2016-2017
8th Grade PreAP
8th Grade PreAP
Since building a literary bank is critical to success in an advanced curriculum, a summer reading assignment is a requirement of all students enrolled in Pre-AP Language Arts classes. For the 2016-2017 school year, your language arts teachers have chosen two books. Lord of the Flies written by William Golding and Under A War-Torn Sky by L.M. Elliott. Students may choose either book to read. Students are required to obtain their own copy of the book and then complete a reading journal in preparation of a novel test that will be given at the beginning of the school year.
It will be your responsibility to acquire a copy of the novel. You may purchase it at a local bookstore, online, or check it out from the public library.
Required Assignment: Summer Reading Journal
Overall Instructions:
Your work is to be typed or written neatly in blue or black ink on one side of the paper only. You do not need a whole notebook for this assignment. You may use printer paper or notebook paper and then staple the completed pages together to turn in to your teacher in August.
Each entry must contain the following information. Set your paper up as follows. Remember, think quality rather than quantity. Your work must also be original. A grade of zero will be given for plagiarism.
Part I:
Divide your novel into three semi-equal sections. Answer question 1 and 2 for each of the 3 sections for a total of 6 entries for this part.
- Find and record the most significant line(s) in your reading for this section. Use quotation marks and record the page number. Explain why you consider your selection to be significant.
- Describe your personal reaction to this section of the novel. What questions, associations, memories, etc. did you have?
Part II:
A. Characterization:
a. Pick a character from your novel. Introduce and describe your character and tell whether your character is the protagonist or the antagonist.
b. Pick a dynamic character. Introduce and describe your dynamic character if he/she is different from the character you introduced in number one. Give examples from the reading to prove your points below. Be sure to use quotation marks and page numbers.
i. Explain in what way the character changed during the novel.
ii. Why did the author have this change occur?
iii. What effect did this change have on any of the other characters?
B. Conflict
a. Choose two types of conflict from your novel. (Internal-Man v self ; External--Man v Man, Man v Nature, Man v Society)
b. Give examples from the novel that demonstrate which types of conflict you are discussing. Be sure to use quotation marks and page numbers.
c. Explain how each of these two types of conflict is resolved in your novel.
C. Theme
a. Discuss the theme of the novel.
b. Give two examples from the novel that supports your idea of the theme. Be sure to use quotation marks and page numbers.
D. Recommendation
a. Discuss whether you would recommend this book to another student.
b. Explain your reasoning.
Optional: In your journal keep track of characters, plot, setting, and questions you may have. New vocabulary words are also a good idea.
