The Woodlands College Park High School

Conroe Independent School District

9th Grade Summer Reading Assignment 2017

English I – Pre-AP

In Conroe ISD, we encourage all students to read over the summer in order to enrich learning and provoke thought. Summer reading strengthens reading skills, increases academic achievement, fosters a love for reading, and empowers students to become life-long learners.

Additionally, students who enroll in a Pre AP or AP English course are expected to engage in summer reading as it prepares students for the upcoming school year and creates an initial common framework for classroom discussion and instruction.

Your Assignment:

  • Read the novel Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
  • Complete the Sticky-Note Book Report – you will need a pad of post-it notes

NOTE: There will also be a major grade related to the summer reading novel within the first few days of school. All students must bring the novel and completed sticky-notes to class on the first day of school.

What is a Sticky-Note Book Report?

  • As you read the novel, you will use sticky notes (post-its) to document your thoughts, record observations, ask questions, post reactions, and determine significance within the novel
  • The sticky-note book report will help you engage with the novel, serve as a study tool for tests, and keep track of notes for potential essay topics.

Sticky-Note Book Report must meet the following requirements:

  • Document at least 20 post-it notes and place them within the pages as you read.
  • Write a brief chapter summary (2-3 sentences) for each chapter on a sticky-note and place at the beginning of each chapter – chaptersummaries DO NOT count towards the required 20 post-it notes.

Tips for a successful Sticky-Note Book Report:

  • Sticky-Notes should cover the ENTIRE book
  • Sticky-Notes should be neat and legible.
  • Use the suggested topics on the back of this sheet as a guide while you create your notes.

9th Pre-AP Required Reading Novels for 2017-2018:

Students will receive a list of required novels on the first day of school. Novels will be available in the College Park library at the beginning of the school year.

9th Pre-AP Vocabulary for 2017-2018:

To increase freshmen vocabulary skills, we will use the Sadlier vocabulary program which maintains a high level of academic rigor while focusing on vocabulary development for the college-bound student. More details about the vocabulary book will be available in August.

  • Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Enriched Edition Level Dby Jerome Shostak-- this is the only acceptable edition

Sticky-Note Book Report - Suggested Topics

The following are possible topics that could be documented on your post-it notes. Topics can be used more than once but remember you need at least 20 post-its in your book.

Analysis:
YOU MUST ADDRESS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES AT LEAST ONCE…
• Tone: When the novel presents a significant moment, identify the tone of the passage and explain how the tone is established in this moment.
• Symbolism: Focus on an object that might represent something beyond its literally meaning. Identify the object and write about what it might represent. Possible symbols in the novel include: monitor, the giant’s game, the bugger mask, army team names, the bugger queen, mirror, etc.
• Figurative Language: Identify an example of significant figurative language. Copy the quote, identify the figurative language device, write the author’s purpose using this figurative language device within the passage or to the novel as a whole. Examples of figurative language include: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, imagery, etc.
• Theme: Identify an important moment or quote which applies to the central message of the novel. Copy the quote or summarize the moment and explain what theme it applies to. Possible thematic ideas in the novel include: relationships between adults and children, compassion, humanity, appearance vs. reality, empathy vs. destruction, morality vs. survival, leadership, etc.
• Allusion: An allusion is an indirect reference to a well-known historical figure or event, mythology, and/or religion; the reader is able to recall something without the novel explicitly mentioning it. Possible allusion in the novel include: Locke, Demosthenes, Veni Vidi Vici, etc.