June 13, Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:

Transcription

1 June 13, 2016 Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students: As 7 th grade comes to a close, we are looking with anticipation to the beginning of 8 th grade. It will be here before you know it, and we would like to inform you about the rising 8 th grader s Extended Summer Reading. All rising 8 th grade extended English students need to complete two fiction and one nonfiction books, for a total of three assignments. Fiction Students choose two books from the attached list to read over the summer. For each book, students complete the one Fiction Book Review (attached). Carefully follow the directions. Each review must be thorough and thoughtful, and must be signed by a parent or guardian. Non-fiction Students get to choose a non-fiction book on a topic of their choice that contains at least 100 pages. Students must read the book and complete the Non-fiction Book Summer Reading Response provided. After completing Step #1, the student will further research his/her topic, by finding another source about the topic. Read the source, reference the source, and critique the source according to the directions in Step #2 (see response form). There are no page requirements for this additional source; however, it must come from a trustworthy source such as, World Book Online (located on the library s School Fusion page) and not from an unreliable source such as Wikipedia.com. Once the reading and the research are complete, Step #2 must be signed by a parent or guardian. These assignments are the first three grades for 8 th grade Extended English students, and are to be handed in by the end of the first week of school, Friday, September 2, If for some reason you misplace this information, please refer to the school library s School Fusion page this summer for extra copies. We re looking forward to a great upcoming year exploring great literature through reading and writing. If you have any questions, please contact your current English teacher. Have a great summer! Sincerely, Mrs. Helms Mrs. Kraus Mrs. Lampkin Mrs. Livengood

2 Eighth Grade Extended Language Arts Fiction Reading List Directions: Choose any two books from this list. Rebecca By Daphne du Maurier Rebecca has been dead for several months, but her sinister influence is still very much alive at Manderly, as Maxim de Winter s second wife soon comes to realize. (Lexile Level 880) The Hobbit By J. R. Tolkien Bilbo BAGGINS LIVES a quiet, peaceful life in his comfortable hole at Bag End. Bilbo lives in a hole because he is a hobbit one of a race of small, plump people about half the size of humans, with furry toes and a great love of good food and drink. Bilbo is quite content at Bag End, near the bustling hobbit village of Hobbiton, but one day his comfort is shattered by the arrival of the old wizard Gandalf, who persuades Bilbo to set out on an adventure with a group of thirteen militant dwarves. (lexile Level: 1000) The Hound of the Baskervilles By Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson confront one of their most difficult cases ever: is there truly a curse on the old Baskerville estate? Is there truly a ghostly beast lurking on the dark, eerie moors? A masterful concoction of plot and mood, this story is guaranteed to give you the shivers.( Lexile Level: 840) Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place By E.L. Koigsburg - E. L. Konigsburg revisits the town of Epiphany to tell the story of Margaret Rose Kane, Connor's older half-sister. It's about the summer when Margaret Rose turned twelve--the same year that Cabbage Patch dolls were popular, that Sally Ride became the first woman to go into space, that El Niño turned the world upside-down. Margaret Rose begins her summer with a miserable experience at camp; from which she's rescued by her beloved, eccentric uncles. Little does she know that her uncles, in turn, need rescuing themselves--from a tyrannical city council determined to tear down her uncles' life work--three spectacularly beautiful towers that her uncles have been building since before Margaret was a baby. (Lexile Level 840) Little Women By Lousia May Alcott The four March girls -- practical Meg, rambunctious Jo, sweet Beth and childish artist Amy -- live in genteel poverty with their mother Marmee; their father is away in the Civil War. Despite having little money, the girls keep their spirits up with writing, gardening, homemade plays, and the occasional

3 romp with wealthier pals. Their pal, "poor little rich boy" Laurie, joins in and becomes their adoptive brother. (Lexile Level 1330) Life of Pi By Yann Martel While growing up in India as the son of a zookeeper, Piscine was teased unmercifully for his name, so he shortened it to Pi, as in the mathematical symbol π. This change of name is only the first of several fascinating changes Pi experiences. Some are more or less under his control, like his pursuit of truth by simultaneously studying Christianity Hinduism, and Islam. Some, like his father's decision to move the family to Canada, are not under Pi's control, especially when the ship carrying the Patel family sinks and Pi is stranded in a lifeboat with only a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a 450-pound tiger for company. (Lexile Level 830) A Wizard of Earthsea By Ursula Le Guin A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin, is a coming of age story for young readers. It is set in a fantasy world somewhat like our own. Earthsea is more water than land, and most of its inhabitants are poor, just as in our world. Earthsea is different too though, most noticeably because magic is real and respected. Society is in a state we might loosely call feudal, but without knights, although there are dragons. (Lexile Level 1150) Savvy By Ingrid Law - When Beaumont family members turn thirteen, they receive their savvy or magical gift unique to each one of them. Mibbs thirteenth birthday arrives when her father is out of town and becomes ill. Mibs, her savvy, and a cast of characters hit the road to save him. (Lexile Level 1070) Where the Lilies Bloom By Vera Cleaver Where the Lilies Bloom is about selfreliance in the face of terrible odds. In this book, four orphaned children struggle to stay together and avoid being put in an orphanage. There are many obstacles: poverty, the harsh winter weather, the threat of their father's death being discovered, and the possibility of losing their house. The family must also deal with internal conflict brought on by normal sibling rivalry, aggravated in this case by the fact that one sibling, fourteenyear-old Mary Call, is the designated leader and the others are supposed to do as she says. (Lexile Level 920) The Book Thief By Death himself narrates the story of Liesel, a German girl left with foster parents just before the outbreak of World War II. Along the way to her new home with her younger brother, he dies, and after the funeral Liesel steals The Gravedigger's Handbook, though she cannot yet read. It is only the first of what will become a series of book thefts. (Lexile Level 720)

4 Name 8 th Grade English Teacher 8 th Extended Language Arts Summer Reading Fiction Book Reviews Directions: Choose and read two fiction books from the provided list. After reading the books, you will also write a book review for each book. Proper grammar, spelling, and complete sentences are mandatory. Each step should consist of at least one paragraph. Remember to use your paragraphing skills by including a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding/transitional sentence. Book Review One Title: Author: Publisher: City of publication Copyright Date: Step #1 Summarize your book in eight to ten sentences. Be sure to mention the sub-genre (fantasy, sci-fi, realistic fiction, etc.).

5 Step #2 Review the book. Do you recommend the book? Give plenty of support for your opinion. The review should be eight the ten sentences. Suggested points to make: It was a page turner; excellent writing style; identified with a character; the plot contained surprises; the book reminded you of another book, etc.

6 Book Review Two Title: Author: Publisher: City of publication Copyright Date: Step #1 Summarize your book in eight to ten sentences. Be sure to mention the sub-genre (fantasy, sci-fi, realistic fiction, etc.).

7 Step #2 Review the book. Do you recommend the book? Give plenty of support for your opinion. The review should be eight the ten sentences. Suggested points to make: It was a page turner; excellent writing style; identified with a character; the plot contained surprises; the book reminded you of another book, etc. Name Date 8 th Grade English teacher

8 8 th Extended Non-fiction Summer Reading Response Directions: Read one non-fiction, 100+-page book of your choice and complete steps and areas below. Complete sentences and full explanations will be needed to receive credit. Reading Topic: Title: Author/Editor: # of pages: Publisher: City of publication: Copyright date: Step #1 Review of non-fiction book material How was your book organized? Chapters? Headings? Explain. Summarize your book in eight to ten sentences.

9 What was the most important point that you read about your topic? Explain.

10 What was one point that was not the most important, but the most interesting for you? Explain. Write three questions that you have still about your topic. #1 #2 #3 Step #2 Further research of non-fiction book material

11 Directions: Research one of your three questions above and continue further reading on your topic. Find an additional non-fiction source (essay, textbook, reference book, etc) to answer your question and fill in the information below. Access World Book Online through the Library Media page on School Fusion. Username: pwcschools Question to be answered: Password: contact GVMS Library Additional research source information Title: Author/Editor: # of pages: Publisher: City of publication: Copyright date: What information did you find out about your question? Explain. Compare the two sources with the chart below. Original Non-fiction Research Question Source

12 One Pro Source One Con If you had to recommend only one of the above sources to a friend researching your topic, which one would you recommend and why? Explain.