DROP EVERYTHING AND READ

SUMMER SCHOOL 2008

INSTRUCTIONS: This summer you are to complete reading three books on your own and do each of the three following assignments. Choose which assignment you will do for each book. At the end of the summer you must have completed ALL three assignments, one for each book.

Assignment 1

After reading the book, you will write one of two letters. You might choose to write a letter to the main character of the book. Or you might choose to write a letter to the author of the book. In either letter you should describe how you felt when you read the story, the events that stuck with you the most as you read, and how you feel like you can relate to the things that happened in the story. You should also explain how you were moved by the story told in the book, what you learned from reading the book, and the lessons you’ll hold on to in your own life. You can describe how reading this story changed or reinforced your understanding of something in your life. Either way, the letter should not be a summary of the story or a re-telling of what happened … but a reflection of how you think about the story you read. This is your chance to show your personal, human connection with a story of identity from the world beyond our country’s borders.

Your letter must:

· be at least two pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins) with your name at the top as well as at the bottom (with your signature);

· be a clear expression of how you feel and what you think;

· use paragraphs and proper sentence structure to organize your thoughts and ideas.

Assignment 2

While reading the book, you will keep a journal of your reading experience. You must have a journal for a minimum of every 20 pages of your reading. So if your book is 200 pages long, you will hand in a minimum of 10 journal entries. It’s best to write your journal immediately after you finish reading so your ideas are still fresh. Your journal entries are to be handed in on loose leaf and hand-written entries are okay.

Each journal entry must:

· have one full paragraph about what happened in what you read

· have one full paragraph about what you think will happen next

· have one full paragraph about a way you relate this story to your own life. (What does it make you think about?)

· use paragraphs and proper sentence structure to organize your thoughts and ideas.

Assignment 3

After reading the book, you will make a portrait of the main character. Be creative and show me what your character looks like, what the setting of the novel looks like, what the main character struggles with in the novel, etc. Along with your illustration, you must have an artist statement. Your artist statement must be at least 4 paragraphs explaining why you chose to make your character look the way you did and why you included things in the back ground that you did. Your artist statement must have at least 3 direct quotations from the text. Use paragraphs and proper sentence structure to organize your thoughts and ideas. Your artist statement and portrait must be handed in together.

Your artist statement must:

· be written in at least 4 paragraphs

· use 3 direct quotations from the text

· explain all of the thoughts behind the portrait of the main character.

Your portrait must:

· prove knowledge of the book

· show reflective thought about the main character

· be creative and colorful.