8th Grade Advanced English - Summer Reading-Writing Assignment 2014-15
Tupelo Middle School
Welcome to your summer reading experience. Advanced will have a choice between the
following books: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki
Houston and James D. Houston, OR Anne Frank: The Diary of Anne Frank (with an
Introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt) by Anne Frank. The assignment below will require students
to close read and annotate the text, thus every student will need their own personal copy of the
book. Annotations may be done using underlining or highlighting certain passages in the book,
OR may be done using sticky notes. Use a composition book (no spiral) or type it and turn in a
printed copy on the second day of school. This assignment will count as two major grades.
Each dialectical journal entry will be graded on the following criteria: quality and
completeness of assignment; depth and thoughtfulness of reflective writing; organization and
neatness. As you read, highlight, underline, or mark important passages in your book.
BRING THIS BOOK TO CLASS.
Your assignment is to keep a dialectical journal for the required text. Take notes in the
format of a dialectical journal in a composition book (no spiral) as you read. Be prepared to
hand these notes in the second day of school.
What is a dialectical journal? One of the definitions of dialectic is “the art of
investigating or discussing the truth of opinions.” The objective of keeping a dialectical journal
is for you to comment on passages that you deem significant. Students will use a composition
book (no spiral notebooks please) or will type it and turn in a printed copy on the second day
of school. This assignment will count as two major grades. Each dialectical journal entry
will be graded on the following criteria: quality and completeness of assignment; depth and
thoughtfulness of reflective writing; organization and neatness. Follow all directions for the
dialectical journal as described below.
Dialectical Journal Procedures: (may be typed or handwritten in blue or black ink)
•
Divide your page in half by drawing a line down the center of each page using a
ruler.
•
Use the left side of each page for “note taking” and the right side of each page for
“note making.” Note taking includes quotations, interesting literary devices,
evidence of themes, character descriptions, recognition of a pattern or recurring
motif, and other literary-based observations. Include page numbers for each
passage (see example). The right side should be YOUR THOUGHTS about the
specific items identified as being important to your interpretation of the text.
•
The right hand column should include the following: In 2 or more sentences
write a brief explanation of what is going on in the passage on the left (who is
talking? To whom? About what? What details are important for this passage?) In
3 or more sentences write YOUR OWN opinion, thoughts, commentary, and
questions about the passage. In 4 or more sentences write an analysis of the
passage: Why is this passage important? What does the passage reveal about a
character, or an event, or a possible theme or idea that Hillenbrand is trying to
convey. Is it possible to make a prediction based off of your chosen passage?
(See example) It is crucial to process the information reflectively. The space on
the right side should show your thinking process and an awareness of your
personal approach to literary analysis.
•
Include AT LEAST ONE journal entry per chapter.