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Jay M. Robinson Middle School

2014 Summer Reading Project for Eighth Grade

Reading is a very important part of the experience at Robinson Middle School. Research shows that the frequency and continuity of reading a variety of texts increases fluency, builds vocabulary, and helps readers become better writers. Most importantly, we hope that each and every student will become a life-long pleasure reader. Summer is a time for recreational reading, for exploring new books, and for reading those that you never had time for during the busy school year. So go ahead, read voraciously this summer!

We have selected two novels that will be challenging, yet pique students’ interest. You can check out a copy of one of the novels at any branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, purchase it at most book stores, or buy an electronic copy. However you get the novel, it is most important that you use active reading strategies as you read, using sticky notes in library copies, written notations and highlighting in personal copies, or electronically highlighting and taking notes on eBooks.

All rising eighth graders will choose one of the following novels:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

or

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Students must complete the following assignment, to be turned in to their Language Arts teacher by the due date of Friday, September 5. A copy of the assignment is also available on our website at http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/jayrobinson/ and in the main office throughout the summer.

Name: ______Block: ______Date: ______

Rubric for 8th grade Language Arts Summer Reading Project
The Alchemist or Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
Part I: Characterization Annotations (2 points for each annotation) / /30 points
Part II: Changes in the Main Character Paragraph / /28 points
Part III: Conflict Chart (4pts each conflict, 4 pts each explanation) / /32 points
Final Product (typed or neatly written, free of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes) / /10 points
TOTAL / /100 points


Project Instructions

Part I. Character Annotations: As you encounter each character on the list below, record three descriptive annotations. A descriptive annotation is a quotation from the text along with a written explanation that reveals something important about the character. Follow the attached template.

·  Each annotation should be cited correctly in MLA format with the author’s last name and page where the annotation was found.

·  Each of the three annotations for every character should reflect a different point of view to show

o  the narrator’s comments,

o  the character’s actions, speech, or thoughts,

o  other characters’ comments about the character or symbol.

·  Use the following characters for The Alchemist: Santiago, Fatima, The Englishman, The Alchemist, and The Crystal Merchant.

·  Use the following characters for Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Dobby, and Luna Lovegood.

Part II. Changes in the main character: When you have finished reading the novel, write a paragraph about how the main character (Santiago or Harry Potter) changes over the course of the story. Give textual evidence to support your claims. This should be 15-20 sentences. Your paragraph should include:

Topic Sentence: Must include the name of the novel, author, and name of the main character, as well as a listing of the three ways that the character changed throughout the novel.

Change #1 – in your own words explain how the character changes, and include a quotation that exemplifies this change and citation (author pg).

Change #2 – in your own words explain how the character changes, and include a quotation that exemplifies this change and citation (author pg).

Change #3 – in your own words explain how the character changes, and include a quotation that exemplifies this change and citation (author pg).

Closing sentence: Reword the topic sentence

Part III. Conflict: Characters in literature face conflict in many different forms. As you read the novel, identify the problems characters face and reference the text to find specific quotes or passages that show the various types of conflict endured. For each of the four types of conflict, select one quotation AND explain it. Make sure the quotation you cite clearly exemplifies the specific type of conflict, and then briefly explain why that quotation is a good example. Follow the attached template. As a review, the conflict types are defined as:

MAN vs. MAN: An external conflict where one character in the story has a problem with one or more of the other characters.

MAN vs. NATURE: An external conflict where a character has a problem with some natural happening: a snowstorm, an avalanche, the bitter cold, or any of the other elements common to nature.

MAN vs. SOCIETY: An external conflict where a character has a conflict or problem with some element of society--the school, the law, the accepted way of doing things, etc.

MAN vs. HIMSELF: An internal conflict where a character has trouble deciding what to do in a particular situation.

Part I: Character Annotations
Template: Use this to assist you with formatting. One example, from The Alchemist, has been provided. /
Character / Descriptive Annotation / Explanation of the Annotation
Baker
(example) / Narrator’s comments:
“[Santiago] went over to the bakery and bought a loaf of bread, thinking whether or not he should tell the baker what the old man had said about him (Coelho 25). / Santiago is careful not to call into question the Baker’s life choices. This implies that the Baker is possibly a character with regrets about his traditional life choices.
Character’s actions, speech, or thoughts:
“[A] baker standing in his shop window at one corner of the plaza” (Coelho22). / In this scene, the Baker’s action (standing at the window) again suggests his longing for the life he might have had. The window symbolizes the fact that though he might be outward-looking, his desires are ultimately contained by the structures of his society.
Other character’s comments:
“‘When he was a child, that man wanted to travel, too’” (Coelho 24). / The King of Salem explains to Santiago that the Baker always had a dream of travelling, and yet never followed his dreams.
#1 / Narrator’s comments:
Character’s actions, speech, or thoughts:
Other character’s comments:
#2 / Narrator’s comments:
Character’s actions, speech, or thoughts:
Other character’s comments:
#3 / Narrator’s comments:
Character’s actions, speech, or thoughts:
Other character’s comments:
#4 / Narrator’s comments:
Character’s actions, speech, or thoughts:
Other character’s comments:
#5 / Narrator’s comments:
Character’s actions, speech, or thoughts:
Other character’s comments:
Part II: Changes in the Main Character (Paragraph) /
Topic Sentence: Must include the name of the novel, author, and name of the main character, as well as a listing of the three ways that the character changed throughout the novel.
Three examples of how the character changes: in your own words explain how the character changed, and include a quotation that exemplifies this change, cited properly.
Closing sentence: Rephrase the topic sentence.
Part III: Conflict /
Conflict Chart / Provide a quotation as evidence / Explain how this conflict represents the conflict type, including textual evidence to support your reasoning
Man vs. Nature
(example) / “The cold was agony: It attacked him like fire. His brain itself seemed to have frozen as he pushed through the dark water to the bottom and reached out, groping for the sword. His fingers closed around the hilt; and he pulled it upward” (Rowling 370). / Obviously, outside temperature is an example of Man vs. Nature. The freezing pond is a great obstacle for Harry when he attempts to retrieve the sword of Gryffindor. It requires him to build courage and endure extreme pain to accomplish his goal.
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Society
Man vs. Himself