7th Grade Summer Reading
During the summer, ALL students entering the 7th grade will read a total of ONE (1) novel and ONE
(1) newspaper article a week, (8 articles total). Students also get the opportunity to choose their
second required reading from the list of fictional novels provided on page two. The reading of both
the newspaper articles and novel, including the writing assignment for the non-fiction text, are due
on the first day of school. Happy reading!
Students Must Read the Following Non-fiction:
Over the summer, you are to read ONE news article a week. Use The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Sun
Chronicle, or your hometown newspaper. The newspaper article can be either online or in print.
Choose FOUR (4) of the news articles that you find to be the most interesting to you. For EACH one of the news
articles you chose, you will be required to write a typed, double spaced, size 12 font, summary and answer the
following questions below. Each summary and questions should be completed on a separate page and have the
article attached.
Requirements: (For each article summary)
Heading:
Newspaper or periodical: Title of article, name of reporter or news service it is from, publication the article was in,
date of publication.
Internet: name of website, who or what organization the site is from, date accessed and web address.
Summary: In your own words summarize the article. Your summary should be written in complete sentences and
give a basic understanding of the main ideas in the article.
Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1. Why did you pick this article?
2. What was the author’s point in writing this article?
3. What are some comments or ideas you might have after reading this article?
The article itself, a copy, or a print-out of each article that you chose, MUST BE attached to each
summary.
*ALSO Choose ONE (1) of the Following Fictional Novels:
Students should be prepared to demonstrate an understanding of the novel’s plot, characters, setting, and conflicts.
They will be assigned an in-class project during the first week of school to assess these elements. Students will be
able to choose from a variety of project formats to demonstrate their knowledge, including creating a children’s
version of the novel, a newspaper, a comic strip, or a letter to the author. Further details about this project will be
sent home on the first day of school; however, all work for this particular assignment will be completed in class.
Slam! by Walter Dean Myers
Sixteen year old “Slam” Harris is counting on his noteworthy basketball talents to get him out of the inner city and
give him a chance to succeed in life, but his coach sees things differently.
Jazmin’s Notebook by Nikki Grimes
Jazmin, a teenager who lives with her older sister in a small Harlem apartment in the 1960s, finds strength in
writing poetry and keeping a record of the events in her sometimes difficult life.
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
Okay For Now explores a seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and
Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new
sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his
older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam.
The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
When twelve-year-old Hannah is transported back to a 1940's Polish village, she experiences the very horrors that
had embarrassed and annoyed her when her elders related their Holocaust experiences.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Francie grows up in the slums of Brooklyn during the early part of the twentieth century, and life treats her badly.
But like the Tree of Heaven that grows out of cement or through cellar gratings, resourceful Francie struggles
against all odds to survive and thrive.
*Note for parents: Some of the fiction texts may contain mature elements. Please preview the text your student selects if you
have concerns about content.
Newspaper Article Summary Grading Rubric
4 - Exceeds Standards 3 - Meets Standards 2 - Approaching Standards 1 - Below Standards
Main Idea
Summaries
demonstrate a clear
understanding of
information in the
chosen articles. The
writer paraphrases, in
his/her own words,
specific details from
the article. All
important details are
included.
Summaries show an
understanding of
the information in
the chosen articles.
The writer
addresses most of
the important
details from the
articles,
paraphrasing in
his/her own words.
Summaries show minimal
understanding of the
chosen articles. Some
important details are left
out.
Summaries do not
relate to chosen
articles.
Grammar &
Spelling
Author makes no
errors in grammar,
sentence structure,
or spelling that
distracts the reader
from the content.
Author makes 1-3
errors in grammar,
sentence structure,
or spelling that
distracts the reader
from the content.
Author makes 4-6 errors in
grammar, sentence
structure, or spelling that
distracts the reader from
the content.
Author makes more
than 6 errors in
grammar, sentence
structure, or
spelling that
distracts the reader
from the content.
Questions
The writer answers all
questions for each
chosen article in a
through, thoughtful
manner. All questions
are answered in
complete sentences.
The writer answers
all assigned
questions for each
chosen article, using
complete
sentences.
The writer may not address
all asked questions for each
article. Answers are not
written in complete
sentences.
Questions are not
answered/ missing/
or completed for
each article
Article summary is
typed, uses sz. 12
font, and has a
heading. Summary
is organized into
paragraphs.
Acceptable
newspaper article
of sufficient length
is attached.
Article summary is typed
but has an incomplete
heading. Summary is
disorganized. Attached
item is not a current event
newspaper article and/or it
is not a sufficient length.
Article summary is
not typed. No
heading. No article
is attached.
Proper
Article summary is
Format and
typed, double spaced,
Organization sz. 12 font, and has
the proper heading.
Summary is organized
into paragraphs. A
challenging
newspaper article of
sufficient length is
attached.