May 2016
2016-2017 8th grade Advanced Placement Preparation students and their parents:
Here is the required summer reading and vocabulary list for all students who will be entering 8 th grade AP Prep
English in the fall of 2016. This work is essential to your progress as an Advanced Placement student, and if the
work is not completed, your grade will be affected.
Required Reading:
1. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (make sure that you read an unabridged version)
2. The Ring of McAllister by Robert Marantz
3. Choose one of the following books (select one appropriate for your reading level that you have not read before):
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Reading Level: 6.5)
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Houston (Reading Level: 6.7)
The Human Comedy by William Saroyan (Reading Level: 5.8)
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry (Reading Level: 5.5)
Hiroshima by John Hersey (Reading Level: 8.4)
My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier (Reading Level: 4.9)
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene (Reading Level: 5.2)
For The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the novel that you choose for #3, you must complete one of the following:
1. Double-entry journals (see the attached guide for an explanation of this assignment).
2. An alternative project of your own design that reflects careful reading. If you choose this option, you
must obtain approval from Ms. Thalmann (Room A201) by the end of this school year by turning in
a written proposal describing the project that you would like to do.
No written work is required for The Ring of McAllister, but you should read it with particular attention to the
vocabulary words used. Read all three books carefully; you will take Accelerated Reader tests on each of these
books in order to assess your understanding of them in the fall.
Also, vocabulary flashcards must be completed for the attached list of 280 words. All vocabulary cards must be
handwritten. On each card, write the word on one side and the part of speech and definition on the other side.
Number the cards and keep them in order!
Do the work carefully. Do not wait until the last minute. We ask that you and your parent sign this letter and return
it to your 7th grade English teacher. PLEASE KEEP THE SECOND COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS. Do not
hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the summer work requirements.
Sincerely,
S. Thalmann
[email protected]
__________________________
Student Name (printed)
_________________________
Student Signature
__________________________
Parent Signature
_________________________
Parent Signature
May 2016
2016-2017 8th grade Advanced Placement Preparation students and their parents:
Here is the required summer reading and vocabulary list for all students who will be entering 8th grade AP Prep
English in the fall of 2016. This work is essential to your progress as an Advanced Placement student, and if the
work is not completed, your grade will be affected.
Required Reading:
1. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (make sure that you read an unabridged version)
2. The Ring of McAllister by Robert Marantz
3. Choose one of the following books (select one appropriate for your reading level that you have not read before):
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Reading Level: 6.5)
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Houston (Reading Level: 6.7)
The Human Comedy by William Saroyan (Reading Level: 5.8)
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry (Reading Level: 5.5)
Hiroshima by John Hersey (Reading Level: 8.4)
My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier (Reading Level: 4.9)
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene (Reading Level: 5.2)
For The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the novel that you choose for #3, you must complete one of the following:
1. Double-entry journals (see the attached guide for an explanation of this assignment).
2. An alternative project of your own design that reflects careful reading. If you choose this option, you
must obtain approval from Ms. Thalmann (Room A201) by the end of this school year by turning in
a written proposal describing the project that you would like to do.
No written work is required for The Ring of McAllister, but you should read it with particular attention to the
vocabulary words used. Read all three books carefully; you will take Accelerated Reader tests on each of these
books in order to assess your understanding of them in the fall.
Also, vocabulary flashcards must be completed for the attached list of 280 words. All vocabulary cards must be
handwritten. On each card, write the word on one side and the part of speech and definition on the other side.
Number the cards and keep them in order!
Do the work carefully. Do not wait until the last minute. We ask that you and your parent sign this letter and return
it to your 7th grade English teacher. PLEASE KEEP THE SECOND COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS. Do not
hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the summer work requirements.
Sincerely,
S. Thalmann
[email protected]
__________________________
Student Name (printed)
_________________________
Student Signature
__________________________
Parent Signature
_________________________
Parent Signature
How to Create a Double-Entry Journal
Guidelines:
1. The point of a double-entry journal is to respond to what you’re reading.
2. Divide a sheet of notebook paper into two columns, or you may type your double-entry
journals using a two column format if you wish to do so.
3. Label the first column “Quotations.” In this column, write quotations from the book that
you find to be interesting. Include the page number. (Quotations do not have to be
words spoken by characters! They can consist of any exact words from the book. The
quotations you select should be at least a sentence long.)
4. In the second column, you should respond to the quotation. Do not just summarize what
the quotation says. Your response should do one of the following:
● tell why the quotation is important or interesting
● make a connection between this quotation and your own life or between this
quotation and other sections of the book
● make a prediction about what’s going to happen
● ask a question about something you don’t understand or are wondering about
5. Choose quotations carefully! Make sure you have something to say about them.
Do the entries while you’re reading, not after you’re done with the book.
6. For Tom Sawyer (35 chapters), you should have one entry for approximately every two
chapters (18 entries).
7. For the novel that you are choosing, you must do a total of 15 entries. Please try to
space them evenly throughout the book; please do not do them only on the beginning or
only on the end.
WHAT TO DO:
Quotation and Page Number
“He had a citified air about him that ate
into Tom’s vitals. The more Tom stared
at the splendid marvel, the higher he
turned up his nose at the finery and the
shabbier and shabbier his own outfit
seemed to him to grow… Finally Tom
said: ‘I can lick you’” (6).
Response
This boy disturbs Tom because he makes
Tom feel sloppy. Tom deals with his
feelings of inferiority by picking a fight
because if he beats the boy up, he’ll feel
superior again. He needs to feel respected
by others in order to feel good about
himself.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Quotation and Page Number
“Within two minutes, or even less, he had
forgotten all his troubles” (6)
Response
Tom forgot all his problems in less than
two minutes.
VOCABULARY WORDS
280 words for 8th grade AP Prep
1.
ADMONISH
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
ADVERSARY
ADVOCATE
AFFABLE
AMELIORATE
ANECDOTE
(v)
warn; reprove
(n)
(v)
(adj.)
(v)
(n)
opponent; enemy
urge or plead for
friendly; agreeable
to improve; make better
a brief, humorous story
7. ASSUAGE
8. ASTUTE
9. ATROPHY
10. AUGMENT
11. AUSTERITY
12. AUTONOMY
(v)
(adj.)
(v)
(v)
(n)
(n)
to reduce pain
wise; shrewd; clever; ready witted
to waste away from lack of use
to add to; to increase
sternness; severity
self-rule; independence
13. AVARICE
(n)
greed; cupidity
14. BALLYHOO
15. BAMBOOZLE
16. BANAL
17. BASTION
18. BEDLAM
19. BELLICOSE
20. BENEVOLENT
21. BENIGN
22. BEQUEATH
23. BILLET-DOUX
24. BIZARRE
25. BLASPHEMY
26. BOISTEROUS
27. BOGUS
28. BOMBAST
29. BONA FIDE
30. BOUDOIR
31. BOYCOTT
32. BREVITY
33. BROUHAHA
34. BUFFOON
35. BUTTRESS
36. CAMOUFLAGE
(n)
noisy attention-getting demonstration/talk
(v)
to deceive by elaborate trickery; to hoodwink
(adj.) hackneyed; commonplace; trite; dull; ordinary
(n)
a stronghold; a fort
(n)
uproar; confusion
(adj.) warlike; quarrelsome
(adj.) generous; charitable; kindly; well-wishing
(adj.) kindly; favorable; good-natured; not malignant
(v)
to leave to someone in a will; hand down
(n)
a love letter
(adj.) out of the ordinary; freakish; eccentric; odd
(n)
cursing; irreverence, sacrilege
(adj) rough; stormy; loud; violent; lacking restraint
(adj) make-believe; fake
(n)
pretentious, inflated speech or writing
(adj.) made in good faith; genuine
(n)
a woman’s dressing room, bedroom
(v)
to protest by refusing to buy/deal with
(n)
conciseness; right to the point
(n)
hubbub; uproar; furor
(n)
a clown; comedian or laughable person
(v.)
to support or prop
(n)
concealment by appearing part of natural environment
37. CANDOR
38. CENSURE
(v)
(n)
frankness; honesty
severely criticize; blame
39. CHRONOLOGY
(n)
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
COERCION
(n)
COMMEMORATE
(v)
CONCISE
CONDONE
CONVICTION
45. COWER
the order or sequence of events
use of force to get someone’s compliance
to honor the memory of someone/something
(adj.) brief; compact
(v)
overlook; forgive
(n)
firm belief; state of being sure
(v)
to crouch or draw back; cringe
46. CRYPTIC
47. DELINEATE
48. DELUDED
49. DESPOT
50. DISDAIN
51. DISPERSE
(adj.) secret; mysterious
(v)
to portray
(adj)
deceived; cheated; misled; tricked; duped; hoodwinked
(v)
(n)
tyrant; cruel ruler
(v)
to treat with scorn or contempt
scatter
52. DRONE
(v)
53. DUBIOUS
(adj.) doubtful
54. DULCET
55. DUPLICITY
(adj.) sweet; melodious; soothing
(n)
double-dealing; conniving; lying
56. ECCENTRIC
57. ELABORATION
58. ELEGIAC
59. ELUSIVE
60. EMACIATED
(adj.)
(n)
(adj)
(adj.)
(adj.)
out; out-of-the-ordinary; quirky
addition of details; intricacy
61. EMBARGO
(n)
govt. prohibition on trade w/another nation
62. EMBELLISH
63. ENIGMA
(v)
(n)
to adorn
something puzzling, a riddle
64. ENTHUSIASTIC
65. EXACERBATE
66. EXEMPLARY
67. EXPLICIT
to talk on and on in a dull way
mournful, melancholic; plaintive; nostalgic; lamenting
evasive; baffling; hard-to-grasp
thin and wasted
(adj) showing great interest or excitement
(v)
to make worse; embitter
(adj.) serving as a model of excellence
(adj.) definite; open; specific
68. EXPONENT
69. EXPUNGE
(n)
(v)
one who speaks for, represents, advocates
to strike out, to erase, to remove
70. EXTOL
71. EXTRICATE
(v)
(v)
to praise; glorify
to free; disentangle
72. EXULT
73. FALLACIOUS
(v)
to rejoice greatly; be jubilant, triumphant
(adj.) misleading; false
74. FASTIDIOUS
75. FERVOR
(adj.) difficult to please; squeamish; finicky
(n)
glowing ardor; burning intensity of feeling
76. FLOURISH
77. FORMIDABLE
(v)
to thrive; grow or develop luxuriantly
(adj.) frightening; dreadful; awe-inspiring
78. FRIVOLITY
(n)
lack of seriousness
79. GALA
80. GARBLED
81. GARGOYLE
82. GAUNTLET
83. GERMINATE
84. GLOB ULE
85. GOOGOL
86. GOSSAMER
87. GRAVITY
88. GREGARIOUS
89. GUERILLA
90. GUILE
91. GURU
92. GYRATE
93. HACKNEYED
(n)
(adj.)
(n)
(n)
(v)
(n)
festival; celebration
mixed up (as in a message)
a rain spout in shape of grotesque figure
a thick, heavy glove (from a suit of armor)
to begin to grow, sprout
a tiny drop; a small ball
(n)
1 followed by 100 zeroes (10 to 100th power)
(adj.) light, tenuous, delicate
(n)
seriousness
(adj.) sociable
(n)
member of military force not part of army
(n)
deceit; duplicity; cunning
(n)
1 who is followed as leader, teacher, spiritual leader
(v)
to revolve around a point or axis
(adj.) commonplace; trite
94. HALCYON
95. HAPHAZARD
96. HARBINGER
97. HAUGHTINESS
98. HEDONISM
99. HERESY
100.
HERITAGE
101.
HIEROGLYPHIC
102. HIRSUTE
103. HOLOCAUST
104. HOLOGRAM
105. HOMOGENEOUS
106. HYPOCRITICAL
107. HYPOTHETICAL
108. IMMUNE
(adj.)
(adj.)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(adj.)
(n)
(n)
(adj.)
(adj.)
(adj.)
(adj)
calm, peaceful
random; by chance
forerunner; herald
pride; arrogance
belief that pleasure is the sole aim in life
opinion contrary to popular belief
something (tradition) passed down generations
Egyptian system of writing
very hairy
widespread destruction, especially by fire
3 dimensional photographic record
of the same kind
pretending to be virtuous; deceiving
based on assumptions
protected from disease naturally or by vaccine
109.
IMMUTABLE
110.
IMPERTINENT
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
117.
INAUGURATE
INCESSANT
INCIDENTAL
INCORRIGIBLE
INDOLENT
INEPT
INEVITABLE
118.
INFERENCE
(n)
act of deciding/concluding by reasoning evidence
119.
120.
121.
122.
INNATE
INNOCUOUS
IRRESOLUTE
IRREVERENCE
(adj.)
(adj.)
(adj.)
(n)
inborn
harmless; insignificant
uncertain how to act; weak
lack of proper respect
123.
124.
JAUNTY
JOVIAL
(adj) showing carefree self-confident air
(adj) jolly; full of fun and good cheer
125.
KINDLE
(v)
to start a fire; inspire
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
LABYRINTHINE
LACONIC
LAMBENT
LANGUID
LAUD
LEGACY
LETHARGIC
LEVITY
LIBATION
LICHEN
LIGHT-YEAR
LINEAGE
LOQUACIOUS
LISTLESS
LUDICROUS
LUCID
(adj.)
(adj.)
(adj.)
(adj.)
(v)
(n)
complicated; perplexing; mazelike
brief; to the point
softly bright; flickering
slow & listless
to praise
a gift made in a will
(adj.) drowsy; dull
lightness; humor
a beverage (sometimes religious offering)
organism w/fungus & algae together
116.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
(adj.) unchangeable; permanent
(adj) offensively bold; rude
(v)
to start; initiate; install into office
(adj.) uninterrupted; unending; non-stop
(adj.) not essential; minor
(adj.) uncorrectable; hard to deal with
(adj.) lazy
(adj) incompetent; inexpert; clumsy; ham-fisted; bungling
(adj.) unavoidable; bound to happen
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
distance light travels in one year (5.88 trillion miles)
(n)
descent in a direct line from an ancestor
(adj.) given to excessive talking
(adj.) without energy or enthusiasm
(adj.) laughable b/c of obvious absurdity
(adj.) easily understood
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
LUGU BRIOUS
LUMINARY
MAELSTROM
MAGNANIMOUS
MANACLE
MANEUVER
MARSUPIAL
MASTICATE
MAUSOLEUM
MELLIFLUOUS
METAMORPHOSIS
METICULOUS
MISERLY
MITIGATE
MONOLITH
MONOLOGUE
MOROSE
MOSAIC
MUNDANE
MUTATION
NADIR
NEBULA
NOCTURNAL
NODULE
NOTORIETY
NOVEL
NUISANCE
NULLIFY
NURTURE
(adj.)
(n)
(n)
(adj.)
(n)
exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful
one who is notable in a particular field
a powerful whirlpool; turmoil
especially generous
a handcuff; a restraint
(n)
planned movement/procedure involving skill/cunning
OMINOUS
OPULENCE
PERVASIVE
PIETY
(adj)
(n)
(adj.)
(n)
threatening; gloomy; portentous; menacing; boding evil
(v)
(v)
(n)
to steal insignificant items
177.
PILFER
PINION
PINNACLE
178.
PLACATE
(v)
pacify; conciliate
179.
180.
181.
182.
PLATEAU
PLUMMET
POGROM
POLYGLOT
(n)
(v)
(n)
(adj.)
elevated relatively level land
to fall or plunge straight downward
an organized persecution or massacre
using several languages
183.
PONDEROUS
(adj.) weighty; heavy; unwieldy
184.
185.
186.
POSH
POTABLE
PRECARIOUS
(adj.) elegant; fashionable
(adj.) fit to drink
(adj.) dangerous, risky; dependent on chance
187.
PROFANE
(adj.) to violate; desecrate
188.
PROGENY
(n)
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173.
174.
175.
176.
(n)
mammals w/pouch outside female body for baby
(v)
to chew; to soften by crushing
(n)
a large, elaborate tomb
(adj.) smoothly flowing; sweet
(n)
a transformation; a marked alteration
(adj.) excessively careful
(adj.) stingy; mean
(v)
to appease
(n)
a single large stone (often column/monument)
(n)
long uninterrupted speech by one person
(adj.) ill-humored
(n)
a design/picture made of small colored pieces
(adj.) worldly as opposed to spiritual
(n)
change, as in form
(n)
the lowest point
(n)
thinly spread bright cloud of gas/dust in night sky
(adj.) pertaining to the night; active at night
(n)
a small lump
(n)
disrepute; ill fame
(adj.) new; interesting
(n)
a bother; source of inconvenience
(v)
to make invalid
(v)
to bring up; feed; educate
wealth
spread throughout; permeating
religious devotion; godliness
to restrain by binding the arms; to hold fast
the highest point; a spire
offspring; descendants
189.
(n)
(n)
a high point of land or rock projecting into water
191.
192.
PROJECTILE
PROMONTORY
PROSTRATE
PROTAGONIST
(n)
(adj.) lying flat; face down
main character in drama/literary work
193.
PROXIMITY
(n)
nearness
194.
195.
196.
197.
(n)
(n)
(v)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(adj)
(adj.)
(v)
(adj.)
(v)
(n)
(v)
(adj.)
(v)
(v)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(n)
(v)
(v)
(n)
(adj.)
(n)
(adj.)
(v)
(v)
(v)
(n)
(adj)
(n)
(v)
(adj.)
fighter; boxer
physical beauty
to pound, crush, grind to dust or powder
dilemma
217.
218.
219.
220.
221.
222.
223.
224.
225.
226.
227.
228.
229.
230.
PUGILIST
PULCHRITUDE
PULVERIZE
QUANDARY
QUARANTINE
QUEUE
QUOTA
RAINFOREST
RANDOM
RAVENOUS
REBUFF
RECALCITRANT
RECEDE
RECLUSE
RECTIFY
REDUNDANT
REFUTE
RELEGATE
REMORSE
REMUNERATION
RENAISSANCE
RENDEZVOUS
RENEGADE
RENOUNCE
REPLICATE
REPOSE
REPREHENSIBLE
RESPITE
RETICENT
RETRACT
REVERBERATE
REVERE
REVERIE
RIBALD
ROSTER
RUMINATE
SALUTARY
231.
SANCTION
(v)
232.
SATIATED
(adj.) fully fed; fully satisfied
233.
234.
SAVORY
(adj.) tasty; pleasing; attractive; agreeable
(n)
matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
190.
198.
199.
200.
201.
202.
203.
204.
205.
206.
207.
208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
215.
216.
235.
SEDIMENT
SERAPH
(n)
a missile; something thrown
confinement or isolation to prevent spread of disease
a waiting line, esp. of persons/vehicles
amount of something assigned to be made/sold
dense evergreen forest w/annual rain 160”
having no specific order
hungry; very eager
to snub; beat back
stubbornly resistant to authority/restraint
to move back or away from a limit, point, mark
a hermit
to correct
superfluous; saying the same thing over
to disprove; deny
to banish; consign to inferior position
regret for having done wrong
reward, payment
rebirth, revival (Euro 14th-16th cent)
an appointment; a meeting place
1 who rejects a cause, allegiance, religion, etc.
to abandon
to duplicate; to repeat
act of resting
deserving blame
a break; a rest
restrained; uncommunicative; reserved
withdraw; take back
to echo; to resound
to worship; to honor
daydream; being lost in thought
vulgar; rude; coarse; bawdy; lewd
a list of names
to ponder; to think over
promoting health; beneficial
to approve; ratify
an angel
236.
237.
238.
SILHOUETTE
SINEWY
SOLSTICE
(n)
a dark outline against a light background
(adj.) strong and firm; tough
(n)
when the sun is farthest north or south of equator
239.
SOMBER
(adj.) gloomy; depressing
240.
SPECTRUM
(n)
a band of colors; an entire range
241.
242.
243.
244.
SQUANDER
(v)
STEREOTYPE
(n)
STRUT
STUPEFY
SUPERCILIOUS
(n)
(v)
(adj)
to waste
conventional or oversimplified idea or image
a self-important walk
to make numb. stun; amaze
270.
271.
272.
TACITURN
TARIFF
TANTALIZE
TECHNIQUE
TENDRIL
TENTATIVE
TERSE
TIMOROUS
TITANIC
TORPID
TORTUOUS
TOXIN
TRANQUILITY
TREPIDATION
TRIBUTARY
TRUCULENT
TRUNCATED
TUMULT
TUNDRA
TURBULENCE
UNANIMOUS
UNDULATE
UNKEMPT
UNOBTRUSIVE
VACCINE
VACILLATE
VALOR
(adj.) quiet; uncommunicative; silent
(n)
a tax or duty on imported or exported goods
(v)
to tease by keeping something out of reach
(n)
a procedure or method for accomplishing a task
(n)
a coiling part
(adj.) not final; uncertain
(adj.) concise; abrupt; pithy
(adj.) easily frightened; timid
(adj.) huge; powerful
(adj.) dormant; dull; lethargic
(adj.) winding or twisting; devious
(n)
a poisonous substance produced by a living organism
(n)
calmness; serenity
(n)
fear; trembling agitation
(n)
a stream or river flowing into a larger stream/river
(adj.) savage; fierce
(adj.) cut off; shortened
(n)
noisy, disorderly activity; emotional agitation
(n)
a cold, treeless, lowland northern area
(n)
state of violent agitation
(adj) sharing the same opinion; in full agreement
(v)
to move in waves or w/a wavy motion
(adj.) messy; disheveled; w/uncared for appearance
(adj.) inconspicuous; not obvious
(n)
substance that stimulated cells in immune system
(v)
to be unable to decide; to waver
(n)
courage; bravery
273.
VENERATE
(v)
to revere
274.
275.
276.
277.
278.
279.
280.
VERTEBRATE
VERVE
VIRTUOSO
VIRULENT
VORACIOUS
WRETCHED
ZOOLOGY
(n)
(n)
(n)
(adj.)
any of a group of animals w/a backbone
energy; liveliness
highly skilled artist
245.
246.
247.
248.
249.
250.
251.
252.
253.
254.
255.
256.
257.
258.
259.
260.
261.
262.
263.
264.
265.
266.
267.
268.
269.
arrogant; condescending; haughty; disdainful; pompous
extremely poisonous; harmful; deleterious
(adj) ravenous; very hungry
(adj) miserable; very unhappy or unfortunate
(n)
branch of biology that deals w/animals