MYSTIC VALLEY REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL
2015 Summer Reading Program – Grade Eight
Dear Parents:
While summer vacation is a time of reflection and rejuvenation, in keeping with Mystic Valley’s
philosophy of rigorous academic training and in anticipation of the upcoming academic year, the English
Department encourages students to read over the summer. The school has chosen texts that are both
challenging and accessible, and that will stimulate classroom discussions in the fall.
Students entering the eighth grade are required to read two texts.
Grade
Book 1
Book 2
8
The Red Badge of Courage
The Scarlet Letter
Assessment I: Reading Response Notebook (10% of the first quarter English grade)
Complete the following for each book:

A series of four typed entries, to be completed as you read.
o Each entry must be dated.
o Each entry must be a minimum of 150 words, double spaced, 12-point font.
o Teachers will collect the notebook on the first day of the 2014-2015 academic year and
use the attached rubric to assess student work.
o Within each notebook entry, students should reflect upon a specific, meaningful aspect of
the reading.
o Each entry must be double spaced, typed in 12-point font, and a minimum of 150 words.
o Teachers will collect the notebook on the first day of the 2014-2015 academic year and
use the attached rubric to assess student work.

Entry 1 - After reading to page 50, write about the major characters in the novel,
the plot, and what you predict will happen.

Entry 2 - After reading half of the book, choose a character who has gone
through a difficult experience. Pretend that you are that character and, in your
own words, describe what has happened. Be sure to tell who you are, what
happened, when it happened, where you were, and why it happened. Add
sensory details (sights, sounds, smells, touch, or taste) to make your writing come
to life. Let the reader experience the scene you are describing.

Entry 3 - Choose your favorite quotation from the book and write two sentences
explaining what the quotation means. Then write a personal response to the
quotation. Say what you think: why the quotation is important to the story,
whether you agree or disagree with it, or what you would do if you were in the
character’s place. Your personal response should be at least 150 words.

Entry 4 - Write about your feelings at the end of the book. Have they changed
about the characters or plot? Were your predictions from Entry 1 correct? What
details might you have changed or added to make the book more enjoyable?
Please note that this should be your own work. The English Department will handle all instances of
plagiarism in accordance with Mystic Valley’s academic honesty policy. When in doubt, students should
quote and cite all sources using the MLA format. If a student fails to cite information acquired from an
external source (e.g. SparkNotes), the student must rewrite the assignment for up to 50% of its total value.
Assessment II : Summer Reading Test (10 % of the first quarter English grade)

Students will be tested on the first Friday of the 2014-2015 academic year.
Should you have any questions about these reading requirements, please contact Mr. Jonathan Hartt at
[email protected]. Thank you on behalf of the English Department and the Leadership Team.
Criteria
Completion of
Required Entries
(The Red Badge
of Courage)
Knowledge of the
Text
(The Red Badge
of Courage)
Completion of
Required Entries
(The Scarlet
Letter)
Knowledge of the
Text
(The Scarlet
Letter)
Spelling,
Capitalization,
and Grammar
Total Project
Follows
Directions
Format
Typed
4
All four
entries are
complete with
150 words
each.
Perceptive
understanding of
the text.
All four
entries are
complete with
150 words
each.
Perceptive
Understanding of
the text.
Excellent
CUPS (0- 2
errors)
3
Three entries
are complete
with 150
words each .
Value
2
Two entries
are complete
with 150
words each.
Earned
1
One entry is
complete
with 150
words.
0
No entries are
complete with
150 words.
Adequate
understanding of the
text.
Two entries
are complete.
with 150
words each.
Some understanding of
the text.
Little understanding of the
text.
One entry is
complete
with 150
words.
No entries are
complete with
150 words.
Some understanding of
the text.
Little understanding of the
text.
Good CUPS
(3-5 errors)
Adequate
understanding of the
text.
Fair CUPS
(6-8 errors)
Poor CUPS
9-11 errors)
Frequent
CUPS errors
(more than 11)
Shows ability
to follow all
directions.
Shows ability
to follow
most
directions.
Shows ability
to follow
some
directions.
Shows ability
to follow few
directions.
The project is
put together in
an easy to
understand
format.
The entire
project is
typed.
Most items
are placed in
the required
format.
Some items
are placed in
the required
format.
Few items
are placed in
the required
format.
Most of the
project is
typed.
Some of the
project is
typed.
Few parts are
typed.
Does not
demonstrate
ability to
follow
directions.
More than
three items are
misplaced and
are hard to
find.
No parts are
typed.
32=100
27=84
22=69
17=53
31=97
26=81
21=66
16=50
30=94
25=78
20=63
15=47
29=91
24=75
19=59
28=88
23=72
18=56
Good understanding of
the text.
Three entries
are complete
with 150
words each.
Good understanding of
the text.
Total =