7th grade summer reading packet: King
Short stories to be read:
Charles
Flowers for Algernon
Rules of the Game
There Will Come Soft Rains
You will find these stories on my website in the header : Summer
Reading OJHS Staff: Susanne King
1. Read the short stories twice. During the first reading, make a list of all
unknown words and look up and write their definitions. Keep this list on a
(single) separate piece of paper and bring it to class with you. You may use
both sides of the paper if necessary. (Save paper whenever possible)
2. After the second reading of the story, answer the questions. All
responses are to be in complete sentences using support (examples) from
the text. These examples can include quotes from the stories. You may
write the answers on a separate sheet of paper rather than answering on
the packet if you would prefer or need more space for writing. Quality
work is expected.
3. Bring the responses to class with you the first day of school.
4. Please write all of the responses independently. I will be using these
responses as an assessment tool. You will receive completion points for
this summer reading and written response. See rubric.
5. I hope you enjoy these different stories. If you have any questions, feel
free to email me. [email protected] or my home email:
[email protected]
“Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
Answer all questions in complete sentences. Use details from the story. You may
answer these questions on a separate piece of paper.
1. What details show the progress of Charlie’s mental development?
Do they parallel the process of normal growth?
2. Charlie’s abilities change; do the traits of his character remain constant?
What are some of them? How does he demonstrate them?
3. Most of all Charlie wants friends. How does their attitude toward him
change after he becomes “smart’? Why? Which way do they like him better?
Why?
“Rules of the Game” questions
Answer all questions in complete sentences.
1. Why does the invisible strength that Waverly learns from her mother help her
at chess? Explain what this strength is. Give examples of this strength when
answering this question.
2. Why is Waverly so eager to learn to play chess that she is willing to give away
all her Life Savers?
3. Why does Waverly call chess “a game of secrets in which one must show and
never tell”? Why does she love the secrets?
4. Why does Waverly’s chess game involve acting as well as skill? Why does
she act like an impatient child and pretend to be undecided while playing?
“There Will Come Soft Rains”
Ray Bradbury
TWCSR is a science fiction story that comes from the book “The Martian Chronicles”.
Often science fiction is written as a commentary about fear that is happening in our
society. Note that Bradbury wrote this story in 1950. Think about or research what was
happening in our country the previous decade. There is a significant date also
mentioned in the story that may give you a clue to what is happening.
Personification: a figure of speech in which an object or animal is spoken of as if it had
human qualities.
1. Go back to the text and find three places in the story where the house, the
fire, and appliances are personified. Write these three examples of
personification. What effect does the personification have on this story?
2. Bradbury describes the house as “an altar with ten thousand attendants” .
Who are the “gods” who are worshiped? What has happened to these “gods”?
3. What similarities and differences do you see between the visions of the future
offered in Bradbury’s story and those in Sara Teasdale’s poem? Give two
specific examples of the similarities and two examples of the differences.
TWCSR continued……
Complete these statements:
•
As I read “There Will Come Soft Rains,” I thought of...
•
One question I have about this story is…
Freewrite for “Charles”
There are no comprehension questions for this short story.
Freewrites are intended as an informal writing assignment designed to
help you make a personal connection with the literature you are
reading. Try to write steadily about the topic for 10 - 15 minutes. The
writing should be a minimum of a half a page. Use examples as support.
Choose TWO prompts:
Write on a separate piece of paper.
#1 We often hear the expression, “what you see is not always what you
get.” Discuss a situation when this expression applied to you.
#2 Most of you could probably relate far more with good Laurie than
you would Charles during your kindergarten experience. Discuss one of
your most cherished memories from your first year in school.
#3 Charles was quite a trickster. Give an example of another character
in literature or television who walks a thin line between fun and trouble.
Write about one of these character’s experiences.
Assessment rubric for short answer response
•
•
Keep vocabulary separate from answers
Make sure all answers are developed and have support from text
50-46 points
All or majority
of the questions
are answered
using supporting
details from the
text (when
needed)
*answers show
strong
development
through
explanation and
examples
Work is legible
(typed or in ink)
and uses proper
punctuation,
spelling, and
grammar.
45 – 41 points
Most questions
are answered
(Many
questions have
multiple parts
and may not
have been
completed)
Answers need
more
supporting
details.
Punctuation,
spelling, and
capitalization
errors are
minor.
Work could be
more legible or
typed.
40 – 36 points
Writing
demonstrates an
awareness of
the questions,
but answers are
vague and
undeveloped
(few specific
examples from
the text are
used)
Answers may
not be in
complete
sentences.
Answers
contain
punctuation,
spelling, and/or
Capitalization
errors.
Work is not
legible
•
Do QUALITY work
35 -30 points
Little effort has
been made to
complete the
answers to the
question or the
packet is
incomplete.
Answers contain
no examples or
are in incomplete
sentences.
o points
No effort has
been made to
complete the
packet.