Honors+English

SUMMER English 8Reading What’s more relaxing than lying in the shade on a lazy summer afternoon with a good book? I mean a book you choose, a book about a topic that interests you. You know, that book that your best friend keeps talking about, or the one they made into a movie. I don’t know about you, but that’s one of the joys of my summer vacation, reading for the fun of it, and that’s what your summer assignment is. That’s right. Your summer assignment is to read for just for the fun of it! Once you have completed reading your book, write an entry in your reading journal.
 * Honors English ** **Summer Reading Assignment: **

A reading journal is a great way to document the books you’ve loved, liked, or hated. If you already are in the habit of keeping a reading journal, please continue!
 * What is a reading journal? **

What are the requirements of a reading journal? 1. It can be typed, but if handwritten, please use loose-leaf paper firmly stapled together. Staple this sheet in the front cover so you can refer to it as you make your entries. 2. Enter information about books you’ve completed **and** books you didn’t complete. a. You are required to read a __minimum__ combination of __three__ different books **and** __600 pages__ (this may take more than 3 books, and you can go over the page & book requirement). 3. Once you’ve finished with a book, enter the following information in your reading journal: 4. Please turn this page over for a sample entry.
 * 1) Title, author & number of pages.
 * 2) A 5-8 sentence plot summary (include the main characters, conflict, resolution etc.)
 * 3) A 5 sentence or less vivid, detailed description of your favorite character (be they human, animal, elemental, etc.)
 * 4) A description of/conversation about a theme in the book (What’s the main idea or the point the author was trying to get across?)
 * 5) A 3-5 sentence book review of whether or not you like the book and why (this should __include evidence from the text__)

The better the books you choose, the better this assignment will be. The key is choosing books you like and that will __challenge__ you.

See you next school year,

Mr. Mac The best 8th grade English teacher you will ever have J Gossamer Across Five Aprils April Morning Blink (nonfiction – get parent’s permission) Deathwatch Glory Fields I Am Regina I Never Saw Another Butterfly Lord of the Flies Johnny Tremain Light in the Forest Martian Chronicles Midsummer Night’s Dream My Brother Sam is Dead Z for Zachariah Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Ender’s Game O Pioneers Out of the Dust Pigman, The Seedfolks Streams to the River, Rivers to the Sea The Tipping Point (nonfiction – get parent’s permission) Tom Sawyer Two Old Women Walden When the Legends Die Wind from an Enemy Sky Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Witness
 * Here are some suggested titles: **

Each entry will be graded using the following completion rubric:


 * || ** Proficient ** || ** Needs work ** ||
 * ** Content ** || All subjects are addressed and the reader gains a good understanding of the book. A reader would be able to decide if s/he would be interested in reading the book from each entry. Meaningful English specific terms are used. || One or more subjects are missing from the entries, so the reader does not have a thorough understanding of the book. A reader would be unable to decide if s/he would be interested in reading the book from each entry. Few English specific terms are used. ||
 * ** Style ** || Writing reflects attention to craft: varied and interesting sentences; minimal use of pronouns; transitions to guide reader; attention to mechanics. (capitalization, punctuation, spelling) || Style does not reflect attention to craft: many incomplete sentences; overuse of pronouns; lack of transitions; many mechanics errors ||
 * ** Organization ** || Writing is legible and neat throughout the entry. All subject headings are clearly identified and neatly spaced. || Much of the handwriting is illegible to the reader. It’s difficult to determine where one entry ends and another begins. Subject headings are missing. ||

Here’s a sample entry from a reading journal Title of Book //The Pearl// Author //John Steinbeck//
 * 1) of pages //213//


 * Synopsis: ** Kino, Juana, and their infant son, Coyotito, live in a modest brush house by the sea. His son gets sick from a scorpion sting. They search for pearls later that day and Juana’s prayers are answered when Kino surfaces with the largest pearl either of them has ever seen. Kino decides to sell the pearl and ends up losing his home, boat, son, and innocence. After several murders, including his son’s, and an attempt to outrun men looking for the pearl, he decides it’s not worth it and heaves the pearl into the ocean.

As Kino seeks to gain wealth and status through the pearl, he transforms from a happy, contented father to a savage criminal, demonstrating the way ambition and greed destroy innocence. Kino’s desire to acquire wealth perverts the pearl’s natural beauty and good luck, transforming it from a symbol of hope to a symbol of human destruction. Furthermore, Kino’s greed leads him to behave violently toward his wife; it also leads to his son’s death and ultimately to Kino’s detachment from his cultural tradition and his society. Kino’s people seem poised for a similar destruction, as the materialism inherent in colonial capitalism implants a love of profit into the simple piety of the native people.
 * Theme ** : ** Greed is Destructive **


 * Character ** : Kino is the protagonist in the story. Kino is a dignified, hardworking, impoverished native who works as a pearl diver. He is simple man who lives in a brush house with his wife, Juana, and their infant son, Coyotito, both of whom he loves very much. After Kino finds a great pearl, he becomes increasingly ambitious and desperate in his mission to break free of the oppression of his colonial society. Ultimately, Kino’s material ambition drives him to a state of animalistic violence, and his life is reduced to a basic fight for survival.


 * Did you like this book? Why or why not? ** Your opinion would go here followed by a detailed explanation with evidence from the text, including quotes,, etc.