Grady Middle School



Grady Middle School

7th Grade Summer Reading Assignment

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Mr. Jackson and Mrs. Marshall

2014-2015

Summer Required Reading is

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Items included in this packet:

▪ Directions for Written response assignments / grading rubrics

▪ Directions creative project / grading rubrics

▪ Student resources and reference materials

IB Question:

How can your beliefs and actions change a community?

The Assignment: After reading Wonder by R. J. Palacio, reread the precepts generated by Mr. Browne’s students at the back of the novel. (Precepts are directions given as rules of action or conduct.) Think about a message that you would choose to act on as your own personal precept. You must create your own personal precept to live by this school year or borrow a quotation, song lyric, poem verse, etc. from someone else as long as you give them credit for their work. (Although you may borrow an idea or quotation from another source, you may not use one of the precepts included in the novel).

Your precept about your beliefs and/or values should be:

• global, inspirational and/or motivational, and attributed to its source (you or another author).

Once you have created your own precept to live by, write it on a postcard and mail it to:

Mrs. Marshall & Mr. Jackson

Grady Middle School

5215 San Felipe

Houston, TX 77056

You can design your postcard on the computer, buy one and glue your precept on, or draw it your self.

• Make sure you write a note explaining why you think the precept is an important rule to live by!

Example:

Front Back

Written Response Assignment (complete 2)

***This ONE is required

▪ Write a letter from August’s point of view (First person point of view) explaining the conflict in the story. Write the letter to a “pen pal” who does not know the other characters or the situation in which August finds himself.

***Choose ONE of the three below

▪ Choose two characters from the book and one choice that each character made. Write a paragraph or create a diagram comparing and contrasting the characters’ choices.

▪ Write a well written paragraph identifying the rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution of the book.

▪ Write a well written paragraph explaining what you think the author’s main purpose for the story is. In addition to the purpose, include a possible theme and explain it.

All writing assignments should include basic paragraph construction including a topic sentence, supporting sentences with specific details, and a concluding sentence. Assignments should be typed if a computer is available. A handwritten assignment will be accepted.

Each activity should be on a separate sheet of paper. You may use copy paper, drawing paper, or poster board.

Written Response Scoring Rubric

Score and Criteria

8-point response clearly demonstrates exceptional understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides an insightful explanation/opinion that links to or extends aspects of the text.

6-7-point response demonstrates a basic understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides some explanation/opinion using situations or ideas from the text as support.

4-5-point response may address all of the requirements, but demonstrates a partial understanding of the task, and uses text incorrectly or with limited success resulting in an inconsistent or flawed explanation.

2-3-point response demonstrates minimal understanding of the task, does not complete the requirements, and provides only a vague reference to or no use of the text.

Response does not provide enough information for the teacher to evaluate.

1-point response is irrelevant or off-topic or has been plagiarized.

Creative Projects

Students must choose ONE of the projects below to complete at home.

Choice #1: Book Jacket

Create a colorful, engaging book jacket that includes the following:

Cover: New cover for the book with illustration, title, author, and student name.

Inner Flap (left side):

• Summary –Sequential summary of key story events from the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and conclusion of the novel.

Inner Flap (right side):

• Text connections (text to text, text to self or text to world)

Back Flap: Theme – Description of the theme supported with examples from the story.

Rubric:

The summary is detailed and well written; the jacket is colorful, neat, and eye catching, the text

connection is meaningful and purposeful, careful proofreading is evident, and the theme is thoughtful and clearly explained. (8 points)

• Story summary (2 points)

• Picture (2 points)

• Theme / Text connection (2 points)

• Grammar, spelling, mechanics (2 points)

Choice #2: Bookmark

Create an eye-catching bookmark that complements your summer reading book by illustrating a key event that is pivotal to the climax and list 3 examples of figurative language used to bring key details and events to life (simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, etc.). The exact sentence from the novel containing the example of figurative language must be included, along with the page number and labeled with the type of figurative language it reflects. (8 points)

Format: (bookmark should be no smaller than 8 ½” x 3 ½”)

• Front: Title, author, setting, theme

• Back: 3 examples of figurative language

Rubric:

• Title, author, setting (2 points)

• Illustration is detailed, colorful and clearly a key event (2 points)

• 3 examples of figurative language (labeled), page number (2 points)

• Grammar, spelling, mechanics (2 points)

Choice #3: Scrapbook

The scrapbook will include pictures, artifacts, and a short description that demonstrates the students’ understanding of and reflection on the novel, Wonder by R.J. Palacio. In addition, the student will design an attractive cover or title page including the title of the novel and the author. (8 points)

Pages should include the following topics (organized in this order)

• Setting

• Characters

• Major plot events

• Themes / lessons learned

• One significant quote

Rubric:

• Cover with title and author noted (2 points)

• Each page topic includes pictures and a short description that explains its relevance to the novel (2 points)

• Correct spelling, grammar, mechanics (2 points)

• Creativity, neatness (2 Points)

Student Reference Material:

Plot - A plan of action (sequenced or a chain of events, actions,

episodes or steps) that the character experiences while trying to solve

his problem.

Setting - The time or place the story is told.

Character - A person, animal or imaginary character that drives the action of the story.

Exposition / Introduction - The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed.

Rising Action - This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax).

Climax - This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story. The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?

Conflict or Problem - Typically a single protagonist (main character) is in an internal

or external struggle to solve a problem. The internal conflict is between the character and himself (i.e., fear), or an external struggle with others, society, nature or technology.

Falling action - The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. The reader

knows what has happened next and whether or not the conflict was resolved (events between climax and denouement).

Resolution / Denouement - This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.

Theme or moral: The reason why was the story written. The author wrote the story to

teach a lesson or communicate a universal idea about people or human nature.

Examples:

• Confidence builds with success

• People are afraid of change

• People aren’t always as they seem

Figurative Language

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language.

Simile - A figure of speech which involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as:

Examples:

• The baby was like an octopus, grabbing for everything in sight.

• The snow covered hills in the distance were like welcoming pillows to the returning mountain climbers.

Metaphor - A figure of speech which involves an implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of be.

Examples:

• Her hair was silk

• The road was a ribbon of moonlight.

• My father was the sun and the moon to me.

• He was a library of information about baseball.

Personification - A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea. It is a comparison which the author uses to show something in an entirely new light, to communicate a certain feeling or attitude towards it and to control the way a reader perceives it.

Examples:

• The stuffed bear smiled as the little boy hugged him close.

• The curtain was waving to everyone every time the wind blew through the open window.

Onomatopoeia - The use of words that mimic sounds. They appeal to our sense of hearing and they help bring a description to life. A string of syllables the author has made up to represent the way a sound really sounds.

Example:

• Crackle!

• Buzz, hiss, roar, woof

• Drip, Drop, Drip, Drop went the rain drops falling on the roof of the house.

Hyperbole - An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point.

Examples:

• I have a ton of things to do today.

• I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!

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Mrs. Marshall & Mr. Jackson

Grady Middle School

5215 San Felipe

Houston, TX 77056

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Dear English Teachers,

I think that “Your deeds are your monuments” is an important rule to live by. Monuments are left behind as a reminder of something or someone; they are what people are remembered for. Your deeds are your actions and accomplishments. I know that what I do in life is what I will be remembered for. When I think about that, I am inspired to do better and be better so that my monument is one I can be proud of!

Sincerely,

Student name

“Your deeds are your monuments.”

-Mr. Browne

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