May 2016 Dear 8th Grade Students, Summer break is a wonderful opportunity to step away from technology and relax with a few great books. In addition to being an enjoyable experience, reading is the best exercise for your brain-­‐and the best way to prepare for 9th grade English. Therefore, to ensure regular summer reading and to encourage meaningful interactions with texts, all freshmen will complete a minimum of ten reading activities using at least two self-­‐selected books. Carefully read the back of this letter as it outlines the specific expectations and activity options. I encourage you to visit the “summer reading” folder on the Kirtland High School website to view sample activities as model for quality responses. Please note these reading activities are designed to support personal thought, individual connections, and original responses. Your activities will be collected and used as a springboard for discussion during the first week of school. Feel free to browse the Kirtland library, view online resources, and seek suggestions from your family and friends in order to select titles that appeal to you. Have fun and use this opportunity to explore a new series, author or genre. I hope you have a wonderful summer, and I look forward to meeting you in August! Sincerely, Ms. O’Donnell [email protected] 2016-­‐17 Summer Reading for Incoming Freshmen General Expectations & Requirements Reading: Please read your independent text for a minimum of 20 minutes each day. Students are expected to read at least two grade level appropriate texts over the course of the summer. Activities: Select activities from the options below to complete each week. A total of ten activities should be completed after reading your two books. You may not complete the same activity more than two times. Be prepared to share as the completed activities will function as a springboard for literature discussions during the first week of school. Required Format: Activities can be handwritten or typed. Each activity should include a heading with: your full name, date, activity title, book title, and author. Sloppy and/or rushed responses will not be accepted. Activity Options Please complete at least one activity from this section. Symbols: Draw/sketch at least 3 pictures or symbols that represent an aspect of the text you read this week. Strive to use symbols that represent ideas or themes. Then, in a well-­‐written paragraph (6 sentence minimum), describe how your drawings or symbols relate to the text. Line Lighter: Select a striking or significant line(s) from the text. Write the line(s), and in a well-­‐written paragraph (6 sentence minimum), explain why you feel the words are noteworthy. The lines from the text do not count toward the minimum 6 sentence requirement. Please complete at least three different activities from this section. Character Diary/Journal Create a diary entry from the perspective of a character in your book. The diary entry should reveal the major events in the character’s life, as well as the character's feelings, hopes, dreams, problems, concerns and/or frustrations. This is an opportunity to infer your character’s thoughts and/or predict future events. (15 sentence minimum) Research You may encounter elements from the text that spark your curiosity. Complete research on this particular thing, topic or event. For example, while reading Divergent, I researched Chicago’s Navy Pier as it was mentioned in the text. After conducting research, summarize the information you gathered. (15 sentence minimum) Summarize & Synthesize: This activity requires you to write a total of two paragraphs: In the first paragraph, use 7-­‐10 sentences to summarize the section you read. Afterwards, in the second paragraph, reduce your previous summary to only 3 sentences. For the 3-­‐sentence paragraph, you may have to eliminate details, combine sentences, etc. Advice Column: Create a question in which a character from your book is seeking advice. Please be sure to include pertinent background information and details from the text to frame the question and orient the “columnist”. Then, provide the character detailed advice. (15 sentence total minimum) Please complete at least one activity from this section. Connections: Close readers make connections with the text. Three types of connections are: text-­‐to-­‐text, text-­‐to-­‐world and text-­‐to-­‐self. After reading, determine ways your book relates to other texts you have read, to world/local events and/or to your personal life. Describe these connections (12 sentence minimum) TV Talk Show-­‐ Suppose a major character(s) from your novel is a guest on a TV or radio show, and you are the host. Write a transcript of the show. Your transcript should introduce the character(s) and note probing questions that reveal the character’s beliefs, motivations (reasons for doing certain actions), conflicts, future goals, etc. ( 12 sentence minimum written as a script) *Remember, please complete a total of ten activities over the course of the summer, and you may not complete the same activity more than two times. (Model Activities)
Your Full Name
Character Diary
June 12, 2016
Divergent- Veronica Roth
Character Diary/Journal
Today was rough, and it is taking every bit of strength I have not to breakdown. How am I supposed to be genuinely dauntless when I can’t even get past the initiation process? Why did I select this faction? What do I have to prove? I wonder if the factionless feel this empty and regretful inside. There is no turning back. I must think of a way to get through this nightmare. Although I feel hatred as I watch Peter provoke the other initiates, I can’t help but envy his tenacity. He will definitely make it through this ordeal if he continues to play dirty. And where will I end up? Among the neglected and disrespected? Perhaps I need to change my strategy. Besides, it’s not like I impress anyone. Even though I manage to keep it together during the training, I’m sure Tris hears me crying every night. She must think I’m a coward. I’m sure she is embarrassed to be seen with me. I would be. Your Full Name
Advice Column
June 23, 2016
Divergent- Veronica Roth
Advice Column
Dear _______________, I think I’ve made a huge mistake. I chose the Dauntless faction because I thought I had what it takes to be strong and brave. Now, I’m miserable and can’t envision a future with this ruthless group. Although the other initiates are physically and mentally exhausted, they seem to be genuinely happy about their decision. We both know it is too late to make a different choice, and the alternative, a factionless life, would be just as difficult. What should I do? Sincerely, Al Dear Al, Because of the nature of the Dauntless, what you are feeling is normal. I can assure you that your peers share the same hesitations. If you give up now, you will never truly realize your capabilities. If you decide to leave the faction at this point, you risk a life of regret and despair. Remember, the training process is temporary. Everything changes after that. If you don’t make it through the training process, take solace in the fact that you persevered. With or without a faction, you will have no regrets. In turn, you will be able to move on and make the best of your life-­‐Dauntless or not. Sincerely, ____________________________