GRADE 8 SUMMER READING 2016

June 2016

Dear EMS Class of 2017,

There’s nothing like sitting in a shady spot, sipping a cool drink and reading a great book during the summer. Educational experts agree that people who read regularly perform better in class, on exams, and on standardized tests like the SAT.  Plus, reading makes you more interesting. The Library Media Specialists and your English teachers have done a lot of wonderful work compiling a summer reading list of books that appeal to your interests.  Here’s what you need to do:

v  Read Joseph Bruchac’s Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two.

v  Then, select ONE ADDITONAL BOOK from the attached book list.

 

 

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Assignment to be completed before school starts

1. While reading, take active notes about character traits for the protagonist and the conflicts he faces.

2. Once the reading is completed, please construct a fully developed paragraph describing the central conflict in the novel and whether or not the conflict is resolved. Then, explain how the protagonist behaves in the face of this conflict. Cite one piece of text evidence from the novel to illustrate the conflict and one piece of evidence that shows the character’s behavior in the face of this conflict.

Free Choice Book (chosen from the attached list)

Take notes as you read using the following model:

            If your choice is FICTION-

1.  Setting: time and place of stories events

2.  Plot: the sequence of events in a story; exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution

3.  Characterization:  Traits to describe acts, thinks, and feels, where they go and what they say.

4.  Theme: the central message or lesson revealed through the story

5.  Conflict: two or more opposing forces (one main conflict and often several smaller ones).
     Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, Man vs. Society, Man vs. technology (machine), Man vs. Fate

If your choice is NONFICTION-

1.  Who? – important people involved in the topic

2.  What? – explanation/clarification of the topic

3.  Where? – setting of the book

4.  When? – setting of the book

5.  Why? – reasons that the book is of interest…what impact does it have on the reader?  Why is it an important enough topic to have a book written about it?

6.  How? – explain the way the author conveys the story

In Class Assignment regarding the free choice book (to be completed during school in the month of September):

1. IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN A FICTION BOOK from the list, please describe the setting, plot, characterization, theme, and conflicts in your summer reading book.  You should write 50-150 words for each of the five journal topics.
   
   
2. IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN A NONFICTION BOOK from the list, please describe the Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?  You should write 50-150 words for each of the five journal topics.
   
   

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of the 8th grade ELA teachers.  Good luck, happy summer and happy reading!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kearns, Mrs. Montenegro, & Mr. Weiss