8th Grade Pre-Ap



8th Grade Pre-AP 1st Semester Reading Project

8th grade Pre-AP Language Arts Student,

Throughout the semester you should read as many books as you have time and interest to read. Reading experts note that most young readers suffer a backslide in reading skills during the summer. Research shows that a consistent amount of reading each day (30-45 minutes) will increase reading and comprehension skills and benefit you in every subject, even math. It will also keep your mind sharp and prepare you for the rigors of 8th grade Pre-AP classes.

Good places to get your books are from the

Lone Star Reading List @

The Spirit of Texas Reading Program-Middle School Authors List @

ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION

1. You are required to read one book from the Recommended Novel Lists.

2. All students will also choose a book from the Recommend Novel Lists and create a portfolio to complete the following activities:

1) Vocabulary Activity, 2) Reading Response, 3) Plot Chart, and a 4) Novel Project.

3. Extra Credit: Create a 30 second movie trailer (for your book) using Photo Story or something similar. Make sure it catches the viewer’s attention. This can be turned in to YouTube and provide us with the link or add it to my YouTube site.

4. All assignments are due to your Pre-AP Language Arts teacher on the specific date assigned to you.

DATE For My Project: _________________________________.

RECOMMENDED NOVEL LISTS

1. Read a novel from the Recommended Novel List or the Texas Lone Star Reading List and The Spirit of Texas Reading Program-Middle School Authors List.

2. Complete the Vocabulary Activity – single grade

3. Complete the Reading Response Sheet – single grade

4. Complete a Plot Chart – single grade

5. Choose one Novel Project assignment to complete – double grade

6. Extra Credit: Create a 30 second movie trailer

Materials Needed:

1. Composition Notebook

2. Selected Novel

3. Portfolio Folder

When you your project is due you will present your project to the class and answer any questions that the students have about your book, author or project.

8th Grade Pre-AP Teacher

Elena Burdan eburda@

Recommended Novel List

*Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Mattie is a typical fourteen-year-old who has plans for her life. Suddenly, the town is abuzz with reports of disease. She discovers that illness is everywhere, and she must quickly learn how to survive in a city turned hysterical with disease. Suddenly, her struggle to build a better life must give way to something even more important -- the fight to stay alive. A/B&M

*Pigman by Paul Zindel

When sophomores John and Lorraine played a practical joke a few months ago on a stranger named Angelo Pignati, they had no idea what they were starting. Virtually overnight, almost against their will, the two befriended the lonely old man; it wasn't long before they were more comfortable in his house than their own. (Young Adult material) A/B&N

*Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

The classic story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. (Young Adult material) A/B&N

*The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Set during World War II in Germany, this is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. (Young Adult material) A

Heat by Mike Lupica

Michael is a twelve-year-old Cuban immigrant with an amazing baseball talent. He wants to lead his team to victory in the World Series…the Little League World Series. However, Michael has a secret that may keep him from attaining this dream if anybody finds out. Heat is an uplifting story of the undying spirit, an unwavering dream, the glory of the field, and the unbridled innocence of childhood. A/B&N

*Nothing but the Truth by Avi

Ninth grade student Phillip Malloy was suspended from school for singing along to The Star Spangled Banner in his homeroom, causing what his teacher called a ‘disturbance.’ Was Phillip standing up for his patriotic ideals? Was his teacher simply trying to be a good teacher? Or could it all be just a misunderstanding gone badly? What is the truth here? Heroism, hoax, or mistake, what happened at Harrison High changes everything for everyone in ways no one – least of all Phillip – could have ever predicted.

A/B&N

The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron

A young boy who has no identity or memory of his past washes ashore on the coast of Wales and finds his true name after a series of fantastic adventures. (First of a five volume series)

*Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

In Mr. Ward’s high school English class in the Bronx, the students are in the midst of a poetry lesson on the Harlem Renaissance. Mr. Ward sets Friday’s aside for slam poetry. As the classmates reveal their innermost thoughts and fears, they begin to find ways to relate to one another. (Young Adult material)

*The Eye, the Ear, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer

In Zimbabwe in the year 2194, the military ruler's 13-year-old son and his younger brother and sister leave their technologically overcontrolled home and find themselves on a series of perilous adventures. Tendai and his siblings encounter mile-high buildings and other miracles of scientific advance; they also find fetid slums and toxic waste dumps. As they're kidnapped by gangsters, forced to slave in a plastic mine, and accused of witchcraft, they're pursued by mutant detectives, who are both bumbling and sensitive and who always seem to be just one step behind rescuing the children. A/B&N

*Award Winner

A = Amazon

B&N = Barnes & Noble

All books, except Nothing but the Truth, are available for Nook and/or Kindle.

Vocabulary Activity

Complete the Vocabulary Chart on your own paper using the novel you chose from the Recommended Novel Lists.

• Find a total of 10 vocabulary words in the novel.

• These words should be significant words that you are not familiar with.

• Write in complete sentences.

• Do not include proper nouns or terms that are specific only to science fiction.

• Common affix list:

| Page |Original sentence from the |Evaluate and identify vocabulary words |Definition |Original Sentence. |

|number |novel. |for affixes (prefixes/suffixes) and |Use a dictionary to define the |You must compose an |

|the |Underline the vocabulary |provide the meaning of those found. |word. Use the same meaning that is|original sentence |

|vocabulary word is |word. | |used in the text. |using the same meaning |

|found on. | | | |as the vocabulary word |

| | | | |in the novel. |

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Reading Response Activity

This evaluation must be filled out for the novel you chose from the Recommended Reading List.

Title of Book ______________________Author’s Name ______________________

Directions: Answer all parts of the following worksheets on your own paper with complete sentences. Use correct grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

A theme is the message or insight about life or human nature that a writer presents to the reader. Although some works are written purely for entertainment and don’t have a clear-cut theme, in these books, the writers make at least one point about life or the human condition. The theme is usually not stated directly, and therefore, you will have to make an inference. One way to discover the theme of a work is to consider what you can learn from the main character. The importance of that event, stated in terms that apply to all human beings, is the theme.

List three themes found within your book.

1.

2.

3.

Give one example from your book (quote and page number) to support each of the themes you have listed. List an instance or character that explains your theme. Be as specific as possible.

1.

2.

3.

What is the setting of your book? What year do the events take place? What is the season? Where does most of the action take place? What are the economic conditions? What are the customs unique to this novel?

Name two conflicts in your book. Briefly explain the circumstances surrounding each conflict. Specify what kinds of conflicts are taking place (man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society, man vs. nature, man vs. fate)

1.

Name two conflicts in your book. Briefly explain the circumstances surrounding each conflict. Specify what kinds of conflicts are taking place (man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society, man vs. nature, man vs. fate)

1.

2.

What is the climax or point of highest tension? When do things begin to change? Explain in detail how this changes the outcome of the novel.

Refer back to the two conflicts you have already listed. How are each of these conflicts resolved? Be as specific as possible including character names and types of conflict.

1.

2

ASTAR Characterization

This is the method used by the writer to develop a character. A character can be developed in four ways:

1. Appearance/Physical description – What does the character look like?

2. Speech/What the character says (dialogue)

3. Thoughts/What the narrator says about the character

4. Actions/ how the character acts

5. Reaction of others/ What other characters say about a specific character

Create this chart on your own paper.

Identify the main characters and their roles in the novel. Describe their personalities, and provide specific examples from the text to support the character traits you have listed.

|Character |Role in Story |Character Traits – use details from the |Evidence from the Text –quote and page number |

| | |characterization list | |

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*If necessary, you may attach additional pages for any part of this assignment.

Plot Diagram

Use this Plot Diagram as an example for creating your own Plot Chart on your own paper. Make sure that all elements are included. This Plot Chart will be used as a guideline for your Novel Project.

Novel Project Choices

Choose one project to complete after you have read your novel.

*Level 1: Choices on this level begin at a starting grade of 100%

*Game – Create a board game based on the story of your book. Your major conflicts are to be the exciting points for the players of your game. Be as creative as you can and still maintain the story line of the book. It is more important and impressive to work in accurate events from the story than it is to actually build the game. Focus on having the story and character personalities coming through the game’s events. Player pieces should be modeled after characters. A scoring system and typed instructions are required.

*Pack a Project: Find a container that represents something unique about the plot of the book. Fill the container with at least 10 objects that represent something about the character, setting, plot, or conflict of the story. You may not use pictures, drawings, or words (objects only).

On a separate sheet of paper make a list of the objects and describe what they symbolize and why that part of the plot was important.

*3-D Room – Create a character’s room in 3-D. This space should represent any part of the setting. It should include items important or significant to the character’s journey thought the novel. Label each part of the room and why it is important.

*Newspaper page or a news report – create a newspaper page write a script for a news report. Summarize the plot in one of your articles. Cover the weather that was happening in your story with a weather report. Include an editorial from you about the theme of the novel. Include a collection of ads that the main character would be interested in reading. Include a comic strip. Include picture of the character in action with a caption that describes action in the story.

*Comic Book – Cover the plot of the story in a comic book form. Include the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Make a cover for your comic book and an original title.

*Nominate your character for a political office – nominate one of the main characters for an office in local, state, or national government. Which office should they run for? What are the qualities that would make them good to represent that office? Make a campaign plan for that character that highlights those qualities. Include posters and a minimum of a one-page speech for the character.

*Re-write your novel into a picture book for a child – Summarize your novel and write make it into a child’s picture book. Include illustrations of the characters and setting. Re-title the book with an original title. Your book should contain at least 12 illustrated pages.

Level II: Choices on this level begin at a starting grade of 90%

Book Jacket: Fold card stock quality paper to create a book jacket that has a front, spine, back, and flaps. The front cover should contain artwork that represents the book, the title, and author. Place the title, author, and publishing company on the spine. On the back cover, write a summary of the book (using your own words). On the inside front flap, write something about the author. You may look at professionally designed book jackets, but do not copy.

Face Mask: Start with a simple oval shape with eye holes. Use color to say something about the character. Add textures and objects to illustrate the way the character acts and thinks. On a separate sheet of paper describe why you made those choices to represent your character.

Series of Trading Cards – Use characters or places in the novel and draw a picture of each character/place on a separate 3 x 5 card. On the back of the cards write important information about the character or place. Include the character’s name, age, and purpose in the novel. Relationship to other characters, what happens to the character, what happens in the scene, and why that scene is important? Each trading card must be colorful. Minimum of 8 trading cards.

Award – What award would you nominate this story for? Most Exciting? Most Likely to Make You Laugh your Head Off? Design and make an award for this novel. Award should be based on literary merit. Write a minimum of a one-page speech to describe why this novel is receiving this award.

Costume – Design costumes for the main characters. Use dolls and dress them as characters from the book. Explain who these characters are and how they fit in the story. On separate paper include the conflicts they face and how they are resolved, one page minimum.

Rubric for Pre-AP 1st Semester Novel Project

Each Activity will have an individual daily grade, but the whole project will also be graded as a project grade.

|Requirements |Possible Points |Teacher Comments |

|Vocabulary Activity | |

|Vocabulary selection was developed and shows evidence |10 | |

|of research and understanding of the words | | |

|Characters Count |(ASTAR Characterization) |

|Identifies the major and minor characters and describes|10 | |

|the qualities of personalities of each character | | |

|Project Events |(Plot Chart, Reading Response Sheet) |

|Accurately portrays the characters and events of the |15 | |

|novel | | |

|Includes major plot elements, including the climax |15 | |

|Project Elements | |

|Originality |10 | |

|Clear and easy to understand |10 | |

|Shows time and effort |10/*20 | |

|Followed specific directions for project |10 | |

|Total | | |

8th Grade Pre AP 1st Semester Reading Project Contract

Although the Pre AP Reading Project is the responsibility of the student, the teacher and parent play an important role in helping the student complete the project. These are the responsibilities each of us will focus on:

Teacher:

I will be set the parameters and requirements for the Reading project and discuss them with the students.

I will make sure the objectives; requirements and dates are clearly defined for the students.

I will monitor the progress of the students through individual progress checks and conferences.

I will be available to assist the students with the project after school on Wednesdays or through my email eburda@ .

Elena Burdan: _________________________ Date: _______________

Student:

I will choose a book from the Recommended Reading Lists. My choice is: _____________________________________ by _________________________

I will read the novel and annotate the book on a composition book or notebook to be used during my progress checks with my teacher and my parents.

I will complete all the required activities for my portfolio of the novel: Vocabulary Activity; Reading Response Sheet; Plot Chart, Novel Project and if I choose the Extra Credit Movie Trailer.

I will ask for assistance if I do not understand an activity or I am unsure about the assignment progress from Mrs. Burdan. She will be available on Wednesdays after school to help with this project.

I will take responsibility for the Reading Project, as it is a reflection of my academic commitment and will represent my ability to be self-motivated and work independently to complete a task.

The due date for my project is:

______________________________________________________________

Student: _________________________ Date: ________________

Parents:

I will assist my student in completing his/her Reading Project by making sure he/she has the novel they will be doing their project on.

I will provide an area and time that my student can read of work on the activities they need to complete for their Reading Project.

I will check on my students progress of their project by checking their notes on their compositing notebook and as they complete the required activities: Vocabulary Activity; Reading Response Sheet, Plot Chart, Novel Project and if they chose their Extra Credit Movie Trailer.

I will communicate with Mrs. Burdan (eburda@ )if I have any questions about the project of to clarify any questions on the requirements and the novel that my student has chosen.

My student’s Project is due: _________________________________________________

Parent Signature: _________________________ Date: _______________________

Please Sign and Return this page to Mrs. Burdan by: ______________________________

|1st Semester Reading Project |1st Semester Reading Project |1st Semester Reading Project |

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|Due Dates for 1st Semester Pre AP Reading Project |

|2nd Period |

|October 14 |October 15 |October 16 |October 17 |October 18 |

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