7 th Grade Summer Reading Project Uplift Infinity English Language Arts
Amazing Scholars, I can t wait to be your 7 th grade English Language Arts teacher next year and to get to know each and every one of you! 7 th grade is a BIG year for English-it is a class where your analysis in reading will be pushed further, and you will be intensely developing your writing abilities given that you will have a STAAR Writing Test in addition to a STAAR Reading Test. We want to be able to really take off flying in August, so I ve put together a summer reading assignment and project for you to complete at your own pace while you are enjoying your break from school. The books on the next page that you will be choosing from all reflect a dystopian theme-a view of the world where things are bad, controlled, and/or oppressive (think Hunger Games or Divergent). Our first unit will include dystopian literature (some of my favorite stories EVER), so this will be a great way to begin those discussions, debates, and opportunities for analysis. Please read this packet carefully for all instructions! The project is due on Monday of the Second Week of School. Projects that are turned in on time will be given a grade in the form of extra credit to begin the school year. Late projects will not be accepted. If you do not do the project/do not turn it in by the deadline, you will be starting the year serving 3 detentions with me in order to complete a make-up assignment. Make the right choice and may the odds be ever in your favor. -Mrs. Bracher, or Mrs. B Have questions? E- Mail at infinity7ela@gmail.com. There is even the possibility of holding office hours at Infinity during the week of June 8-12 where I would be available on campus to help you with your reading and project. E- Mail me if interested!
Book Options You must read one of the books from this list for your summer reading project. I ve included a brief synopsis for each of them in case you have not heard of them before. Obviously, avoid picking a book you have already read. 1. The Maze Runner by James Dashner So there's this kid who wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past other than the fact that his name is Thomas. When it the elevator doors open, he is pulled into a huge glade by a bunch of teenage boys who also have no memories besides what they should be called. They all share a strange vocabulary, a fondness for capitalizing words to make them special, and the same mysterious fate. 2. City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau Meet Lina and Doon. They're your average twelve- year- olds, except for the fact that they live in the city of Ember, and lead lives that couldn't be more different from your own. Since they're graduating from school, they and their classmates are all assigned jobs. Lina draws a job in the underground Pipeworks, when she'd really wanted to become a Messenger. Doon offers to trade with her, and soon enough, she's gallivanting around town, delivering messages like nobody's business. 3. Matched by Ally Condie A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away wait, wrong story. This one's many, many years in the future, right here in what used to be the good old USA. We begin our futuristic adventure on Cassia's seventeenth birthday, at a fancy party where she'll get to find out her Match a.k.a. the guy she's going to spend the rest of her life with. Yep, you heard that right. She's delighted to learn that it's her bestie, Xander but it's not all sunshine and roses and happily ever after for these two lovebirds (obviously otherwise the book would only have one chapter)
But wait, where do I get this book? Places to Buy Books 1. Half-Priced Books (13 minutes away from Infinity) 3401 W. Airport Fwy. Irving, TX 75062 2. Barnes and Noble (30 minutes from Infinity, around North Park Mall) 7700 West Northwest Hwy. #300, Lincoln Park, Dallas, TX 75225 3. Online on Amazon.com (simple and can be very cheap if you decide to buy a paperback, or even a used copy) 4. Check Target and Wal-Mart in the Books Section Place where you do not have to buy books Public Library! 1. Irving Public Library Website for Locations http://cityofirving.org/1054/library Closest Locations to Infinity West Irving Library 4444 W Rochelle Rd, Irving, TX 75062 South Irving Library 601 Schulze Dr., Irving, TX 2. Dallas Public Library Website for Locations http://dallaslibrary2.org/hours.php
Finally! The Assignment! After reading the novel you picked, I would like you to do one of the following projects for the book. I have included a rubric for how you will be graded at the end of the packet. Know that I do not accept thoughtless, sloppy work for projects. Create something you re proud to put your name on and that a teacher (me!) would be proud to have displayed in their classroom. Examples are on the next page. 1. Make a soundtrack/cd Case for the book Choose 10 songs. For each song, explain in at least two complete sentences a. why you chose the song and b. Explain how it relates to the events or characters in the book. This can be written or printed, and it will go inside of your CD Case that you make. You will create a version of a CD case that represents the novel-the front cover can be drawings of scenes in the book, main characters, your copy of the book cover, ClipArt/A printed picture and the back cover will simply be the list of songs Must have the Book title and author somewhere on the front cover This case can be an actual CD case, but it does not have to be. It can be an enlarged version with poster board (or a smaller version with card board/card stock/construction paper-whatever you want!) Be creative! 2. Become a character and write a diary There should be at least 5 entries that are at least 6-8 sentences long Include events from the novel and how you feel about them. Write in the voice of the character (using words they would use and saying things they would say.) Diary should be put together in some way, either with papers stapled together, an actual notebook, or a binder with sheet protectors 3. Make an illustrated time line of events in the book Make sure your time-line includes at least 10 events with a two sentence description and small picture or clipping describing each event. (10 pictures/drawings, 10 events, 20 sentences total) Should be done on large poster board and in color
Examples! This was made with decorative paper and cardboard. A student did something like this so that there was an envelope on the inside with the songs and explanations, and on the outside, they decorated it like the cover of the book (Title and Author should be on the front cover) Other options are stapled construction paper, binders, an actual CD case you decorate etc. For the diary, many students have found binders or mini-binders to decorate like the novel, then put the diary entries inside of it. The diary can also be made with stapled pages though-you can be as creative or as simple as you want Poster of the plot/timeline of the novel (events are detailed in order, there are pictures for illustrations)-i m just requiring the major events of the story, so at LEAST 10 events in straight line with visuals surrounding it (this is a plot diagram, so looks a bit different)
Rubric for How I Will Grade Project 1 Did you do project this morning? There are not many novel- specific details in the project. You included things easily found on the novel cover, online, or in a movie version if there is one. There is no understanding of characters, conflicts, or events. Missing more than 8 sentences required to explain. Product looks rushed and like a very first draft. There is no color, it is simply on a piece of paper with pen or pencil, might have mistakes on it crossed out or have obvious eraser marks None of required images/no color There are more than 8 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and most sentences are not even complete sentences 2 Ok, but still is messy and has a few issues Details are still fairly basic about the novel. You include some very simple events and character qualities, but it is clear that comprehension is still limited and not truly reflective about whole book. Missing 4-5 of required sentences to explain. Product is a bit more together, but missing color or images, and still looks a bit messy. Does not look like much time went in to creating it. Maybe some color, and half of required images There are between 5-6 mistakes in spelling and grammar and sentences are too simple, and some are not complete 3 Good! Wish there was just that extra bit of effort and time Overall, the details about the novel are present and I can tell that you really understand the book. Some sections might be missing 2-3 sentences of explanation. Nice looking project, has color and all required illustrations, but some areas seem like less effort was put into them than others. Most of required images, coloring might be rushed or incomplete but overall looks nice There are only 2-3 mistakes in spelling and grammar, and all sentences are complete, but some are still too simple/short 4 Excellent! It s going up on the wall week! Information about the book is very detailed and it is clear you really analyzed and reflected on the characters, the conflicts, themes, and other aspects of the novel. You are not missing any required number of sentences for explanation, and might have more sentences than requirement You went above and beyond with artistic effort. All required images are present, all are in color, and it is clear that you took your time on every single part of the product. This is legendary. There are no spelling/grammar mistakes and sentences are all complete sentences
Rubric for How I Will Grade Project 12 Points 11 Points 10 Points 9 Points 8 Points 7 Points 6 Points 5 Points 4 Points 3 Points =100 (Extra Credit on Tests/Quizzes) =95 (Extra Credit on Tests/Quizzes) =90 (Extra Credit on Tests/Quizzes) =85 (Extra Credit on Homework) =80 (Extra Credit on Homework) =70 (Extra Credit on Homework) No Extra Credit; you will be doing make-up assignment No Extra Credit; you will be doing make-up assignment No Extra Credit; you will be doing make-up assignment No Extra Credit; you will be doing make-up assignment Any project that receives 6 points or less is not the quality of work I expect and will need to be edited, finished, or re-done during tutoring