Name : ______
South Iredell High School
Mrs. Abrams
Junior Summer Reading Assignment
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Directions: The Last Lecture is a book that can be read in one or two sittings. As is standard, you should casually annotate as you read the book. While there are many chapters, they are short. In preparation for our class seminar on The Last Lecture, you are to create your Top Ten List from The Last Lecture. The chart below requires you to list your preferred chapters, leading up to your number one chapter. You are to provide what you assert to be the key thematic passage from the chapter with a proper M.L.A. parenthetical citation, and you are to make a connection of the chapter’s contents to another text (novel, short story, poem, film, television show, web site). Explain why you believe the texts connect to each other.
Chapter Rank / “Chapter Title” / “Key thematic passage quoted with M.L.A. internal citation format” (Abrams 123). / Connection to another text with explanation.10
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1
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Directions: While your notes on The Last Lecture require you to choose your favorite chapters and list their titles, this assignment will require you to title the chapters of The Namesake, which Lahiri only assigns numbers. As you read, you should annotate and consider working titles of the chapters. Each title can reflect something unique about the chapter, for example a conflict, a series of events, or a theme. Your title cannot be taken from the text of the chapter – it must be your own articulated thought. Complete the chart for your chapter titles. For each chapter, you are to provide two cited examples from the text that support your title choice, and you are to provide a brief explanation (2-3 sentences) for your title choice. Make sure that your explanation and your choice of examples from the text are clearly related.
Chapter Number / Chapter Title / “Passage quoted with M.L.A. internal citation format” (Abrams 123). / “Another passage quoted with M.L.A. internal citation format” (Abrams 128). / Explanation of title choice1
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Rubric for The Last Lecture Top Ten Chart
Requirement / 23-25 points / 20-22 points / 17-19 points / 15-16 points / 0-14 pointsKey thematic quotations with MLA Citations / All quotations are cited properly and reflect the chapters’ meaning powerfully. / Most quotations are cited properly and reflect the chapters’ meaning notably. / Most quotations are cited properly but some reflect the chapters’ meaning basically. / Quotations are not cited properly and reflect the chapters’ meaning basically. / Quotations are not cited properly and do not reflect the chapters’ meaning.
Text-to-text connections / The student specifically references ten textual parallels that make the chapters’ content relevant. / The student specifically references ten textual parallels, and most make the chapters’ content relevant. / The student references ten textual parallels, but some connections are not relevant or well explained. / The student references fewer than ten textual parallels, and connections are not clearly evident. / The student does not make textual parallels, and connections are not evident.
Grade and comments: _____/50
Rubric for The Namesake Chapter Title Chart
Requirement / 27-30 points / 24-26 points / 21-23 points / 18-20 points / 0-17 pointsChapter Titles / Titles are original thoughts of the student, meaningfully connected to the content of the chapters. / Titles are original thoughts of the student, connected to the content of the chapters. / Some titles are original thoughts of the student and generally connected to the content of the chapters. / Titles are vague and generally connected to the content of the chapters. / Titles are vague and not clearly connected to the content of the chapters.
Quoted Passages / Passages emphasize the meanings of the titles and underscore the relevant aspects of the chapters. M.L.A. internal citation format is flawless. / Passages reveal the meanings of the titles and indicate the relevant aspects of the chapters. M.L.A. internal citation format is followed, but one error is evident. / Passages reveal the meanings of the titles and indicate the relevant aspects of the chapters. M.L.A. internal citation format is followed, but two errors are evident. / Passages do not optimally reveal the meanings of the titles or indicate the relevant aspects of the chapters. M.L.A. internal citation format is followed, but two or more errors are evident. / Passages do not reflect the meanings of the titles or indicate the relevant aspects of the chapters. M.L.A. internal citation format is not followed.
Explanation of title choices / Explanations provide clear connections between the title choices and the quoted passages, with details and rationales for choices of chapter titles. / Explanations provide connections between the title choices and the quoted passages, with rationales for choices of chapter titles. / Explanations provide some connections between the title choices and the quoted passages, with some rationales for choices of chapter titles. / Explanations are vague connections between the title choices and the quoted passages, with poor rationales for choices of chapter titles. / Explanations lack connections between the title choices and the quoted passages, with few rationales for choices of chapter titles.
Grade and comments: _____/90