cave: Three Novellas
Veronica Roth
Divergent
Chris Rylander
The Fourth Stall
Gary D. Schmidt
Okay for Now
Kenneth Oppel
Ruta Sepetys
Between Shades of Gray
The Emerald Atlas
John Stephens
Wendelin Van Draanen
The Running Dream
Kiersten White
Moira Young
Blood Red Road
Paranormalcy
Name ___________________________________
Period ________
GT / PAP ELA 7
Book Title________________________________
Heading on back (5 pts)
_______
Title of Novel/Author (10 pts)
__on front
__easily visible
_______
Summary (15 pts)
__key points included
__in sequence
__no unnecessary detail
_______
Quotations (15 pts)
_______
__2-3 quotes included
__page numbers included
__ proper use of quotation marks
__effective explanation
2012 Summer Reading
Project Rubric
Vocabulary (15 pts)
_______
__10 grade-appropriate words
__accurate definition
__page numbers included
Connections (15 pts)
_______
__three connections included
__insightful and meaningful
Presentation (10 pts) _______
__proper size paper
__typed or in ink
__easy to read
__aesthetically pleasing overall
Visual Image (15 pts)
_______
__appropriate for selection
__aesthetically pleasing
__neat
Conventions (2 pts each-30 pts max)
____capitalization
____usage
____punctuation
____spelling
____run-ons/fragments
____awkward phrasing
_______
FINAL GRADE: ________
Comments: