16 Sep 2013 ... which additional book you would like to read. ... We Beat the Street ... For each
book, you will complete a book project that displays your ...
MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER OF 2013: READING LIST AND REQUIREMENTS Students, your brain is like a muscle; if you do not use it, you will start to lose it. The summer reading will keep your brain in shape. You will read two books DURING THE SUMMER. Each grade must read two books; while one literary work will be assigned, you will have a choice between three to four options for the other literary work. You will be tested on the books at the beginning of the upcoming school year. In addition, you are required to complete all components of the assignment for your grade level.
ALL WORK IS DUE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013. THESE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE COUNTED TOWARD YOUR FIRST MARKING PERIOD AVERAGE. FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF ZERO FOR THE PROJECT WHICH IN TURN COULD RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS The NYS Common Core curriculum emphasizes studying an author’s craft. Thus, for the summer, each grade will be reading two books by the same author, so they can begin to analyze an author’s writing style. Please see the attached document to help you decide which additional book you would like to read. Incoming 6th Grader—
Required Text Select one of the following titles:
Walter Dean Myers
Incoming 7th Grader – Sharon Draper
Bad Boy
We Beat the Street
1. Slam 2. Sunrise over Fallujah 3. Street Love
1. The Battle of Jericho 2. Fire From the Rock 3. Romiett and Julio
Incoming 8th GraderGary Soto Baseball in April 1. 2. 3. 4.
Taking Sides Living Up the Street Buried Onions Accidental Love
PART ONE: Book Project (see attached document for details) For each book, you will complete a book project that displays your understanding of the text. Students must select a different project for each book.
PART TWO: Analyzing Author’s Craft After reading both books, please answer the following questions thoroughly. Write a paragraph for each question.
1) What did you notice about the author’s writing style? (ex. Did they write descriptively? Poetically? With suspense? Choppy and abrupt? How did the author decide to tell the story? From what point of view or order? Etc. Give an example from each literary work to support your response. If you are struggling to
2) What connections can be made between the two works? More specifically, what themes (topics or lessons) do you see in both works? What can you conclude about the author then? 3) Which novel did you prefer? Why? Give specific details from the texts to support your claim/stance. 4) What is the Give an example from each literary work to support your response.
Summer Reading Book Projects Choices Remember: For each book you need to pick a different project. Sixth grade responses should be a minimum of two paragraphs, seventh grade responses a minimum of three paragraphs, and eighth grade responses a minimum of four paragraphs.
6.
7.
1.
Interview a character from your book. Write a least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. Write the answers you think the character would give to these questions. Answers should not be one word answers. Answers should include information that happened in the story and be a couple of sentences. Select at least ________ (see above, based on grade) questions to answer more in depth in short response format.
2.
In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) compare and contrast two short stories using textual evidence to support your claims. (This option is only for books with multiple short stories)
3.
In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) explain the main conflict in the book. Evaluate the way the character or characters responded to the conflict and the resolution. If you were the main character, how would you have responded? Explain.
4.
In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) write a diary entry that one of the stories main characters might have kept before, during, or after the books events. Remember that the character’s thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary.
5.
In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) rewrite a chapter of the book from another characters point of view (not the narrator). Briefly explain how and why this differed from the actual narrator.
6. Write or perform a song that tells the story of the book. The song should cover the whole plot, not just one part of the story. Write at least _________ stanzas (see above, based on grade) not including the chorus. 7. In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) write a letter to the author. Share your reading experience with the author. Share the thoughts and questions you had while your read the book. Then, explain to the author what you liked and disliked about the text. Use textual details to back up what you say. 8. Imagine you are the agent for the author of the book you just read. In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book a movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts etc. would make a good film. Suggest actors and a setting that would best fit your text and use textual evidence from the book to prove that they would be a good match. 9. Imagine you are a newscaster. In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) write the monologue that you would deliver on the nightly news to explain the plot (the 5 Ws and How) of your book. 10. In at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) write a letter to the main character of your book asking questions, protesting a situation, and/or making a complaint or suggestion This must be done in correct letter format. (Extra credit if you write an additional letter imagining you are character responding to the above letter written.) 11. Rewrite the story for younger children in a picture book form You still must tell the entire story with a couple sentences on each page that would add up to at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) 12. In _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade) describe a character you would add to the book. Explain how this person would affect each part of the plot in the book (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution). How would the story change with this addition? 13. Create a display board or diorama for your book with images. Explain each part of the board or diorama and its relationship to the book. Write about the plot, characters, themes, and author in at least _________ paragraphs (see above, based on grade).
6th Grade: Directions: The required text for 6th grade is “Bad Boy.” For your second book, choose an additional book from below by the author Walter Dean Myers.
1. Slam (Sports Fiction) Seventeen-year-old Greg "Slam" Harris can do it all on the basketball court. He's seen ballplayers come and go, and he knows he could be one of the lucky ones. Maybe he'll make it to the top. Or maybe he'll stumble along the way. Slam's grades aren't that hot. And when his teachers jam his troubles in his face, he blows up. Slam never doubted himself on the court until he found himself going one-on-one with his own future, and he didn't have the ball. (From Amazon.com)
2. Sunrise over Fallujah (Historical Fiction) Robin "Birdy" Perry, a new army recruit from Harlem, isn't quite sure why he joined the army, but he's sure where he's headed: Iraq. Birdy and the others in the Civilian Affairs Battalion are supposed to help secure and stabilize the country and successfully interact with the Iraqi people. Officially, the code name for their maneuvers is Operation Iraqi Freedom. But the young men and women in the CA unit have a simpler name for it: WAR (From Amazon.com)
3. Street Love (Romance Fiction) Your first love is totally wrong for you. Do you follow your heart? Or do you run away? Michael L. Printz award winner Wallter Dean Meyers delivers an evocative tale of star crossed urban love, reminding us that before we can be true to someone else, we must first be true to ourselves. (From Amazon.com)
7th Grade: Directions: The required text for 7th grade is “We Beat The Street.” For your second book, choose an additional book from below by the author Sharon Draper.
1. The Battle of Jericho (Realistic Fiction) Sixteen-year-old Jericho finds out how far he will go to fit in when he is invited to pledge for the Warriors of Distinction, the most exclusive gang in school. A haunting story of gangs and hazing from the author of Tears Of A Tiger. (From Amazon.com)
2. Fire From the Rock (Historical Fiction) Sylvia is shocked and confused when she is asked to be one of the first black students to attend Central High School, which is scheduled to be integrated in the fall of 1957, whether people like it or not. Before Sylvia makes her final decision, smoldering racial tension in the town ignites into flame. When the smoke clears, she sees clearly that nothing is going to stop the change from coming. It is up to her generation to make it happen, in as many different ways as there are colors in the world. (From Amazon.com)
3. Romiett and Julio (Romance Fiction) When Romiette Cappelle meets Julio Montague, she feels as though she has met the soul mate who can rescue her from her recurring nightmare about fire and water. But like the Shakespearean characters whose names echo theirs, Romiette and Julio discover that not everyone approves of their budding romance. In their case, it is because Romiette is African-American and Julio is Hispanic, and the Devildogs, a dangerous local gang, violently oppose their interracial relationship. (From Amazon.com)
8th Grade: Directions: The required text for 8th grade is “Baseball in April.” For your second book, choose an additional book from below by the author Gary Soto.
1. Taking Sides (Sport Fiction) Lincoln is in a jam when his basketball team at his new school--where the students are rich and mostly white--faces his old team from the barrio on the boards. How can he play his best against his friends? No matter who wins, it looks like it will be loselose for Lincoln. (From Amazon.com)
2. Living Up the Street (Short Stories) In a prose that is so beautiful it is poetry, we see the world of growing up and going somewhere through the dust and heat of Fresno's industrial side and beyond: It is a boy's coming of age in the barrio, parochial school, attending church, public summer school, and trying to fall out of love so he can join in a Little League baseball team. (From Amazon.com)
3. Buried Onions (Realistic Fiction) Eddie's father, two uncles, and best friend are all dead, and it's a struggle for him not to end up the same way. Violence makes Fresno wallow in tears, as if a huge onion were buried beneath the city. Making an effort to walk a straight line despite constant temptations and frustrations, Eddie searches for answers--and discovers that his closest friends may actually be his worst enemies. (From Amazon.com)
4. Accidental Love (Romance Fiction) It all starts when Marisa picks up the wrong cell phone. When she returns it to Rene, she feels curiously drawn to him. But Marisa and Rene aren't exactly a match made in heaven. For one thing, Marisa is a chola; she's a lot of girl, and she's not ashamed of it. Skinny Rene gangles like a sackful of elbows and wears a calculator on his belt. In other words, he's a geek. So why can't Marisa stay away from him? (From Amazon.com)
