English I Summer Reading Novel Choices

English I Summer Reading Novel Choices:

Directions

Read the novel. You must obtain the text on your own, but there are multiple options available to you: buy a new or used copy, buy the text on your e-reader, or check out a copy from your local library. As you read, annotate the text. An annotation is a comment you write in the text before and after you read. For more specific guidelines on what that process entails, please read the attached overview for further clarification. You must arrive to class with 100 annotations for your text. If you have purchased your own text, you may use Post-It notes or write in the margins. If you read an e-book or check out a library copy, your annotations must be typed and submitted with the page number and passage you are citing for each annotation from the text.

Annotations

Your annotations can take multiple forms. As you read, respond to the text with questions, glosses for figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, imagery, etc.), thoughts on theme or meaning, instances of characterization, summaries, connections to culture, vocabulary, and powerful quotations.

Novel Choices

1. The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them by The Freedom Writers, Zlata Filipovic and Erin Gruwell

2. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

While you read (these can double as your annotations):

There are lots of ways to interact with what you read, all of which involve recording your thoughts as they pop into your head. Here are some ideas to get you going…

1. Ask questions—Are you confused about something? Write the question down. You might find the answer later, or you might get an opportunity to ask it to your classmates or teacher.

2. React to what you read—maybe you just read something that made you mad, startled you, or brought you to tears. Write down your reaction to the text so you remember it later.

3. Give an opinion—Do you like or dislike an idea? Do you think the author is too boring? Record this opinion next to the passage that inspired it.

4. Locate important passages—Is there a quote that you think is important or thoughtful? Is there an idea you think might be worth remembering? Is there a ‘big idea’ that is at the foundation of the article? These are important to locate, as they are what you might quote in your investigation or written essay later.

5. Make connections—Maybe something you read reminds you of an experience you’ve had or parallels a part of your life; record these connections and they will help you find meaning and relevancy in what you read.

6. Define new words—Too often, reading comprehension problems occur because readers don’t understand words. It’s not too much trouble to look up the word in the classroom dictionary, dictionary.com, or your iPhone app when you are away from a computer or dictionary. If you physically can’t look the word up as you encounter it, highlight it in the moment and look it up at your first opportunity.

7. Track themes—If you notice a reoccurring theme as you read, start noting the theme when it takes place. Doing so will help you understand the message that the article is trying to convey.

8. Identify Figurative Language—put your English I skills to the test! Interpret how a comparison or details contribute to a scene or a larger meaning.

Activities you will submit/After you read:

1. For each chapter, identify a character that is vital to the novel’s progression. Characterize that character by identifying a piece of evidence from the text that he/she says, thinks, effects on others, actions, looks, and motivation. Accompanying each piece of evidence, make an inference about the character as a person.

2. For each chapter, identify a real world issue (poverty, discrimination, hunger, disparities in education, etc.). Research this issue in our society. Find a current even/news story that correlates to this issue in the novel. Compare and contrast the existence of the issue in our society and in the novel. Generate a solution for this issue both in our society and in the novel. Have a copy of the news article for reference.

3. For the entire novel, identify a theme. Use the attached choice board to communicate the theme. Write a metacognitive text to connect your choices and the ways in which this product communicates the theme of the text.

4. For each chapter, and then for the novel, summarize what you’ve read—rewrite the chapter noting the essential points, using only a couple of sentences. You might find that doing so will help you understand what you just read.

5. Respond to what you’ve read—Sometimes a summary isn’t enough. You might want to comment on what you just read, give an opinion about a concept, or complain about the author’s insight/viewpoint.

6. Make a prediction—Predicting is a great thinking exercise. There’s not a better place to do so than after you’ve read one section and before you begin the next. You might be surprised to find your prediction is right..or wrong!

Grading Scale:

A: 100 insightful annotations from throughout the book; 6 activities completed

B: 100 annotations from throughout the book. Most are insightful, some are superficial; 5 activities completed

C: Fewer than 100 annotations; some are superficial; 4 activities completed

D: Significantly fewer than 100 annotations; many are superficial; 3 activities completed

F: Fewer than 70 annotations; most are superficial; 2 or fewer activities completed

Due Date:

The 10th day of your English class.

English II Summer Reading: