1
May 2016
Dear Parents:
Your student has requested the Seventh Grade Pre-AP course for the upcoming school year. The purpose of
this course is to offer promising students challenging work that will prepare them for Advanced Placement
courses.
In the Alvin Independent School District, Advanced Placement English courses are offered to eleventh and
twelfth grade students. Upon successful completion of coursework, students may take AP examinations
administered each year in May, and if successful, they will be awarded college English credit accepted by most
universities. The Pre-AP courses offered in grades 6-10 develop reading, writing, and thinking skills necessary
for success in AP courses. Reading selections for these courses represent concepts and/ or reading selections
frequently cited on Advanced Placement examinations. Because these courses include works that are numerous
and challenging, students are required to complete a summer reading assignment.
For the summer of 2016, your child must read one of the following Lone Star novels:
Altebrando, Tara. The Battle of Darcy Lane. Running Press Kids, 2014. ISBN: 9780762449484
Buckley, Michael. Undertow. Harcourt Brace and Company, 2015. ISBN: 9780544348257
Caine, Rachel. Ink and Bone. New American Library, 2015. ISBN: 9780451472397
Gonzalez, Christina Diaz. Moving Target. Scholastic Press, 2015. ISBN: 9780545773188
Graff, Lisa. Lost in the Sun. Philomel Books, 2015. ISBN: 978039916406
Please also see attached assignment to accompany book.
Note: If a student obtains an electronic copy of the book, it must be available for use IN CLASS
during the first few weeks of school.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Valdez
Executive Director of Secondary Education
Kristi Piper
Secondary ELA Curriculum Specialist
2
Please sign and return to your student’s current English teacher.
My child and I have received notice of the summer assignment for Seventh Grade Pre-AP and will comply. We
understand that the completion date for this assignment is August 29th, 2016, one week after the first day of
school.
In the fall of 2016, my child will attend:
Alvin Jr. High
Harby Jr. High
Manvel Jr. High
Fairview Jr. High
Nolan Ryan Jr. High
_______Rodeo Palms Jr. High
Parent Printed Name
Parent Signature
Student Printed Name
Student Signature
Date
Current English Teacher’s Name
Campus
*** NOTE: If you do not wish to have your child enrolled in Pre-AP or AP English Language Arts, please
contact the guidance counselor at your child’s school.
3
7th Grade English Language Arts Pre-AP
Summer 2016
Part 1
Choose a key character from one of the novel options. As you read, think about
your character’s actions, dialogue, and the way other characters view him or her.
Mark up the text with your thinking/observations.
1.
2.
3.
Based on your observations, choose three adjectives that describe your
character’s personality. These may NOT be physical descriptions.
For each adjective, you must provide a key quotation with page number to support
your thought.
Explain the significance of the quote in terms of what it reveals about your
character. How exactly does this show that the adjective fits your character?
Character Analysis Observation – Graphic Organizer
4
This first part of your work will be used in class to write analysis paragraphs.
 The more thorough you are in compiling this work, the easier each paragraph will be to
write.
 Make sure that you explain fully how each quote relates to the chosen adjective.
Part 2
Choose a poem that connects to the novel either through theme, character, setting,
conflict, or symbolism. Bring the poem to class and be prepared to discuss how and
why it is connected to the novel.
Possible sources for your poemwww.poets.org
www.middleschoolpoetry180.wordpress.com
www.poetry.com
www.poemhunter.com
www.poems.com
Due Date: August 29th, 2016