Summer Reading Project Choices for Required Assignments

and the List of Books for MAC:

Directions:  Middle and High School students will choose one (1) book to read and complete only one of the below options.  Honors/Gifted High School and AP students must read two (2) books from the list and complete Choice B and either Choice A or C.  An additional list for AP will be sent separately.

Choice A:  A student is to keep a Reader Response Journal.  Journals are to include what was read, response to what was read, questions and/or deeper analysis of what was read.  Each entry must include pages read – the more pages read at each entry, the longer and more detailed the entry is expected to be.  Would you (the student) have an alternate ending?  Why or why not?  Explain within the journal.  Each student should turn in a composition book completely filled out!  Teachers will be looking for context, details, page references, citations of exact quotes, in-depth analysis and well thought out responses.  Journals with pages full of large writing, simply to take up space will be critically graded.  Students may get creative with their entries, using images, pictures, quotes and elaborating.

Journals may also include visual responses, drawings, collages, etc.  These visual representations are to be accompanied by a written response explaining what was created and why.

Choice B:  A student is to write a Critical Book Review. (Format/Rubric below) High School Honors and AP students

Choice C:  Student is to create a detailed storyboard of pertinent events - a comic-book version that is to include actual character quotes from text.  This storyboard is to be accompanied by 2 to 4 page explanation of story Board: Why were such scenes chosen while others were left out?  Plot?  Climax? Resolution?  Alternate Ending?  Paper is to be typed, Times New Roman, 12-font, 1-inch margins.

The storyboard is expected to be composed of several slides or frames:

          High School      -   12 to 18 slides/frames

          Middle School   -    6 to 8 slides/frames

Again, each slide is to be accompanied by 1 to 3 page explanation of slides.  Why were these scenes chosen as visual representations?  What made these scenes stand out?

Choice B: Critical Book Review     (Honors/Gifted/Advanced Students)

DUE: 1^st day of school (NO EXCEPTIONS!)

Choice of Books

You may choose any book listed on the Summer Reading List. All books have a small summary to indicate genre and induce interest.

How to Write a Critical Book Review

Some tips adapted from: Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing History (Boston, 1995), 4-5:

A book review is not the same thing as a book report, which simply summarizes the content of a book. When writing a book review, you not only report on the content of the book but also assess its strengths and weaknesses. Students sometimes feel unqualified to write a book review; after all, the author of the book is a professional historian. However, even if you cannot write from the same level of experience and knowledge as the author, you can write an effective review if you understand what the assignment requires. In writing a review you do not just relate whether or not you liked the book; you also tell your readers why you liked or disliked it. It is not enough to say, "This book is interesting"; you need to explain why it is interesting. Similarly, it is not enough to report that you disliked a book; you must explain your reaction. Did you find the book unconvincing because the author did not supply enough evidence to support his or her assertions? Or did you disagree with the book's underlying assumptions?

To understand your own reaction to the book, you need to read it carefully and critically.

As a critical reader, you are not passive; you should ask questions of the book and note reactions as you read. Your book review then discusses those questions and reactions. Though there is no "correct" way to structure a review, the following is one possible approach.

• Summarize the book and relate the author's main point, or thesis. (Somewhere early in the paper, identify the author briefly.
•  Describe the author's viewpoint and purpose for writing; note any aspects of the author's background that are important for understanding the book.
• Note the most important evidence the author presents to support his or her thesis. 
• Evaluate the author's use of evidence, and describe how he or she deals with counter evidence.
• Is the book's argument convincing? If so why, if not, why not. Cite examples from the text.
• Compare this book with other books or articles you have read on the same subject.
• Conclude with a final evaluation of the book. You might discuss who would find this book useful and why.

• NOTE: "Critical" does not mean negative; skeptical does not mean cynical. If a book is well written and presents an original thesis supported by convincing evidence, say so. A good book review does not have to be negative; it does have to be fair and analytical.

Expectations:   a paper of 4-5 pages with appropriate citations.   (May check online cites for rules to proper citations.  Example:  easybib.com)

**Remember to double space, 1-inch margins, Time New Roman, 12-Font, MLA format in-text citations.  If there are any questions regarding appropriate citations, Google search: MLA Citations Purdue OWL.

Source: Professor Michael Kucher, How to Write Book Reviews, http://courses.washington.edu/tande/book_reviews.htm