For your summer reading assignment, you will be required to read the novel,
Tears of a Tiger by Sharon. Draper, as well as keep a dialectical journal and ...
8th grade 2013 Summer Reading Assignment L.V. Stockard Middle School Dallas Independent School District
Name:_________________________________________________________ Due Date: August 26, 2013
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8th Grade 2013 Summer Reading Assignment For your summer reading assignment, you will be required to read the novel, Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper, as well as keep a dialectical journal and vocabulary log as you read. What is a dialectical journal? A dialectical journal is a conversation between you and what you are reading. You simply write down passages that make you think or interest you and write about your thoughts. This process is an important way to understand a piece of literature. By writing about literature, you make your own meaning of the work in order to truly understand it. When you do this yourself, then the text belongs to you--you have made it yours. The passages are there for everyone to read; however, the connections and interpretations are uniquely yours. You are neither right nor wrong in your response. So be willing to take risks and be honest. Objectives By doing this assignment you will: * bring your own background and experience to the reading; * construct your own meaning from the text of the novel; * provide direct feedback to yourself and your teacher on your thoughts and understanding as you read; gain insight into the plot, action, and significance of events and details in the novel. Procedure * Journals are evaluated on the quality of your response. * Select at least one passage for every 18 pages of the book. You will have 10 entries by the end. * Select passages that YOU WANT to write about. * Write a detailed response to the passage you have chosen. * Simply read, think, and write as much as you can. * Always be sincere about what you are saying in your writing. * If you get stuck, use the following list to help you get started. WRITE ABOUT: what you like, what you dislike, what seems confusing, what seems unusual, what you think something means, what personal connections you make, what predictions you can pose. Label your thoughts using the key below. Possible sentence lead-ins might begin like: Sentence lead-ins * I really don't understand this because. . . * I really like/dislike this idea because. . . * This idea/event seems to be important because. . . * I think the author is trying to say that . . . * This passage reminds me of a time in my life when . . . * If I were (name of character), at this point I would . . . * This part doesn't make sense because . . . * This character reminds me of (name of person) because ...
Please label your responses using the following codes: (Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear (C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text (P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage (CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction (R) Reflect – think deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense – not just to the characters in the story. What conclusions can you draw about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work? (E) Evaluate - make a judgment about the character(s), their actions, or what the author is trying to say
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An Exemplary Dialectical Journal Contains the Following:
Total number of entries are 10 or more for the entire book. Each “From Text” entry is 1 or more complete sentence. “From text” entries are from the entire book (beginning, middle and end.) This is indicated by page numbers. Each “From Text” contains zero (0) spelling errors. All “From Me” entries have 2 or more complete sentences and demonstrate fully developed thought or connections about the text. All responses are labeled using the codes: (Q) Question, (C) Connect, (P) Predict, (CL) Clarify, (R) Reflect and (E) Evaluate.
Quotes from the Text
Page #
-Hello, may I speak to Rhonda? Rhonda, is that you? This is Keisha. I hardly recognized
Response (P) I think that more than one of the boys die and
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they are going to get in trouble for drinking
your voice, Have you heard
underage, driving, and for being responsible for
anything?...Rhonda? What wrong?
someone dying. I think this because during this
-Oh Keisha it’s terrible. There was a crash
point in the novel, everyone is calling around trying
and the car exploded, and my mother’s friend
to get information and they are all worried.
said she thinks at least one of the boys was killed, maybe more.
An Inadequate Double Entry Journal Contains:
Fewer than 10 entries from the book. Quotations from the text contain many misspelled words. “From Text” entries indicate the entire book may not have been read. “Response” entries demonstrate incomplete thoughts or connections and seem hastily written. Entries lack elaboration.
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Dialectical Journal Grading Rubric
A
B
C
D
Quotations and Plot Details
Detailed, meaningful
Less detailed but still good
Few good details
Hardly any good details
Interpretation
Thoughtful, avoids clichés
Intelligent, discusses theme
Vague, unsupported, plot summary
Plot summaries and paraphrases
Questions and Connections
Insightful personal connections, thoughtprovoking questions
Some personal connections, questions arise from text
Few connections, obvious questions
Few connections, no questions
Coverage of text
Covers text thoroughly from beginning to end
Covers important parts thoroughly
Covers most parts, but quickly
Way too short
Presentation
Neat, organized, looks professional, follows directions
Neat and readable, follows directions
Neat but hard to read, doesn't follow directions
Hard to read, doesn't follow directions
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Name: _______________________________________________________Date: Summer Reading 2013_ Title of Book/Author: Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper______________ Total # of Pages:____________ Quotes from the Text B.J.is knocked off the hood. Me and B.J.
Page #
Response
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grab Andy, then and we have to hold him back, ’cause the whole car is in flames, and Rob is still stuck inside, and we can hear screamin’. “Andy! Andy! Help me- Help meOh, God, please don’t let me die like this! Andy!... I ended up getting’ my license revoked until
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I’m twenty-one, and a two year suspended sentence. Even I thought it was a real easy sentence, maybe too easy. Do you think that was right? Shouldn’t I been sent to jail or somethin’?
They sat there, Rob’s mom holdin back
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tears, and my folks didn’t even bother to show up. I should be the one dead, not Rob.
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Name: _______________________________________________________Date: Summer Reading 2013_ Title of Book/Author: Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper______________ Total # of Pages:____________ Quotes from the Text
Page #
Response
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Vocabulary Log
Vocabulary Word
Word Meaning Based on Context Clues
Section
1- retaining
Crash, Fire, Pain
2- honorable
Hit the Showers! Hit the Streets!
3- stunted
“Dear Lord”
4- undignified
Hazelwood Herald
5- privileges
“Hey, Coach! Can We Talk?”
6- devastating
Hoops and Dunks
7- dispense
“How Do I Feel”
8- affirmative
“How Do I Feel”
9- composition
Girl Problems
10- potential
Ferocious Frustration
11- secure
Christmas Without Rob
12- stereotypes
Black on White
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Vocabulary Word
Word Meaning Based on Context Clues
Section
13- traumatic
Accepting FearEscaping Pain
14- depraved
“Out, Out! Brief Candle
15- inhibitions
Concern and Denial
16- incident
Private Pain
17- informally
Slipping Away
18reprehensible
A Father’s Dreams
19- punitive
A Father’s Dreams
20- willingly
Lord, Please Forgive Him
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