Synopsis
The summer reading assignments will be taken for a grade in the student’s English/Language Arts class
during the 3 of school. As a means of recognizing the student’s efforts, each assignment will be graded
and counted as a performance task grade for the first marking period of the 2016-2017 school year.
Requirements (both are required)
Keep a double entry journal as they read the novel of their choice
Students can choose their own book as long as it is grade level appropriate and content
appropriate.
All students need to complete a reader response project of their choice after reading the novel.
Double Entry Journal
As you read, keep a double entry journal
(DEJ) to help you analyze the text. A DEJ is
simply a piece of notebook paper folded
long ways to record your thoughts in two
different columns. In the first column, you
record the page number and the text you
were reading, and in the second column,
you record your thoughts about the passage.
You should record any thoughts that go
through your mind as you read. You should
have 10-15 entries while reading. For your
thoughts, you can use the guided sentences
provided on the chart. See the example
below from a student who completed a DEJ
while reading To Kill a Mockingbird.
Page Number
and Passage
(the quotes
you pick)
Your Thoughts
I wonder…This reminds
me of…I visualize…I’m
confused because…
(your analysis)
Page 35: You are
starting to act
more like a girl
everyday…
Jem tells his sister this
when she is a girl. I
wonder how this makes
her feel when she
disappoints him and
doesn’t act like the little
brother he may like to
have.
Page 20: The kids
are making fun of
a character by
acting a play with
him in it.
I visualize a group of kids
making fun of another
person without him
realizing he is the one
being made fun of.
Reader Response Project
Choose ONE of the following options.
Choice 1 Create a piece of artwork (painting, sculpture, or other medium) that represents your
understanding of the major themes, ideas, or messages in the novel. Include a typed 1-page reflection that
shows your thorough understanding of the entire novel and makes a clear connection between your artwork
and the novel.
Choice 2 Create a scrapbook (10 pages minimum) filled with objects and captions such as pictures,
postcards, etc. that relate to events, characters, plot details, messages, and themes in the book. This
scrapbook should include sufficient detail to demonstrate that you have read and understood the whole novel.
Choice 3 Twitter. Create at least 40 tweets from one character to another at pivotal external or internal
events. Be sure to caption each tweet with what part of the book this tweet would have taken place and what
was happening in the novel at that time.
Choice 4 Create a queue of 10 Netflix movies for the protagonist. Explain why the character wants to
view each movie. How are character’s thoughts, struggles and triumphs mirrored in the movie choices?
Choice 5 Create a soundtrack to go with your novel. Choose up 10 songs you feel represent specific times
throughout the novel. Write a description for each song that explains why you chose the song and what part of
the book it pertains to.
Choice 6 Write a narrative describing a dinner party in which the characters from the novel are in
attendance. Using inferences and implications developed from the text, be sure to discuss the setting, the
menu, the appearance and demeanor of the characters, their topics of discussion, etc. Use textual evidence to
back up the choices that you have made for your dinner party.
Choice 7 Write a response-to-literature essay analyzing how the writer uses at least two literary
devices and/or stylistic techniques to convey meaning or theme. Be sure the essay meets the following
requirements for writing an effective multi-paragraph response-to-literature essay.
 Presents effective introductory and concluding paragraphs.
 Analyzes literature and extends beyond a summary or literal analysis.
 Contains a controlling idea or thesis.
 Provides evidence from the text using embedded quotes.
 Includes relevant information and valid inferences.
 Uses a variety of rhetorical devices.
 Uses transitions between paragraphs.
 Uses a variety of sentence structures.
 Uses an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
RUBRIC
Suggested Reading List