Middle School Summer Reading Assignments

Hello Students,

I am so very excited to have the opportunity to teach english and literature to you once again! Your growth as writers and readers has been incredible! So, let us continue that growth over the summer. You must read a minimum of four books over the summer. Three of the books you may choose from the list given in the this document. For your three chosen books please write a 1 page book report following the guidelines available in this document. Additionally, there is one required, non optional book and essay:Fahrenheit 451. The requirements for the essay are also listed in this document. If you have any questions email them to me at . The week before the assignments are due may be too late for me to help you. If you find yourself in a pickle, it is unacceptable to leave the assignments undone. So, try your best and turn in each assignment done to the best of your abilities.

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Mrs. Dozier

Fahrenheit 451 Essay Question

Choose one of the following essay questions. In a minimum of five paragraphs address the prompt. Give textual evidence. Use at least six quotes from the book to support your paper. Introduce quotes. Do not dump them on your paper.

  1. The men Montag meets at the end of the story are “living libraries.” How are they preserving the knowledge that their civilization has burned? Why is it important for them to do so? How is that knowledge important to the future?
  1. One of the main themes of this novel is the danger of censorship. How has censorship affected this society? Why is it so dangerous? With whom does the power to censor really lie? What lesson can be learned from Fahrenheit 451 for our society today?
  1. In Fahrenheit 451, the family dynamic has changed. How do families function in this society? Is that a positive or negative relationship for people? How does the family affect each of these characters: Montag, Clarisse, and Mildred?
  1. Faber and Granger each talk about what they did when books began to be destroyed. Discuss the actions that each of these characters took, and the results of their actions. How did their actions either fight against or give tacit permission to the book burning? Why is it important to speak up when you believe in something?

Essay requirements:

●Your response should reflect your thoughts, observations, and analysis of the novel. For this project, research is discouraged. Your response should be original.

●Do not summarize; do not give full plot information; critically analyze the novel.

● A minimum of 5 paragraphs and a Works Cited page, which should include two citations per body paragraph

●Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spaced

●Use MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited page -if you need help please use the Purdue Owl Website as some MLA information has changed

●Due Date: The first day of school. ~Make sure it isprinted AND e-mailed upon your arrival. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PRINT IN CLASS

●Please Email me if you do not understand the assignment, or if you have any questions at . I will check my email periodically throughout the Summer. The week before the assignment is due is too late. Do your best.

Book Report Guidelines

Complete three book reports from the Middle School Classics List using the following guidelines.

Paragraph Organization:

  1. Introduction
  2. Setting description
  3. Characters description
  4. Plot
  5. Conclusion

Paragraph Descriptions:

  1. Introduction: Contains the main idea of the paper, book title, author, main character(s), setting.
  2. Character Description: Name, characteristics, personality…(Remember, don’t just list characters. Often important characters have relationships with each other, use those relationships to describe the characters.)
  3. Setting Description: When and Where? What does it look like?
  4. Plot: Exposition, Trigger, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution (This paragraph can be long and does not need to be explicit concerning the plot parts. They are only listed here because they will help you know what parts of the story are important to your essay.)
  5. Conclusion: Book title, author, your opinion of the book

Format:

●Name, teacher, class, and date in MLA format

●Last name and page number on each in the header of each page

●12 point font

●Acceptable Fonts: Times New Roman, Cambria, or Calibri

●1 inch margins

●Indent paragraphs

●Minimum of 1 page

Middle School Classics:

LONDON, JACK THE CALL OF THE WILD

MARTEL, YANN LIFE OF PI

TOLKIEN, J.R.R. THE HOBBIT

WELLS, H.G. THE INVISIBLE MAN

STEINBECK, JOHN OF MICE AND MEN

BEAGLE, PETER THE LAST UNICORN

SWIFT, JONATHAN GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

WELLS, H.G WAR OF THE WORLDS

ORWELL, GEORGE ANIMAL FARM

FAST, HOWARD APRIL MORNING

LONDON, JACK WHITE FANG

CISNEROS, SANDRA THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET